An old story says that many years ago, in the deepest part of the jungle of Ecuador, there lived a toad.
different from the other toads in the world because he had a peculiarity: if someone bothered him or made fun of him, he would turn into a jaguar and attack mercilessly.
Only some elders claimed to have seen it when they were children, so for the majority of the indigenous people of the towns near the Amazon, the strange animal was like a legendary being that hid in the jungle. Of course, they knew he existed because sometimes, under the cover of night, he would sing at the top of his voice from his hiding place:
Kuartam – so! Kuartam – so! Kuartam – so!
As ‘Kuartam – tan’ was what he repeated incessantly, the name Kuartam toad stuck with him.
According to what they say, a young man from the Shuar tribe named Nantu wanted to go out hunting one night. Before leaving home, his wife warned him:
Be very careful out there, and please, if you see the Kuartam toad, don’t even think about making fun of him. You already know the bad reputation it has in these places!
Bah, nonsense! I’m sure that thing about him turning into a jaguar is pure invention, but don’t worry! I promise you that if I run into him I won’t say anything to him and will pass by.
Nantu said this while showing a mischievous smile that his wife did not like too much.
Nantu, I insist on telling you not to be irresponsible.
The boy winked and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek.
Trust me! And now I’m leaving because it’s getting late… I’ll be back before midnight!
Under the light of the Moon, the young man wandered through the tropical jungle, removing the lush vegetation with a sharp machete and keeping a close eye in case any possible prey appeared. Unfortunately, he only saw a snake and two or three tiny mice running around.
There is no bug here that can serve as food for me… What a way to waste time!
After a while he came to a clearing and lay down on the ground to rest. His muscles ached, but mostly he was bored of going around and around with no results.
Since I come home empty-handed, tomorrow’s menu will be fruit for breakfast, fruit for lunch and fruit for dinner. I’m going to end up hating coconuts and bananas!
Suddenly, he stopped complaining because a funniest idea crossed his mind.
‘What if I make fun of the famous toad a little?… I’m going to try and see what happens!’
Without any shame he began to call Kuartam. He was convinced that, although the toad sang strangely, it had no powers of any kind and therefore there was nothing to fear.
Kuartam!…Kuartam!
He only heard the fluttering of a family of little birds, so he went on and on.
Kuartam!… Kuartam!…
Since there was no toad or anything similar there, Nantu became more emboldened and his voice became more joking:
Yujuuuuu!… Kuartam Toad, are you here?… Is it true that you are a magical toad?… If I don’t see it, I don’t believe it!… Don’t be a coward and show your face!
He got no answer, but Kuartam was there, crouching at the top of a tree. Of course he had heard it all, and there came a time when he felt so upset, so angry, that his patience was exhausted and what had to happen happened: his body, small as an orange, began to grow enormously and transformed into a that of a jaguar.
Nantu, oblivious to everything, continued calling the batracian while continuing to mock him.
Kuartam, silly toad… You are a chicken! Clo, clo, clo! Little chicken, come here! Clo, clo, clo!
Kuartam, previously a simple toad and now a huge felid, couldn’t take it anymore and let out a roar that made the clouds tremble. Immediately afterwards he jumped from above, opened his jaws as wide as he could, and swallowed the foolish hunter in one bite.
While all this was happening, Nantu’s wife waited at home, feeling that the night was passing very slowly. For hours she waited by the door for her husband’s return, but when she saw that she did not return she became very nervous.
‘It is very strange that Nantu has not returned yet!… What has happened to him?… He knows the jungle like the back of his hand and is the most agile of the tribe… The only possible explanation is that… that… he has found the Kuartam toad!’.
Without stopping to think she ran out of the cabin. Luckily it hadn’t rained and she was able to follow the trail of footprints that Nantu had left behind him.
Everything went well until she reached a clearing in the jungle; In that place, for some reason that he could not understand, the footprints completely disappeared, as if Nantu had been swallowed by the earth.
The girl felt very sad and began to say out loud:
Where are you, my beloved, where are you?… Should I go north?… Or better heading south?… I don’t know where to look for you!
At that moment, he heard a kind of snorting coming from above. She looked up and, on a thick branch, saw a gigantic toad, asleep on its belly and so swollen that it seemed ready to burst.
‘That phenomenon of nature must be Kuartam. I bet he ate my husband and that’s why he’s so fat!’
Indeed it was Kuartam, who after devouring Nantu had once again transformed into a toad but maintaining colossal dimensions.
The girl, in an act of true bravery, took the axe that was hanging from her waist and began to chop down the trunk. The toad, who must have been half deaf, didn’t even notice her presence and continued snoring.
You have no escape!… I will finish you!
After much effort, the tree collapsed and Kuartam fell back to the ground. The slap was so impressive that he instinctively opened his mouth and Nantu the hunter was shot out like a cannonball.
But that was not all! When it became empty, the imposing toad began to deflate, and in the blink of an eye, he recovered his usual small body. After the conversion he felt very painful, but fearing that they would retaliate against him, he gained strength from his weakness and, jumping, disappeared among the green foliage.
Nantu, fortunately, was still alive and well. His wife had narrowly saved him and he couldn’t stop hugging her.
I am still here thanks to you, your courage. I am ashamed for my behavior and for not having kept the promise I made to you when I left home. I beg you to forgive me!
The girl realized that Nantu was being sincere and truly regretted it, but she still raised her index finger and said very seriously:
Respect for others, whether people or animals, is above all things. I hope you’ve learned your lesson and never make fun of anyone again!
I promise you, my love, I promise you.
It is fair to say that Nantu kept his word and was kind to everyone for the rest of his life, but he had to bear the pain of not being able to apologize to the Kuartam toad because their paths never crossed again.
