We are now accepting short stories at Shortfolio. Whether you've written something heartfelt and pure, or cynical and born out of despair; hammered out during a lunch hour, or perfected and sat on for weeks - we want to read your stories.
Accepted stories will be posted on the site for people to read and comment on.
N.B. Stories must be 500 words long or less.
If you have an questions contact us at shortfolio@gmail.com.
Happy writing!
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
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My day in the kingdom of Funj
I was a goat herder, herding my goats just under Khartoum where the British ruled. I usually got away from the occupation by herding my goats to the east, where the kingdom of Funj was.
One day I was herding my goats and I went so far into eastern Sudan that I reached the Red sea. I took shelter and let my goats eat the green grass near Port Sudan and the city of Kassala. The Sudan was really hot that day, it must have been 90 degrees. So I took out my dagger and I butchered one of my goats and cooked over the rocks and eat it. I laid there under a tree and took a nap.
I was startled by the voice of two men calling from afar “goat killer, goat killer". The two men approached me and told me that I was in the kingdom of Funj territory and that killing goat is a punishable sin, and that I will be thrown into the caliph's prison of great death.
They took me upon a horse and took to their capital, which was called the city of the cow. We stopped in front of a big building that was painted green and yellow, labeled the caliph's prison of great death and only the wittiest of men survive. They opened the door and threw me in.
I went in and it was really dark, I hid a rock from the rocks that I cooked the goat on, in my pant. I struck the rock against the ground, until some sticks that were on the ground caught on fire and light the prison. Up ahead was a very deep trap that I could fall into easily, had I not had the rock. I walked almost two miles until I came upon a lion. I hid a piece of goat that I was eating earlier from the solider and I threw it to him, the lion eat it and slept. I went passed the lion and kept walking for three miles until I reached a door with what seemed like a riddle written on it. The riddle read “what loves dearly, hates angrily, and cries plenty”; below that writing were three button choices: a human, a monkey, and a lion. I thought to myself what loves dearly, a lion and a monkey love dearly but lions eat their young and monkeys beat their young very badly, but humans love their young dearly when they truly love them. As I got to the next part of the riddle, I can see a big and sharp axe at my neck level and will chop my neck right off if I push the wrong button, so I thought really hard about what hates angrily, and I thought that lions and monkeys get very angrily but I don't believe they know what hate is, but people comprehend hate and sometimes hate very angrily. Next was one that cries plenty, and this one was an easy one, because I never seen monkeys or lions cry but humans cry plenty.
I summoned my courage and pushed the human button as I closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes I found myself outside the prison. I ran to the caliph's palace and the soldiers stood there with their mice open. They doffed their swords to my in honor and took me to meet the caliph. The caliph stood up from his crown and put his hand on left shoulder, and I put my hand on his right shoulder, which a traditional Sudanese greeting, and he said "You're a witty man, I never expected a goat herder to solve our ancient riddle, you're welcome to the land of Funj as an honorable man anytime, go in peace and god blessing be with you". I replied "and God blessing be with you" and I left with the two soldiers who gave a ride out of the city of Cow and back to my goat.
As they were taken me out of the city of cow, I saw the colorful people of funj with their colorful huts and small shops and colorful mosques, and green gardens, and rich farms. The solider dropped me off near the Red sea and I was reunited with my goats again, I sat next to the goats , looked at the pure red sea and wondered about the funj and how I was never aware of them before and they live in my country, and how I had a brush with death , and how a goat's life can mean so much to the people of funj , and I never eat a goat since that day.
"Once, a long time ago when the land was still young, a boy was born, a battle was fought, and the people were saved". An old knight lay limp on the mattress, his head at ease on a stained pillow.
As the morning light peaked around the mountains Thoth woke up, his eyes heavy with sleep. Seeing that Thoth was only fourteen years old he had knight training to go to. Thoth hurried into his training uniform; he was already late for class. When he got to school his classmates were sparing against each other. "Thoth,” said Mr. Mores, Thoth’s knight master,” since u fail to arrive to class on time u must now pay a toll, I want u to show us your sparing skills against a fellow classmate".
"You pick", said Mr.Mores. "Reginald", said Thoth. The class mates formed a circle around the two as Thoth and Reginald prepared to battle,” when your ready", said Mr. Mores. "This is going to be easy, spat Reginald. The two young warriors began slashing swords; every blow Reginald threw Thoth was there to block it. Finally Thoth slashed Reginald in the chest. With a stumble Reginald fell and the battle was over.
