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ALAMAT NG TAHONG

SAKBIBI ng agam-agam sa kalagayan ng butihing kabiyak-- at kabiyakan, opo-- na nakaratay sa karamdaman, ang pumalaot na mangingisda ay napagawi sa paanan ng dambuhalang Waczim-- isang bathala na nagkakaloob sa sinuman anumang ibulwak ng bibig mula sa bukal ng dibdib.

Pangangailangan sa salapi na pambili ng gamot ng kapilas-pusong maysakit ang nakasaklot sa puso ng matandang mangingisda. 'Di kaginsa-ginsa'y bumundol ang kanyang bangka sa paanan ng Waczim.

Kagyat umigkas ang katagang kimkim noon sa kanyang dibdib: "Salapi!"

Bumuhos ng salapi-- mga butil at gilit ng ginto-- mula papawirin. At halos umapaw sa ginto ang bangka ng nagulantang na mangingisda, walang pagsidlan ang galak, at walang humpay ang pasasalamat sa mga bathala.

Nanumbalik ang kalusugan ng kabiyak ng mangingisda. At lumago ang kabuhayan, naging mariwasa ang magkapilas-puso na dating maralita.



Nilasing ng kanyang mga dating kalapit-bahay ang mangingisda-- na hindi ikinaila ang pinagmulan ng pagbabago sa kanyang kapalaran.


Kawing-kawing na mga bangka ang pumalaot, lulan ang mga kalapit-bahay. Paanan ng Waczim ang pakay. At hayun nga, kamukat-mukat, nabundol ang paanan ng dambuhala.

Isa sa kanila ang gulat na nasambitla:

"Ay, puke!"

At bumuhos ang kakatwang ulan.

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