The State of Aesop had forests and meadows, rivers and lakes, mountains and seas. Large and small animals lived on trees, under trees, inside the earth, among rocks or bushes. They flew high in the sky or swam among the seaweed. In the forest, under a walnut tree, deep inside the earth was the home of the Hare. Right next to it, behind a blackberry bush, the Turtle had set up her household. One day, the Turtle heard the Hare say: "I am the fastest in the entire state." The other animals nodded in agreement. They did not want to challenge him. What if they lost? The Turtle continued to nibble her lettuce a little further away.