have thus made."
Zaki thought for a moment: "I'd never be able to do such a thing as
fixing a string tightly between two walls. Isn't it difficult to keep the
thread tight?"
The spider smiled at him "Let me explain how I solve the problem.
Sometimes I make a web between two branches that are a long way
from each other. Because such webs are very big, they are also really
good at trapping flies. But because the web is big it loses its tightness
over time. That also reduces my success in catching flies. I go to the
center of the web and I fix a thread that reaches down to the ground.
I attach a small stone to the thread near the ground. Then I return to the
web and try to pull the thread upwards from where the stone is. While
the stone is in the air I fix the thread again tightly to the middle of the
web. As a result, because the stone below the center is pulling it down-
wards, the web tightens up again. That's all there is to it!"
"What a great method!" said Zaki, who was really impressed.
"How did you learn such a technique, and how do you use it so well ?
Spiders must have been doing this for millions of years..."
"You're right, my friend," agreed the spider. "It would be stupid to
think that we have enough intelligence of our own to manage this. It
is Allah, Who owns and creates everything, Who gives me the skill
to use this technique."
"Don't forget, Zaki," the spider went on to remind him: "For
Allah everything is very easy. Allah has the power to create
an infinite variety of living things and places."
"Thank you for what you've told me," said
Zaki, who was a very polite little boy. "I will
now understand rather better how powerful
Allah is and what superior knowledge He
has every time I see the living things He cre-
ated, and their flawless designs."
53
