EAST GERMANY: The Dragon Slayer

A FABLE: The people of a mythical city-state, convinced that the outside world is full of dangerous dragons, believe that they have been spared only because of their protector, whom they lovingly call Dra-Dra. Because of constant brainwashing, the people refuse to admit that Dra-Dra is actually a dragon himself. Playing on their fears, Dra-Dra magnifies the outside peril and thrives on sycophantic praise. A psalm to Dra-Dra consists of the word ja (yes) intoned 36 times.

Enter the young hero Hans Folk. Though the people ridicule him, a small band...

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