Gumbo From the Time Tunnel

The portal spiraled like a galaxy, with an azure hue emitting from its rim. Within was a soft, violet cloud. A man in a cloak came through the portal. He stood in an antechamber. King Evercrest stood before him. “What item have you taken from the future, Theramor?”

“They call it a machine gun. It is quite destructive.”

“Who knew the opal was a time talisman!”

“Indeed Lord. If only he that holds the talisman can only traverse the portal was not the case.”

“Soon we will have enough weapons of the future to vanquish our ancient foes of the kingdom of Hera. Tell me again-how do you operate this living statue?”

“The men of the future call it an….android.”

“Ah, very good. And is there anything our partner wants?”

“He wants the diamond of Ifria.”

“Hmm…That is no small request.”

“Those are his terms. Lord, there is weapon he possess of tremendous destructive power-enough to dissipate an entire army.”

“What is this instrument of great wrath?”

“It has the power like a volcano.”

“Then the diamond is his!”

Theramor bowed and went to the treasure vault and retrieved the priceless diamond.

“Be quick about it. There are rumors the kingdom of Hera will attack tonight.”

“Yes, Lord.”

The wizard stepped through and was in a metallic room with blinking lights and multi-colored strands that showed on a large cylindrical tube.

“Ah, you’re here! Do you have the artifact?”

“Indeed, Brandon.”

Theramor gave the diamond to Brandon.

“No what of this weapon you spoke of?”

“It’s called a hydrogen bomb. I have worked forever to compact the device.”

Brandon put a rectangular casing with a handle onto a metal table and the casing opened like a book. Inside was a confusing array of nodes, wires, lights and nobs.

“Pay attention, Theramor. This is how you activate the weapon. It is simple. “Merely, push this switch and it will detonate in an hour. That should give you time to clear the blast field.”

Brandon closed it and handed it to Theramor. He paused. “What is that smell?”

“Oh, that’s just some reheated gumbo from last night.”

“What is gumbo?”

Brandon took a bowl of brown substance with the consistency of porridge. “Try some.”

The wizard slowly used a spoon to scoop up the gumbo and put it to his lips and tasted it with his tongue. He slurped up the whole spoonful and went for more and emptied the whole bowl.

“This is delectable! Tell me the ingredients.”

“There in one final thing I want. I have heard you speak of dragons before. They are extinct in my time. I want you to bring me a dragon egg.”

“Very well. It will take time.”

“I will wait.”

Theramor walked through the portal and stepped into the castle antechamber.

“My lord, there is one last thing he wants.”

King Evercrest nodded. “And what does he want?”

“A dragon egg.”

“In exchange for what!”

“Lord, I have tasted the most sumptuous, delicious dish! It will be worth it!”

“What is it called?”

“Gumbo!”

“I’ll take your word for it. Let us go into the forest to retrieve an egg.”

A small party of guards, including Theramor and Evercrest, went to the forest and were on the look out for any nests or female dragons.

The guards held their swords and spears with white knuckles. They ebbed their way onward deeper into the forest.

A roar came from the trees ahead and the lead guard spoke up. “Use your words carefully. Communicating with dragons is tricky.”

An enormous reptilian fifteen high behemoth emerged from the foliage.

“What do you want, Humans!” it said. “Have you come to slay me like my mate three weeks ago?”

“We will make a pact with your whole kind to never hunt you again,” said the king.

“And what do you want in return?”

“An egg.”

“You would make me surrender my precious offspring!”

“You have my words as a king, the days of dragon hunting will stop. Think about the rest of your kind.”

The female dragon hung its head. “What pledge do I have from you?”

“This is the royal pendent passed down from all our kings. It is yours.” Evercrest took off the pendent and threw it before the beast.

A tear came from the dragon’s eyes. “Very well.”

The dragon returned from the foliage with an egg cradled in her wings. And it was put into a wagon.

The dragon and the party of humans parted ways forever.

“I am telling you, it is a true delicacy you will taste!”

When they returned to the castle, Theramor hoisted the egg by a large satchel into the portal.

On the other side, Brandon smiled with a beaming face. “Amazing! You did it.”

Brandon took out a paper with the gumbo ingredients and gave a bowl of gumbo to Theran.

“I suppose this will be where we part ways, wizard.”

“Indeed, Brandon. Farewell!”

Theramor stepped through the portal for the last time with the gumbo. He took out the talisman that made the portal, uttered and incantation and it closed.

“My Lord, this is the dish I spoke of.”

Evercrest took a spoonful of gumbo. “MMM…! Delicious!”

The king touched his throat and coughed. “It’s getting hard to breath.” He coughed again. He dropped the bowl and fell to his knees, gagging.

“My Lord! What is happening!”

The king clutched his throat, unable to answer. He struggled to breath until he lost consciousness and stopped moving.

Theramor looked over the list of ingredients and gasped. “‘Okra! He is allergic to it!”

“He has poisoned the king! I saw it myself,” yelled a servant.

Guards ran into the chamber and Theramor was arrested after they saw the food on the dead king’s lips and he bowl Theramor held.”

Two days later, the kingdom wizard was beheaded. The last that went through his mind was Why was I so greedy?”