1) - - .0, Gregory @ist 3/13/96 ?l'hecitizensiofthis . year. andgrewuntilthe?watersupply thatthey used was'no people'lBold water?'om farawaylandsintheMnhandEast, whichwereblessed by abundantrainsandsnows. ?l'o bringthis watertotheirxingdom, theengineers ofthexingdom builtlongandwideconcrete rivers thatwerethemarvelofalltheland. theJCingdom continued togmw. 'Topayforthese concrete rivers, theleadersoftleingdomtaxedits peopleforrnanyyearmforthe water?-omthe andc?ast brought prosperity to thepeople. . South ofthe .K'ingdomin this desertland wassmalth'llage. ?I'hepeopleofthis -- One day there was a Great War in a land 55-? told that they needed more water to help them make the machinery for ?ghting the Great War. Living modestly. the Villagers barely had enough wdterfor themselves. gut the leaders - of the JCingdom a?ered to build them great pipes from their concrete rivers to can-y and sell water to the Villagers. 'The people of the Village agreed to accept the water from their neighbors in the JCingdom for a fair price, and the Great War was won. the Great War, leaders of the JCingdom and Village became good friends and the JCingdom and the Village mutually prospered The Village admired the JCingdom and the JCingdom provided for their smaller neighbors. The JCingdom's concrete rivers were vast and continued to provide more and more water to the Village until nearly all of the Village?s water came from the Kingdom. The Village came to depend upon receiving water from the JCingdom for its well being and continued growth. ?There was plenty of water for all Over time, the leaders of the Village began to complain about the price paid to the Kingdom for the water. They became frustrated and began to envy their bigger neighbors to the ?you?re building an opulent new Castle when you don?t need one and charging us more for our water", they said, or, "your arrogance insults us. We sit at your tribunal table, but we have little say in your decisions'. they cried. or "you are treating your people and other neighbors better than us, and its not fair?. ?Ute leaders of the JCingdom just didn't seem to listen to the Villager?s complaints. ?bout that time, there was a great drought in the lands of the North and East that usually receive generous so? rains. Once always ?tll, one of the great concrete rivers ran dry and leaders of the Kingdom began to make plans to ration their now limited water. ?ll the peoples of the lands became very concerned. especially the Villagers who had become so dependent on water from the JCingdom. 'The leaders of the JCingdom did not know what to do, and they searched everywhere for an answer to bring more water to the land 51:. I farmer knocked on the door of the Castle in the Kingdom. The JCingdom?s?ide answered the door. am?'om theImpen'al Region to the East and haveheardfrom afarthatyouaresearehingforaway to ?nd more water for your the ?jfarmer? began. ?yes, that?s true. Gut how can you help me? . . your request?, said the?ide impatiently. 'Oh, I may be humble . I fannensir; . and have vast underground seas of fresh waterand nowhere to use it Q?erhaps you would be interested in buying The . ,?ide folded his am1s,?trrowed his brow and quickly realized that the JCingdom?s water problems might be over. 31ng that the 'jfarrner' could only sell to him, the??ide responded, perhaps. What is the price? Be quick nowi'. ?I'he ?jfarmer?s' twinkled. '400 shekels per ?rkin is ourprioe." :j-Iah! Do you take me for a fool??, bellowed thel?ide. 'Qe gone andfarewell. We have than 150 shekelsper?rkin thanfmm afoolishfarmer. Goodday.? - "IheSage Qusinessman quickly tumedandle?. ?I'he?ide, '3 1' . proud of his negotiating skill, reported back to his leaders about his discussion with the farmer. 'Oon?t worry?, they said. We?ll be back soon with a better price. . Where else can he go?" Gut the Sage iBusinessman had carefully studied both the ?Kingdom and the Village, and he learned that because the leaders of Village and the JCingdom were bickering with each other, he really had two interested customers. 'The Sage iBusinessman knew that the Villagers were very worried about receiving water from the Kingdom Still wearing his humble farmer disguise, the iBusinessman knocked on the door to the Village JCnight in charge of water. ?Mister JCnight, sir, I am just a humble farmer from the Imperial Region to the East and have heard from afar that you are searching for a way to ?nd more water for your lands-? 'Stop!", cried the Knight, instantly recognizing an opportunity. 'SPlease come in, rest your weary feet and grace my house - we have much to Throwing his arm around the farmer?, the JCnight's door slammed shut behind him. The story about the ffarmer?s' water was retold to the JCnighL 'It may solve many problems for us,? said the JCnight stroking his chin, 'iBut what is the price?? JCnowing well the JCnight?s frustration with the JCingdom, the Qusinessman said. wisely, ?Whatever we can agree upon, but - I have only one modest request. Qt us negotiate alone. Just you and us. 900 not let anyone else into this negotiation until we are done Others will try to get my water and try to ruin our new friendship." Smiling, the JCnight embraced his new friend. :?greed, my friend, agreed.? 07011 see, the farmer?s water cost the farmer virtually nothing. ?nd the farmer greatly feared negotiating with the great JCingdom, since the JCingdom and the Village were the only places he could sell his water.) With his mission accomplished, the @usinessman left the Village whistling a happy tune. ?e returned to the Imperial Region to tell his people the wonderful news. (SE) '51! short time later, a decree-was announced in the Village The own Crier announced: in 'Leaders of our Village and the Imperial Region have entered into an exclusive pact to negotiate us. They We can be free ?om the oppression and ury'aimess of the Kingdom JIoorale-Ioorayll" When the Kingdom?s leaders heard about this they were ?lrious a called the Wit and his JCnaves to the JCingdom?s tribunal "Why have you entered into this agreement and not told us? We were negotiating with the farmer already. you have ruined our position! {Don't you know that we can always provide you with enough wateratafairprice. ?you need to do is ask.? arrogant. you build your magni?cent Castle, you treat us with disdain, andyoucharge us too mudtforourwater. Qesldes, you didn?t even tell us you were negotiating with the farmer. With eat-pensive water forever!" The .Knight pounded his ?st on the table and threatened, "if you don't let us use your concrete rivers to bring this new water to us, we will build our own concrete river for two billion shekels, and then you will have no one to sell your water to." But the story is not over: the Villagers and the JCingdom have come to the brink of war while the Sage @usinessman plans to maximize his pro?ts at the expense of the people of the Village This story will be completedin private and public over the next few years, without most of the people of the Village knowing what is really going on. 'The Sage Businessman is just doing what he should be doing: getting the best price for his water. ?e observed poor relations between the Village leaders and the JCingdom leaders, and with his clever moves, actually worsened those relations for his bene?t. ?Ihe JCingdom has realized its mistake and wishes to be part of the negotiations between the Villagers and the Sage Qusinessman. The Kingdom has the concrete rivers already in place. the most negotiating power, and controls the water in this part of the world. warning must be sounded to the people of the Village, for they have the most to lose. 9y spurning the JCingdom and not including the JCingdom in its discussions with the Sage Qusinessman, the leaders of the Village are playing a dangerous and risky game. Only the Sage Qusinessman wins this game. 'The people of the Village will end up having to pay much higher prices than necessary in the ?xture, if this game continues. Will this story have a happy ending for all? she (em?