Far below the circling dragons, the goat herd was waking as the first rays of sun touched their side of the mountain.
Maa the Mystic lifted her nose to the air and inhaled deeply. “There is magic in the air today!”
“Oh slippery rock shards!” exclaimed Baab, the youngest of the herd. “She says the same thing every day!”
“Watch your tongue, Baab! Besides, perhaps it is always true, little one,” said his mother with a smile. “Now it is time to practice your balance, young goat. Do you see that boulder with the small stone upon it?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“I want you to go there and have all four hooves on that rock . . . in the fewest moves necessary.”
“I can do it in one. Watch me. Watch me.” With that, he took a giant leap toward the stone. He managed to land all four feet on the stone. However, it slid from the force of his landing and dumped him over the edge of the bolder. Uninjured, he leapt back to the top of the bolder and then stepped triumphantly onto the smaller stone.
“Very good, tiny Baab, you made it in three moves. However, you could have done it in two if you’d have been more patient. Remember, the shortest route to the goal is not always the best route.”
“Yes, Mama, I’ll remember. And come see what I found on the other side of the bolder. Breakfast!”
