W) You decide that bull-leaping would be fun, but the important thing now is to stay focused on your quest, recovering the golden statue of Athena. You head down the long hallway following the armor-clad guard. Finally, the two of you reach a massive doorway with thick red columns at either side. The guard slowly leads you through the entrance into the throne room. The king sits at the far end of the room on a throne made of alabaster, a whitish rock. He is surrounded by servants and guards.

The guard announces, "This person is from the city-state of Athens, searching for a golden statue of the goddess of wisdom, Athena.” The king motions you forward. "How dare you enter the throne room without my permission!” the king declares with a hint of anger in his voice. "Your majesty,” you stammer, "I am only looking for the golden statue of Athena that was stolen from our family’s home." "Are you suggesting that I or someone from my kingdom had something to do with it?” the king growls. "No, your majesty, I . . . .” The guards grab your arms and hold them tightly. "Take him to the labyrinth!” the king screams.

The guards drag you, against your will, to what appears to be a dungeon. The gate is locked behind you. "Watch out for the Minotaur!” the guards yell out. As your eyes struggle to adjust to the darkness, you make out a pathway leading forward. You travel through corridors and doorways, becoming more and more lost with time, in the murky maze. You bump into walls and stumble over piles of bones in the inky blackness.

You hear loud breathing echoing behind you! You hope that it is only the air escaping from your own lungs. Clop . . . Clop . . . . Clop . . . . Clop . . . . Clop. You hear what seem to be large pounding footsteps coming nearer and nearer. Your heart leaps out of your chest! You can barely see, but you feel hot, foul smelling breath on your face. You look up in time to see the outline of the horned head of a bull attached to a powerful human body! You are now dinner!

THE END

START OVER

copyright Jay D'Ambrosio 1998