A cow had strayed from its pasture and wandered deep into the wasteland, thirsty for water. At last it stumbled upon a petite pool and stopped to take a few sips, but then, squinting across the sun-scorched flats, it glimpsed what appeared to be a vast, glittering lake. Filled with greed, the cow lumbered toward the shimmering expanse, only to discover that the great lake was a mirage. Defeated, it ambled back toward the pool, but by then the desert had dried it up and left the cow to die a slow death in the desert.