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Plato2
The Last Philosopher
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 114
Location: Under a tree, thinking
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 Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:54 pm Post subject: Stories from the dark. |
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Hey, since Nerameshu requested I post some of my short stories, I decided I would. This topic is for stories from the somewhat darker side of your mind.
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What a piece of work is man. So noble in thought and so infinite in wisdom. Yet man delights not me. |
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Plato2
The Last Philosopher
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 114
Location: Under a tree, thinking
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| Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: The Watchmaker |
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The Watchmaker
Down the deserted streets of a once great city walks a man with a purpose in life. He walks with the nervous but determined motion of one heading towards their sanctuary. He turns down a blind alley and disappears into a door camouflaged against the wall. Upon closing the door, the man heaves a sigh that seems contain the exegesis of his suffering. He flicks a switch to compel the dying lights to return to life for a moment more. The man relieves himself of his jacket and sits down at the desk that is the second piece of furniture in his one room apartment. He awakens his desk lamp and gathers his tools for the long night ahead.
The man draws out the necessary metal for this particular watch, and as his hands begin the familiar motions of forming and placing the gears, he thinks back to the events behind him. He could trace the events back perfectly; ten years ago began the fall of the ancient polity of his society. He can still see the old potentate of the land in every one of his watch dials. He was a kind and benevolent ruler who insisted on the happiness of his subjects. He went to great lengths to perform his duties to his people, ensuring good education and sound fiscal practices. This old man was a product of those wise schools of thought. He saw himself joining the king’s service as a letter carrier, and then slowly, ever so slowly moving up to be one the king’s advisors and his personal watchmaker. Then that time only 15 years passed-oh how he had aged since then.
That horrible man of questionable background and devious intelligence who was incapable of accepting the King’s reign, he came before the council and declared his intentions. He intended to dispose of the man’s glorious king and take his place as ruler of the country. He did not even try to hide his contempt of the men gathered before him. The king threw him from the council chamber and forbade him from ever entering the country again. The man’s memory now shot forward at an incredible speed, as he reviewed all the things that occurred from then on. The clocks covering his walls were conducive to his thought as they were all synchronized and ticked at the exact same time. He thought of the lying and slandering that the young scoundrel attempted to use to dethrone the king. By the fifth year of his campaign he had gathered a formidable army of mercenaries and robbers. He saw everything in the time it took him to place the glass in his latest work: the violence that spread throughout the provinces, the corruption of courts and judges, the annexation of cities to the scoundrel’s pretended country, and the greatest blow of all; the other council members renounced their king. He slipped back into his chair, emotionally exhausted after his review of his horrible life. He hated what he had been reduced to: a simple watch maker whose only duty was to produce time pieces to serve as regalia for the political weasels as their subjects starved and begged. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, in form of protesting the terrible hegemony that had descended upon his once proud land. After a time he opened his eyes examine his latest work. The man’s eyes widen in shock and horror. He gasps, at the exact moment the worn out light bulbs in his room flicker and die. Instants later, an announcement is made over the governments public address system. “Attention all citizens!!! The viceroy of your city was just killed in an attack by rebels. Our grand and infallible leader will be visiting you tomorrow at 10 o’clock to discuss what your punishment shall be. Anyone who does not attend the mandatory meeting in time square shall be arrested as a rebel conspirator. That is all.”
The man sat, engulfed by the darkness and the sudden certainty of his knowledge. The man knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would die tonight. He knew it as if the message that had just been broadcast was the annunciation of his own obituary. He rose from his chair and lay down in bed. He smiled the smile he had wanted to show to the world for years, ever since the death of his king. His eyes closed as he drifted off to sleep.
“OLD MAN!!! OPEN THE DOOR!” “Hey, what are you trying to do, give him a heart attack? The leader said to bring him back alive.” “Ya, and he also said to get his watch if it was finished. He seemed slightly more concerned about the watch then the maker.” “Fine, go ahead. But if he dies, it’s on your head.” The first man steps back and delivers a crushing blow to the door that causes it to fly off the hinges. The two men walk into the dimly lit and oddly quite room. For a second, they cannot understand why it is so quiet, despite the multitude of clocks covering the walls. Then it hits them: every clock in the room except one has stopped running. The clocks that had kept perfect time and were the envy of the entire kingdom have stopped moving. Without the man’s gentle care and maintenance, the clocks have all stopped running. Each one is stopped at nine, a testament to how well the man kept these clocks. But no clock can run without power, and without anyone to wind them, the clocks have stopped cold. On the bed is the old man, dead, with the smile imprinted on his face.
“Well, it looks like natural causes. Guess you’re off the hook.” “Neither of us is unless we can find our leaders new watch.” “You big dummy, it’s over there on the table. Can’t you hear it ticking?” “Oh yeah… Hey this isn’t a watch!” What are you talking about, of course it is. It’s ticking, isn’t it?” “Yeah, but look. This isn’t it a watch.” “Well what is it?” “It looks like a timer…”
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 The only thing to do with good advice is to give it away because no one will take it.
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What a piece of work is man. So noble in thought and so infinite in wisdom. Yet man delights not me. |
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