It took my eyes a second to adjust to the light, but soon they did. There was a line of people in front of me, all grasping something in their
bound hands. I saw some carrying bags of gold, others grasped documents that
indicated they had studied at universities, while a few held letters of
appreciation for acts of kindness.
I held nothing.
Up at the front of the line, there was a gatekeeper, and as
each person came up to his desk, he would run his finger up and down a ledger,
sometimes turning pages back and forth, then look up and say something to the
prisoner. Then he would gesture toward a large, gaping hole in the wall from
which came an eerie red glow.
As I neared the desk, I began to overhear the conversations
that the gatekeeper had with the prisoners. One lady holding a large sack of
money approached him.
“Name?” He asked.
“Olivia Affluent.” She replied.
He ran his finger up and down the ledger, turned two pages,
and finally appeared to settle on her name.
“Ah yes.” He said. “Brought here by the watchman Drowning,
yes?”
“Yes, but there was a mistake.” She began, her voice rising
in tone and urgency with every word. “I had the money, I should have been
allowed to sail where I did.”
“Money does not allow you to avoid arrest.” The gatekeeper
replied.
“I will pay you to let me out of here.” She offered.
“Even if I did accept your money, it wouldn’t allow you to
leave. Once committed to prison, only the King can allow you exodus.”
“But I’ve paid my taxes and much more!” She was nearly
screaming now. “Surely the King will look kindly upon that and let me go free!”
“Is your money all you brought to the prison?” He asked,
ever calm.
“Yes! It’s all I have!” She replied, but in a less screaming,
but more pleading voice.
“Well,” The gatekeeper replied. “I have no word here from
the King to release you.” He said gesturing to the ledger. “I’m afraid you must
still enter.”
“No!” She screamed, and though she tried to run from the
gaping doorway, the ground heaved and rolled and threw her through the open
hole.
“You cannot escape the prison.” The gatekeeper commented to
nobody in particular. “Once here, the prison itself will keep you here. Next!”
And with that, I walked up to the desk, holding my breath in
anticipation.
