There was once a great debate between the parts of the body over which was the most important and the most powerful.
"We are the strongest," the hands said, "because we are double"
"We too are double," shouted the eyes, feet and ears.
"That only proves I am the most important," the tongue argued, "for I am alone."
The argument continued for days until one day the King took ill with a strange disease. The King's healers shook their heads when they examined him, saying, "The only thing that can cure you is impossible to get: the milk of the great She-bear, for what furre can get close enough to milk her?"
The King, of course, put up a great reward for any who obtained the milk of the great She-bear.
One brave young furre who would do anything to save his King and set out to get the milk. The body parts agreed this would serve as a test of which was most powerful. The young furre knew he would be unable accomplish his task directly, so instead, he threw the great She-bear pieces of meat for many days until she was used to him. Then he was able to milk her and he returned to the palace with the precious cure.
On the way, the body parts again argued over who had done the most to help the young furre.
"It was I who saw where the She-bear was and where to throw the meat!"
"I was the one who heard the She-bear's growl or sigh when and knew when it was safe to approach!"
"We were the ones who walked there and back!"
"Without us, the She-bear could not have been milked, nor the jug carried back to the King!"
"What about me?" cried the tongue. "What would you do without me?" But the others ridiculed the tongue and would not listen.
When the young furre came before the King, the tongue took over: "Your Majesty, I have brought to you what you asked for... the priceless milk of a goat!"
"What?!" the King roared in anger. "How dare you come before me with such insolence! Hang him, and let his tongue hang out!"
"See!" the tongue shouted at the other body parts. "I am the most powerful. I can undo with one word and in one second all that you have worked so hard for days to accomplish."