The Forgotten King

Dave Tai
Dave Tai
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

The air had a metallic twang to it. Mr Spoon stuck his tongue out. He seemed almost reptilian, searching for something in the air.

“Ouch. Your friend’s blood type must have been O. I’m afraid they just gutted him,” he said with a hint of pleasure.

Ko remained seated, motionless. He was still trying to grasp the situation at hand. The last thing he remembered were the streetlights as he drove down the highway.

“Why are you here?” Mr Spoon asked before Ko could do so himself.

“I…why? Who are you?”

“Just messin’ with ya. So it hasn’t quite wore off yet.” Mr Spoon paused for a moment, “I am Mister Spoon and let me tell you a story.”

“There was once an ancient king. His reign was absolute but it wasn’t always so. He began life the son of a tailor. A rugged peasant kid of the streets. Then, he met a prophet. Not just any prophet but a mad prophet. He was kind to the prophet so the prophet offered to make him king.”

“Every step of the way, the boy listened to the prophet and things when exactly as predicted. He climbed the ranks, won battle and favours and before he knew it, he was king.”

“Then when he became king, he asked his prophet, ‘how can I hold on to my reign?’ The prophet told him we would need to pick four people at random from his kingdom each year and have them arrested.”

“That was two thousand years ago. Our king’s name might have been forgotten but his reign remains absolute. And you are number three.”


Stories at 90km/h (sometimes 0km/h)

is a series where I free-write on my train rides.

Rule #1: It stops the moment I exit the train.

Rule #2: No editing or adding on after the ride.

Expect half-finished things on most days and very finished things on days when the train breaks down.

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