Tell me sir, how were you
able to do what none has done before you?"
Demo took the proffered loaf, tore off a section, and began to
eat.
The guards eagerly awaited his response.
"Athena. She whispered it to me in my sleep. I almost missed
it. Mother always told me, wash your ears. She's right, you
know. I nearly didn't hear it."
"Ah, sir, and what were the words you nearly didn't hear?"
"Take the rope," is what she said. "An excellent
recommendation, excellent."
They sat back in disappointment, glanced at one another and at
him.
"Now why does she want me to take the rope. That's what I asked
myself. And It came to mind that, with the rope and grapple I
could cross the walls, rather than following each corridor. That
way, if one corridor seemed to be getting me nowhere, I could
quickly climb over to the next one." He paused to twist off
another piece of bread.
The chief guard picked up the paltry remains and slowly ate the
crumbs.
"Nevertheless, after swapping corridors for a while I found
little evidence that I was making progress. And then another
thought hit me. Brilliant thought, really. And not Athena's, but
my own. I think." He paused, ruminating.
"Yes, I do believe it was my own."
The guards looked at each other in exasperation. Demo munched
their bread, then picked up the chief guard's wine bottle. The
latter half-heartedly attempted to retain it, but finally gave
it to Demo.
"Save me a draught, if you'd be so kind," he growled rather
sarcastically.
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