The Old Rat’s last wishes
“‘My dear ones,’ said the Rat to my parents. ‘Here is my request: I would not like, after my death, anyone to defile the body that served me all my life. It was loyal to me and never caused me any health problems. That is why I ask of you not to bury my body in the black soil! A multitude of hungry insects are waiting impatiently for bodies that lack breath. They are always ready and they are waiting with their sharpened knives to mince the new bodies finely in order to fill their feast tables. I don’t want this to happen to my body, which was my abode in life. It served me permanently, day and night! Even when my soul despised it, the body fulfilled its mission with constancy. It transformed food into blood, took care of digestion, permanently refreshed the quan
