Time changes everything, even stone.
Photo credit: Lee Coursey (modified)
The history scholar stared, equally awed and disgusted by the huge statue jutting from the cliff. After years of research, he had finally found it, mirroring the drawing on that tattered scroll. His theory was correct. The legendary Temple of Ka-el was no myth. The tyrant Baruq really had erected the evil edifice, to his own glory. Almost completely destroyed–by hubris, if the tales were true.
Only one of the giant stone slaves survived, eternally struggling to hold up the missing foundation.
How many real slaves had died to build this? How many had suffered?
A local merchant separated from the crowd of sightseers, flashing a beringed hand in greeting. “Welcome, foreign pilgrim. Ancient statue amazing, no? Utaka, holding up whole sky. A god, in our image.”
The scholar studied the thriving village, the descendants of those slaves proud, profiting from this misinterpretation.
Baruq would be furious.
The scholar nodded, smiling. “Amazing sight, indeed.”
His theory could stay unspoken. This myth of Utaka sounded much more pleasing to the ear.
Word count: 171. Inspired by this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers challenge. Thanks to Precious Joy as always for hosting! And to Mom the Obscure for the original photo prompt, below. Click here to see the other stories!
Tales from Eneana 
Yet, the scholar knew the truth. The real story not quite so “pretty.” Excellent story, Joy! I enjoyed reading this.
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Thanks PJ! Sorry I’ve been missing some of the challenges — busy with Camp NaNo all last month, plus work, etc. I hope to get back to doing more of them this month!
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I understand Joy. I have been on a semi-break and am just getting back full time. I had a little accident with a sharp knife and my finger which made my break a little bit longer. LOL!
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Oh no, accidents with sharp knives don’t sound good – ouch! I know how hard it is to type with a finger injury too. Glad to see you back full time!
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Sometimes you do better by keeping silent.
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Yes, indeed! And for a scholar, I’m sure it’s doubly hard to keep quiet about proving his own theory, but he thinks it’s worth it. Thanks for reading!
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Nicely done. Love how you brought this picture into Eneana.
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Thanks Amanda! I had to stretch a bit to think of some myth or imagery that would work with the statue (and then ended up with two) that wouldn’t sound too much like Atlas. Then it turns out (1) that the statue isn’t even Atlas, it’s Neptune, and (2) that I mis-remembered the story of Atlas as him holding up the *world* and then changed it… to be the actual story. Oh well. 🙂
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Haha. I thought it was Atlas at first too, didn’t know it was Neptune. I had to read about Atlas first though to remember who held up the world, we get confused apparently it’s the heavens he holds. But it’s fiction and imagination so I think yours worked well.
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I wished I’d thought to check up on it beforehand myself! Well, I’m glad you thought it worked anyway, thanks!
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And Baruq’s legacy crumbles under the weight of time. Fitting for a tyrant. Another fun story, Joy.
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Thanks Chris! Yes, it’s hard enough to control people when you’re alive and in power. After you’ve been dead a few centuries, all bets are off.
Now I want to go back and write some stories about life in this region when Baruq ruled…
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I think that would be exciting. He sounds like a pretty awful guy, which makes for great fiction. I like the contrast of time, with the actual events and what those in the future recall as truth.
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Now I just have to figure out who exactly Baruq is, and when he ruled, and what he did, besides build this gigantic temple Something BAD, apparently. 😉
If you like stories that show how truth changes over time, I really explored that in the Scepter of Akatala. Take a look if you have the chance: https://talesofeneana.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/the-legendary-scepter-of-akatala/
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Great take on the prompt.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings
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Thanks Keith, glad you liked it!
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I love how these people have reinterpreted the statue. It’s something that happens a lot with old ruins.
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Thanks Joshua! Yes, that’s something I really like to play with in Eneana, the difference between what really happened and what myths or legends are later told about it.
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some things must always be left unsaid
http://www.obliqview.blogspot.in
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Thanks for reading — and glad that message came through!
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I’ve always found the way stories shift and change over time fascinating. This change is definitely a fitting one! Great story, Joy.
I thought I’d apologise while I’m here for not being on the campsite often last month – I dove inside my head and didn’t really feel like coming out to talk to people!
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Thanks Lou! Yes, I too am fascinated by how myths change over time. Glad you liked it!
And don’t worry about Camp NaNo — everyone does NaNo their own way, I’m learning. I’m still glad you were there as our “silent partner” and hope you enjoyed it. The important thing is that you met your goal, hooray!
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Sometimes ancient stories do hold some truth.
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Very true – sometimes hopeful truth, and sometimes tragic truth. Thanks for reading, Jacqueline!
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Such an imaginative story, and a beautiful interpretation of that photograph. I like how you created a truth AND a myth inside your continued story!
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Thanks Vijaya! I enjoy exploring ways that truth can become myth, and myth can become true.
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I particularly like your portrayal of the characters in this scene, Joy. The misinterpretation of the ruin’s origins is described beautifully through the mouth of the merchant, and I really like the scholar’s decision to let that myth continue.
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Thank you for the kind comment, Millie. I’ve been working on how to get as much character across in just a few lines as I can. If only I could somehow translate this to my novel, it might not be so ridiculously long!
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