www.colincampbell.org
copyright colin w campbell
micro fiction by colin w campbell
At the End of the Day
Accepted for publication in electronic and print editions, Gold Dust Issue 13, Summer 2008 First published Aug 2006 as winner, www.wearewriters.co.uk flash fiction competition. Read on Radio Sarawak, Wed 25 Feb 2009.
A long day of excitement and celebration was drawing to a close in the court of the
First Lord of the Great Western Desert. The dancers were long gone. One old blind
musician remained. His familiar tunes were now competing with the dry evening winds
that were already gathering strength.
With dusk beckoning, the First Lord stood apart
from the few courtiers that remained. Quietly he looked far out into the final moments
of the sunset on the great desert. Those who knew him well saw something was changing
in his posture. Was age or tiredness finally catching up with the great warrior?
Few
dared to approach uninvited, but his old Chancellor had been on many campaigns with
his Lord and they were like brothers. He spoke quietly as he drew close. "My Lord
we have been through much together. You have won many great battles. Our ancient
enemy is defeated. His lands are now your lands. The war is won and today we celebrate.
But why do you now seem so sad?"
"Ah, old Chancellor. If only it were so easy. At
heart we are men of action but now there is all the paperwork."
"Paperwork my Lord?"
"Yes
loyal old friend. We have won the war, but now we have to sit down and rewrite all
the history."
(220 words)
