Mingling with the infinity of the night, a coal-black sheep wandered, its tears watering the dry sands of the Sonoran desert. Between cries and bleats, he wandered until he came upon a bramble, whose last leaves clung to the branches to resist the gusts of icy wind.
With his guts growling like a wolf, the lamb approached to eat from the plant, but his steps stopped when he heard a curious clicking sound, like a melodious clacking similar to the maracas that shepherds shake to the beat of their tambourines and vihuelas. Something moved among the crunchy stems of the plant to emerge outward, coiled to the tip of a branch. In the moon's reflection, a pair of haunting eyes gleamed and peered at the frightened sheep. Behind the eyes stretched a thin, scaly body, ocher like the sand itself. At the other end was the instrument that produced the disturbing music: a rattle.
The ophidian opened its mouth, showing its fine and threatening fangs. Faced with that danger, the sheep began to retreat.
-Don't be afraid, little ram," said the reptile.
-I... am not a ram," he said hesitantly. Rams have horns. I am a little lamb.
-I see ─he answered him without taking any notice. I don't think you have any other sheep with you.Are you lost?
The calf answered him with concern:
-I have moved away from my flock... because they don't want me.
-Well, that's because you're different from them, isn'tit ? -he examined his dark wool.
-Why explain it to you? You can't understand me.
-Oh, no... I understand you better than anyone else," answered the snake. Whoever sees me from afar, flees to degree program. And anyone who hears my rattle is too close to escape from me. Aren't you afraid?
The serpent gradually uncoiled its body, descended from the bush and slithered down to stand in front of the lamb.
-Get away from me! -he begged, trembling with fear.
-That's what you're looking for, isn't it? To get away from everything, from everyone," he said mischievously, "I can help you, little one; I can take you farther than a shooting star. Likewise, you know that nobody loves you because you're a strange freak, but I can end all your suffering.
The sheep burst into tears. Everything the reptile told him seemed to be true. The flock had never accepted him. The sheep spoke ill of him behind his back, excluded him, belittled him. Even those little lambs whom he had considered friends, under their white coats of wool, concealed their contempt for him. It seemed that not even the shepherds had noticed his absence.
-All right," she said at last, shedding one last tear. Put an end to all my sufferings, please.
Smiling, the snake approached him, ready to launch its murderous bite.
In the infinity of the desert lay a lifeless animal. A foot had crushed the head of the rattlesnake, whose black blood blended with the red dawn of the Sonoran desert. The black-curled sheep was advancing on the shoulders of the one who had saved its life. It was his shepherd, his good shepherd, who had spent the night looking for him.
-Master," the sheep spoke to his savior, "Why have you come to look for me? My life is worthless... Why did you risk yours with the snake?
A smile came to the shepherd's face. Silently and with all the peace in the world he continued his walk through the arena, leading the sheep back to the sheepfold.
-For you," he answered at last. I did it for you.
