Chinese Fables
Selected and Retold by Mary W. Ng
The Clam and the Snipe
From Zhanguo Ce
A clam was basking in the sun one day when suddenly a snipe flew down to peck her flesh. The clam immediately closed up her shell, gripping the snipe’s beak.
“If it doesn’t rain today or tomorrow,” mumbled the snipe, “there will be a dead clam on the beach.”
“If I don’t open up today or tomorrow,” returned the clam, “there will also be a dead snipe on the beach.”
Both the clam and the snipe would not relinquish their grip. Neither was willing to give way. Just then a fisherman passed by and netted them both.
In any conflict, there will always be someone who benefits from it.