A fable from the Panchatantra

A man once had a faithful monkey, a powerful beast aggressively protective of its master.

Then one day the man fell ill. While he slept, the monkey kept guard by his bed. A fly buzzed. It buzzed and buzzed and it flew right over the man's face. The monkey was furious. It grabbed a club and aimed it at the insect. One swing after another went in vain until the fly was finally dead.

But alas, when the mission was accomplished, there were no accolades for the well-meaning animal. Time, it seemed, had been rent in two halves by the swift strokes of the club. Before, the insect was the focus of all thoughts.

'That creature must die! Look at the man. This will happen to us all!'

Then the club fell. There was shock, there was awe, and finally there was despair.

'Whoever heard of using a club to kill a fly?'