Pandora's box, part 15

Epimetheus struggled to his feet, wincing at the pain searing through his right ankle, sharp as a dagger. He gazed over the side of the turret, his stomach clenching as he realised that the tower was indeed perched high up in the clouds, hundreds of feet above the Earth. There was no chance of ever escaping this lonely prison.

Gazing outwards, he saw a faint light far off in the distance, almost smothered by the rolling black clouds billowing above. He held out a hand, as if he could touch small, warm fingers again and tears rolled over his cheeks.

“Oh, Gods above,” he cried. “Save her from harm.”

“Son, this is a pitiful scene indeed.”

Epimetheus twisted round in alarm. A tall man sat of the turret wall, wrapped in a snow-white cloak, legs dangling. Two crows gazed at him curiously as he chewed on a cabbage leaf.

“Who are you?” Epimetheus demanded. “How did you get here?”

The man jumped down easily, straightening out his tunic. “Call me an interested bystander,” he answered. “Locksmith by trade, adventurer by spirit. I was passing by, that’s all. Would you care for a cabbage leaf? They’re just the thing to restore a broken body and soul.”

Epimetheus eyed the green vegetable, and almost laughed at the ridiculousness of the scene. “A cabbage leaf?”

“Have you heard the old adage, don’t mock it until you’ve tried it?” The locksmith winked and handed over a leaf.

Epimetheus began to chew, surprised by the fresh sweetness refreshing his throat.

“I’ve only berries to offer in return,” he said, sadly. “I have no other food.”

“I’m intrigued, my friend.” The locksmith rolled a berry in his palms, but did not eat it. “How did you get up here, to this stairless cell in the skies?”

Epimetheus’s body shook with shame and misery as he blurted out the whole sorry tale.

“Ah, Queen Pandora is your wife? Well, my friend. I believe you may have upset the wrong lady there.” The man chuckled. “She finally got that beautiful box opened, by the way.”

“And what was in it?” Epimetheus asked, curiosity swelling.

“Oh, nothing pleasant, I assure you.” The locksmith smirked. “But I think we can all see that.” He gestured towards the sky, now streaked black and scarlet, streaked with flashes of lightning. “She’s intent on revenge.”

“We have to save her!” Epimetheus cried, gripping the locksmith’s arm and pointing at the golden glow far off in the woods. “Aurora needs help.”

The locksmith smiled. “You’re not able to go anywhere, my friend.” He sprang up onto the turret wall, flinging out his left arm to balance, with the cabbage tucked under his right arm. “I, on the other hand, am as free as the wind.”

He leapt, sprightly as a fox, and disappeared on a puff of air, leaving Epimetheus far behind him in an instant.

The crows chattered and cawed, scraping the turret stones with their claws as Epimetheus stared hopelessly at a spiral of smoke hurtling across the sky to centre and spin above the cottage in the woods.