One warm afternoon, a scorpion approached a gentle turtle resting beside a wide, calm river.

"Friend, turtle," the scorpion said softly, "please carry me across the river. I cannot swim and I need to reach the other side."

The turtle hesitated. "You are a scorpion", he said. "f I carry you, you might sting me".

The scorpion shook his head. "Why would I sting you? If I did, we would both drown. Trust me".

The turtle thought about this and finally agreed.