Based On A True Story [FICTOID]

Here is how the Mongols went from being a band of outcasts to the greatest empire in the history of the universe:

A Mongol mother had five sons, all of whom fought among themselves.

She saw their animosity and rivalry grow, refusing to cooperate or coordinate with one another until it looked like they seemed doomed to die with their hands on each others’ throats.

One day she heard enough of their bickering and threw a horseshoe at them.  “Come here, you silly goslings!”

Chastened, her sons shuffled over.

“What is this?” she demanded, holding up her spread hand, fingers and thumb splayed out.

“It’s your hand,” said one.

“Too elementary!  Again!”

“Your fingers and a thumb?” one asked hopefully.

“Aye,” she said.  “Each one independent of the other, yet each one joined at the base by the palm.

“If I take a knife and cut a finger off, what good is it?  If I cut them all off, what use is my palm?

“You are fingers, my sons.  You must work together -- no exceptions!

“Go your separate ways and you’re no use to anyone, not even yourselves.

“Stay together and work together, and you can be a fist to pummel your enemies, a consensus to grasp new ideas, vengeance to tighten around the necks of those who would subdue us.

“Choose what you wish, but choose wisely.

“Be kings or be chaff, blown to the wind.”

Her five sons looked at one another…

…and at that moment the Mongol empire was born.

© Buzz Dixon