Precious

Bored, bored, bored, bored. I was bored. I'd been here for, oh, how long has it been? I lost count of how many times the river froze. I think I can remember three earthquakes, I can recall fish. Lots of fish. Yep. I'm bored.

I'm bored with the fact that the most exciting thing that I can remember was being swallowed by a fish 400 years ago. I was enraged at the time and the thing choked on me and died. At least I didn't have to wait long before it's body decomposed and was eaten away by other fish. Even it's ribs have floated away.

Wait, there's still one underneath me. It's been there for so long I forgot what it was. At least it hasn't scratched me. Hah. Like that would happen. Maybe I'll get swallowed by a bigger fish and it won't choke on me. I'll get a little vacation, touring the guts of a fish, and when it finally dies I'll find myself in a new place.

What's the use? I'll still be bored. Maybe that fish that swallows me can get eaten by a bear. That would be fun. I'd even settle for living in a pile of bear shit while dung beetles forage away. I know eventually I'd get some fresh air. Well, eventually.

But I'm still bored. There's nothing to do. I can only relive my life so many times before my memory gets all hazy and I forget the exact order of things. There was a forge, and a battle. There was a lot of hoopla over me for some reason. I can't imagine that I was that important, after all, my maker hasn't come looking for me for hundreds of years. At least, I assume it was a hundred years ago. My memory is so fuzzy how can I be sure that the fish didn't swallow me yesterday? How do I know my maker isn't dredging the river looking for me?

I can't even remember my maker's face. That's embarrassing. Obviously I have some importance, yet here I lie at the bottom of a river completely forgotten.

Bored. Lonely. Bored. Lonely.

Well that was an interesting distraction. It's not enough. I'm still bored. There's a lot of movement in the water. Something's disturbing all the fish. Greed. I can feel someone is rather greedy nearby. I think my maker was greedy. Perhaps it's him?

No. Whoever is up there is too small to be my maker. After all, small people don't amount to much. I can feel two of them now. Boy are they clumsy. They're scared. One of them is a lot closer to me. He must of fell in, silly person.

Curious. It's curious about something down here. Well I've been down here ages and I can tell you that there is absolutely nothing interesting down here. Except for me. That's right. I'm down here and I'm more interesting than fish. Fish only feed your stomach for a day.

I wish I had more light to tease the little bugger a bit. Here he is, reaching for me. I've got to shrink a little bit to fit that hand. Careful, you'll drop me. I haven't waited down here in the mud for centuries to be dropped by you, but you are rather clumsy aren't you. Close your hand into a fist. That's right. I'll help you up to the surface you simpleton air-breather. Why go swimming in the river if you need air to breathe? I don't understand some creatures.

Let me get a look at you. Simple minded. I can't use you at all. Unclench your fist. AAAAHHH that's bright, whatever what's the word...sun. That's it. The sun is very bright today. I can feel myself warming up. Yes, I'll fit on your finger but lets just wait on that. You might not be able to handle it. Didn't you have a friend? Let's go find him.

There he is. He's an altogether different kind of person. He looks he's going places. I could use him. He looks like the sort of person who'd kill for a trinket like me. Get away from the river, I don't want him to kill you and have your clumsiness throw me back into that river. I'm looking forward to this.

Kick him! Get him off of you! That's right. Now go get him. He's stronger, greedier, and cleverer than you but don't let that stand in your way. Defend your property. That'd be me you tit. Look out for that...

Log. Okay, he's strangling you. Let it pass. Your death will only serve a greater good. Or evil depending on how you look at it. Don't be surprised. You won't...hey, you're not even listening. No wonder. You're dead. Open up your fist. There's no reason for your hand to tighten up. He's got to pry your cold dead fingers open...

Ah, hello there. Aren't you a nasty little one? You'll do nicely. Precious, aren't I?