The pale men slept, and Darin and his captain, Lorin, stealthily crossed the dark desert. They descended the dune, approaching the wagon carrying the Money Tree. It was worth a fortune. Each golden apple could sustain a lifetime of … anything. And this tree yielded apples daily.
Darin unfastened the trunk as Lorin ensured everyone dozed through the rattling sounds.
The fools hadn't posted a watchman, making their task all the easier.
In the wagon, Darin noticed a bag of three shining apples—riches that could sustain him beyond life. Yet, beside it, the tree trunk promised infinite wealth once replanted.
Darin hesitated, gazing at the bag whilst hoisting the trunk with a scraping sound. He dragged it away, cringing at the thud when it hit the ground. His eyes remained fixed on the golden apples.
His captain noticed his longing. "Short gain or long-term treasure, Darin?" She locked eyes as they carried the heavy load up the dune to their cart.
"I know. They was right there is all. Easy pickings, easy life. Right?"
"You're not wrong, Darin, but this," she strained between the branches, "is the final answer. Not just a fleeting one."
"Aye, Cap'n... I hope you're right."
About the Creator
JP Harris
I like writing kooky stories
Comments (2)
This wonderful story is my favorite of your 200-word entries.
A genius take on the challenge and excellent writing - great entry!