The Jungle Book
Once long ago, all the animals lived in the jungle of Africa following well-defined rules. At the edge of the forest there was a tribe of villagers. One night, the jungle's lame tiger, Shere Khan, decided to hunt the villagers in search of food. He attacked the village with mighty roars.
— Help! Help!
Tabaki, the jackal who was his companion, was watching. While catching a man, Shere Khan leaped straight onto the red flower, roaring as loud as he could. Raksha watched what was happening while outside the cave with her pups.
— That tiger is a coward. He hunts those weaker than him — humans. — After all, he is lame. How could we expect him to hunt deer? — But he got nothing out of it except a burned paw.
The Discovery of Mowgli
The roars had stopped and the forest was quiet again. While the wolves were talking, they noticed the bush rustling gently. Father Wolf was already preparing to leap in defense.
— A man-cub!
The child had escaped from the village and crawled all the way to the wolves' cave.
— I'm going to keep him and raise him as if he were one of my own pups. His name shall be Mowgli. — Raksha, I don't think the pack will accept a man-cub. — I'll take care of that.
Mowgli is Adopted
Tabaki was hiding behind the cave, so he told Shere Khan about the man-cub.
— Hee hee hee!
Shere Khan went immediately to the cave.
— That man-cub is my prey. Give him to me! — Get away from here, you lame coward! He is my child. Don't you dare lay a paw on him!
Shere Khan, who had been injured in the fire, left after seeing the mother's fury.
— One day, that child will be in my claws and teeth.
Mowgli's Life in the Jungle
The next day, they presented Mowgli to the wolf pack. After a long debate and with the consent of the panther Bagheera, the pack accepted Mowgli.
— Bagheera and Baloo will teach him the rules of the forest. He must return to his tribe when he grows up.
Mowgli grew up learning the ways of the forest. Baloo taught him everything about the jungle. He taught him how to speak the language of animals. He also taught him his favorite things — how to get honey and catch fish.
— Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
Meanwhile, Bagheera taught him how to defend himself. He himself had been raised by a man, so he kept Mowgli connected to his human side and taught him that one day he would have to return to his own kind. Soon Mowgli began to like the forest. His wolf brothers loved him. Before long, he became friends with all the animals in the forest.
Shere Khan Makes His Plans
As the years passed, Akela, the leader of the wolf pack, could no longer hunt as before. Then Shere Khan decided to take advantage of her weakness.
— Young wolves! The time has come for you to lead the pack. Remove Akela from this position. Give me the man-cub, or else I will always hunt on your territory and won't give you even a bone.
The young wolves told Akela to step down.
— You are cowards if you hand Mowgli over to Shere Khan. I will agree to give up leadership, but only if you let Mowgli leave.
Bagheera learned of this meeting.
— Mowgli! It's time to show Shere Khan his place. It's time to fight! — But how could I fight him alone? Shere Khan now has the entire pack on his side. — Go to the human village and bring the red flower. The red flower will put them to flight.
Mowgli Leaves the Jungle
— It would be better if I left the jungle and lived with my own kind.
Mowgli embraced Bagheera and Baloo and cried for the first time in his life. Soon, Mowgli fell asleep on Baloo's belly. They all fell asleep by a tree. The group of monkeys saw Mowgli and took him with them. These monkeys were the craziest animals in the forest, who followed no rules whatsoever.
Mowgli's Kidnapping
When they woke up, Baloo and Bagheera thought Mowgli had probably left for the village. Mowgli was carried by the monkeys through the trees. Soon, he spotted Chil, the soaring hawk. Mowgli told him in the language of birds to inform Baloo and Bagheera where the monkeys were taking him.
— Ha! Ha! Ha! — Shut up! That's another trick. We want to learn all those tricks from you. Soon we'll be the rulers of the jungle if we learn to control all the animals! Ha! Ha!
Chil told Baloo and Bagheera that Mowgli had been kidnapped.
— They're holding Mowgli captive in Cold Lairs. It's an abandoned city in the forest. — Those monkeys are cunning and dangerous. We can't fight them alone. We must ask Kaa for help.
Mowgli's Rescue
They convinced Kaa, the snake, to come help them. They all went to the ruins. The monkeys had hidden Mowgli beneath a huge dome. Bagheera entered the ruins first. He began biting and throwing monkeys, but there were too many and he was outnumbered.
— Ah! Ah! Ah! — Hide in the lake! I'll take care of these crazy animals!
Baloo began throwing monkeys left and right, but soon he too was outnumbered. All the monkeys sat on his belly and beat him. Kaa made his appearance with a hiss. All the monkeys were terrified and climbed into the trees.
— Ooooh!
Kaa brought down the dome where Mowgli was hidden and freed him.
— Ooooh, ah, what delicious meat! — No, Kaa! Keep your eyes away from the child!
Kaa uncoiled from Mowgli. Then he began to dance, which hypnotized the monkeys, and he took them with him.
Mowgli Returns to Humans
— I think this forest is no longer for me. I should leave as soon as possible.
Mowgli said goodbye to Baloo and Bagheera and set off for the village. At first, the people were frightened of Mowgli.
— This child came from the forest. He could be an impostor! — He could put spells on us! — He looks like an innocent child. Why are you making such assumptions? Come, child! You'll stay with me.
Before long, Mowgli got used to village life. He also learned the human language. They gave him the task of tending the cattle. His friends Bagheera and Baloo always visited him on the mountain.
Mowgli's Revenge
One day, his wolf brother came to see him.
— The pack is in danger! Shere Khan has decided to kill the wolves one by one. — You were the ones who wanted to hand me over to Shere Khan. Why should I care about you now? — We're not the same family, but Mother raised us as brothers. We must avenge her! — What? What about Mother? — She died fighting Shere Khan. He came to the cave looking for you, but she didn't say a word. — I've heard enough. Shere Khan will not stay alive!
Mowgli drove his cattle into the canyon where Shere Khan was hiding. He was riding one of the buffaloes. As soon as they reached the canyon, Akela, the true leader of the pack, joined them.
— You take some of the cattle in the opposite direction. I'll drive them at a gallop from here. Shere Khan will be trapped!
As they had planned, they let the cattle charge toward Shere Khan. The entire canyon began to tremble under their powerful hooves. Shere Khan heard the thundering of hooves and looked from side to side, searching for a way to escape, but the canyon walls were steep and there was no chance of escape. The cattle came charging furiously, stumbling and tripping, and trampled Shere Khan underfoot. The bull crushed Shere Khan into the mud. The buffaloes passed over him. There was no longer any need to chase. It was over.
A New Life
This was the end of Shere Khan, the enemy of the village and the forest.
— Yes! Yes! Yes!
Mowgli took Shere Khan's skin and went to the wolf hill. As soon as they saw Shere Khan's skin on Mowgli's shoulders, all the wolves howled in victory. Akela was honored with the position of leader, and Mowgli left the forest. Soon, Mowgli discovered that Messua was his real mother.
Everyone in the forest and in the village lived happily ever after.
