Elevalos

Saved by the Gods

Once upon a time, there was a village on a river. One day, rain started falling and kept on falling for seven days and seven nights. The river grew and grew and started to flood the village. Many of the villagers left the village, but an old man stayed behind. He tended to his animals and kept his house dry as well as he could. When the last person besides him decided to leave, he asked the old man if he would come along. The old man said:
- If I need to leave, the gods will tell me. If I need to be saved, the gods shall aid me.

And so the old man stayed in the village alone, feeding his pigs who now lived in his home, where the water could not reach them. The water kept rising and rising and eventually, the old man and his pigs were forced on the roof of his home. There, the old man stayed with his pigs, until one day, a man arrived on a boat. He offered to take the old man, but he said:
- Don't worry, the gods will save me. But please take my pigs as I can't feed them anymore.

And so the man with the boat took his pigs, but gave his hat to the old man, to at least save his head from the deluge. The man stayed on the roof with the water rising ever closer. The next day another, larger boat came along with many passengers. They offered to take the old man, but he said:
- Don't worry, the gods will save me. But please, take my food as I can't eat this much.

And so the boat left the old man on the roof without food. The old man, now sitting in the water kept on waiting. Unfortunately for him, no help came and the old man drowned when the water washed him off the roof. When his essence returned to the Great Mechanism, he was greeted by Elevalos and the old man asked him why haven't the gods sent any help to him. Elevalos answered:
- I've sent you two boats and faithful souls to help you, what more could you ask for? - asked Elevalos as he took his hat back from the old man.