PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The wall had protected the town for centuries. Each arched stone entrance had been defended by strong oak gates, a heavy iron portcullis and a dozen warriors. Towards those outside the city, the king and his council were implacable. Towards those inside they were placatory, rewarding their cronies with favours.
Now the ancient wall is almost lost among younger dwellings, and the king’s council has been devoured by local bureaucracy. But some things haven’t changed. The electrical cables to the mayor’s house should be protected by conduits. Instead, they are slowly fraying against his shutters.
Autumn Leaves 
Dear Penny,
I think the king might want to hire an electrician. 😉 Nicely done. Welcome to Friday Fictioneers.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. Let’s hope the electrician gets to the Mayor’s house before it goes up in flames!
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just to be sure, that I understood the problem: You mean the king is still there, and fights against the wishes of the younger dwellings ( f.e. the mayor´s house)?
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From kings of their little world to being overrun by bureaucracy – how the mighty fall under the weight of red tape! Lovely tale Penny 🙂
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Thank you, Lynn!
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My pleasure 🙂
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I think the mayor is in trouble. Loved this story, modern life in an ancient city.
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Thank you, Granonine! I’m delighted you enjoyed the story.
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Some things never change. Different people, different time, but still the same old thing. :o) Well done.
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Thank you for reading and commenting! You got the point exactly!
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What an amazing satire on the ruling class and their mode of operation. The electrical cables being only one example of their crawling processes . Hahaha .
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Thank you, Moon!
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Sounds like someone’s about to get their just desserts
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Maybe. But the corrupt are often shrewd enough to avoid the consequences of their actions, don’t you think? Thank you for reading and commenting!
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As the old architecture of a city goes, so does the character and intricacies. Well done in telling the tale!
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Thank you, Miles, for reading and commenting!
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I love the old cities beneath the new ones. Wonderful flash piece about the old gate 🙂
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Thank you for the like and the comment, Diane. I love old cities beneath new ones too. One of my favourites is Argos in Greece. The site has been a city for over four thousand years! Whenever they want to do any building works, the developer has, by law, to call in an archaeologist to advise on all the finds that will be made. Argos has a wonderful ancient theatre, too, even bigger than the one at Epidauros. Do you know Greece at all?
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I sense the coming of an untimely electrical fire.
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Thank you for the comment, James. Yes, a fire seems likely. Of course, it’s possible that the penny-pinching mayor might notice and call in an electrician. Personally, I wouldn’t hold my breath!
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