''Not so easy huh Reginald”, smirked Thoth. "Yea, yea beginners luck," Reginald was the top of the class and also a accolade. Thoth was a squire and a good one at that. Thoth could beat almost any accolade that wasn’t in there last year of being an accolade. Any chance Thoth would get he would practice his combat skills.
Thoth was on a errand in the province of Falcron for his knight named Chastle, and little did he know his hometown was being attacked by a nearby kingdom. Thoth was on his way home after a long journey when a group of rouge outcasts jumped out and attacked. “Hey kid what’s your name?’ scared Thoth said,” Th…. Th…. Thoth.” “ O right I’ve heard about you you’re the punk who won that big competition last week , said one of the outcasts. Yea that’s me, said Thoth. Soon your little legacy will be over little boy, The outcasts wasted no more time and they all rushed in throwing blow after blow. Thoth was to fast and finished them of quickly one by one. As one of the outcast fell he said, “To bad about your town being under attack and all”, and gave a slight chuckle.
Befuddled Thoth raced home to find all the knights in his beloved city were dead Slaughtered by a unknown source, and the only living people there were only the squires and the accolades left. Thoth raced around town only to find his parents dead. Thoth laid on the floor crying. Drying his tears the young man walked to the sanctuary. As he approached the sanctuary he saw the sanctuary door close, Thoth was on his way inside the sanctuary when he was struck from behind in the head. Twelve days passed before Thoth woke up. “wh …where am I”, said Thoth? Thoth tried standing up but was stopped when he realized that he was chained to the wall. Thoth was in a closed cellar, it had no windows and a locked door.
Suddenly the door swung open and a man walked inside. Who are you”? Asked Thoth. In a deep voice the man replied, it is not important who I am young man, but who you are is what I am concerned about. Why should I tell you, you are probably the one responsible for my accommodations. Because if u don’t ill kill you. Do as u wish to me but I will never tell ou my identity .said Thoth. The man replied, as u wish. Right before the spear was thrust down into him thoth, yelled wait! I am Thoth a squire of this town. I was on an errand in Falcron when I heard that my village was being attacked. So I raced home to find my self hit in the head and wake up here”. The deep voice said, “You are very brave to come back here even after you were told that your village was being attacked. I admire your loyalty to your people young one but nevertheless u must die”, with a smirk on his face the stranger left.
The next morning Thoth was thrown into a huge arena with the remaining survivors of the town where they were equipped with a sword and faced the army that previously destroyed Dregnor, Thoths home town. All of Thoths comrades died out of anger Thoth defeated the army. Soon after, he saw the strange man that visited him the night before and prepared for battle. The mans voice echoed from across the room. Thoth you have fought well, defeated all my soldiers, destroyed my work, now It is your turn to die, and when I’m done here no man shall know your legacy, and I shall rebuild my army and leave your family and neighbors in the cellar under the city.
With that the man began to charge. He swung at Thoth and when thoth went to block the monstrous slash his sword broke. Thoth ran for his life with his broken sword shards in his hand. The stalwart man was catching up when Thoth tripped. At that moment he thought his life was going to be over. When Thoth tripped he flew ten feet sideways. The man began to laugh and then began to stumble. The gargantuan man moved out the way to avoid falling into the spikes he leaned towards thoth and he fell on top of Thoths hand. Thoth got up and wondered if the man was still alive, Thoth went and kicked the man over he was dead. The piece of broken sword had stabbed him threw his chest piercing weak part of his armor.
Thoth searched all around town until he found the cellar that the people were being held, killed the guards and released the people. The original king had gone to battle and had died now only the queen was left to rule.
An old knight laid limp on a mattress his head at ease on a stained pillow. “Dad… dad wake u.” Thoth woke up and now he as a forty year old and a full fledge knight. What a dream I had, thought Thoth. HE was greeted by his wife Stromy. HEY old man glad to see you finally up and running I thought u die giving the hundred screams u gave off”. Suddenly an arrow shot through the window killing both thoth and his wife the another arrow came crashing into the sons heart. A gruesome battle was upon them
"Once, a long time ago when the land was still young, a boy was born, a battle was fought, and the people were saved".
The end
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