Tunnel

John, the son of a famous military hero, moved to town. He came to live in the mayor's home and work as an assistant to the mayor. Over time, as he lived with the mayor's family, he fell in love with the mayor's wife and she with him. As such, they began to have an affair. As these things usually go, the husband found out about it and was outraged. John, in self-defense, killed the mayor, fled town, with the wife in hand.


Because of their actions, they came to live as thieves. John did so because he could not do otherwise and survive. Mary, the mayor's ex-wife, however, was greedy and became more and more demanding in her thievery. Eventually, John could no longer continue to live with Mary and he left her and traveled far away from her and became a philosopher.

Throughout his years, John was troubled by his past and sought to atone for his errors and crimes. He continuously looked to do good deeds for others. In the mountain village he settled in, there was a very dangerous road that wound its' way up and around the mountain side. Many had fallen to their deaths along that path. He was determined to see a tunnel built through the mountain to provide a safer passage for the villagers.

As the region was poor and the funding was not readily available it took several years for John and the villagers to realize this dream. Eventually though, John's tunnel was nearly through the mountain. It ran over a mile and was wide enough for travel in both directions and had been built solely by the local residents.

As human luck usually runs, just months before the tunnel was nearing completion, the son of the slain mayor arrived in the mountain village. He had traveled for a long time, seeking the life of the man who had killed his father. When confronted, John said, "You may gladly have my life. It is worth nothing. However, please allow me to finish this tunnel for these people whose need is great."

The son agreed.


As the building continued, the son grew tired of sitting and watching the work going on around him. Eventually he began to participate along side the villagers and John. As the months passed, he came to see that John was a worthy man who did right by others and the villagers greatly appreciated him.

Finally, the tunnel was complete. John approached the mayor's son and said, "My work is done. You may end my life. Please chop off my head."

The son replied, "How can I kill the one who has taught me?"