Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 90

Fifteen minutes later, my foot hit something hard. “Ow!” I muttered. I looked down and found a wooden
trapdoor the size of a table. I tapped it gently and with a metallic creak, it swung open, revealing a definite
smell of odour. A split second later, a hail of darts embedded themselves in the ceiling. With a low,
grumbling sound, and a circular disk shot out like a frisbee, sending an old papyrus scroll fluttering towards
the ground. Inscribed in hieroglyphics, was a message: “GO TO GREECE…"
GREECE
If you thought the walls of Thebes I described sounded impressive, let me tell you this, the Acropolis hill
in Athens, Greece is better. The columns soared even higher, and the statues were even more detailed. In
awe, we strolled through the countless corridors of exotic ancient culture. A few minutes later, we found
ourselves in a clearing the size of a playground with two things in it: a gnarled root that rocketed towards
the sky like the arm of the giant Atlas and ended in a vast canopy of lime coloured leaves. There was also an
immense crystal clear salty spring that rocketed well over 30 feet into the sky.
I knew this place: a temple to the Greek gods Poseidon and Athena in honour to their contest over the
patronage of Athens. I heard the sound of a person bounding out from behind the bushes, but I couldn’t see
anyone. Michael nudged me. I looked down and found the most stupendously small person I’ve ever seen.
He wore black coveralls that covered his body. His face was elfish, with a mischievous glint in his eyes,
blond hair, and a crooked nose zigzagging down his face like a canyon. “Hi, I’m Jarvis. I have what you
want.” he confessed grimly, “Come to bargain…”