short story · fiction · 1 min read
Timepiece
Jenny admires an ornate old clock whose hands are stuck — until a small voice from a hidden cupboard in its back reveals a prisoner with three centuries of grievance and a desperate plea.
“What a lovely old clock,” said Jenny, stroking its woodenfront, “although it’s not got the right time.”
“Let me out, let me out,” came a voice from deep within itand Jenny realised that there was a cupboard in the back. Inthe cupboard was a little old man, gaunt and grey.
“Let me out, let me out. Three hundredyears ago I had an affair with the lord’s wife, and I wassentenced to live forever in this terrible machine, fed only scrapsand every hour hearing the chimes, always the same time. Letme die, let me die.”
He collapsed on the floor before them.