copyright Al Forbes
The Importance of Legends
It was a badly-kept secret among intellectuals that the vaults under the British Museum held a portal to another world. It was a jade gate that had been stolen from China in 1840. When its secret was discovered in 1848, a stream of explorers and archaeologists had entered it, never to reappear. Eventually, the gate was locked up.
Until 2012 . . .
Cameras clicked and flashed as Dr. Forbes stood in front of the jade gate.
“I discovered the map in our archives,” he said. “The corner was torn off, but I managed to decipher the ancient Chinese to see that it is a map of the land beyond. It shows where the dangers are, as well as a magnificent treasure, across this plain and beyond these mountains.” He pointed to a reproduction of the three-foot square map. “I will now enter the gate with my team. We plan to be gone a week.”
The next day, a janitor was cleaning up the archive room and found a scrap of paper under a desk. It said 一寸是一万里*, not even English. He threw it away.
*(1 inch = 3600 miles)
The Green-Walled Tower 
December 29th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
Hahaha whoops. I think it may well be a bit more than a week hehe
December 29th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
Yeah, possibly. 🙂
December 29th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
😀
December 29th, 2013 at 10:46 pm
Just a minor detail they missed! I like the portal idea, David and the Chinese mixed in. Great writing.
December 30th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Thank you. I tend to like the other worlds idea a lot, but it’s fun.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:55 am
I think it’s going to take longer than a week to get back! lol.
I liked the portal idea as well.
December 30th, 2013 at 8:26 am
Great story David, you had me in, well done.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Thank you. 🙂
December 30th, 2013 at 8:36 am
The fine print, no matter what language can male all the difference. I would love to read your coverage of their adventures in this land.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
That’s an idea. Maybe I will.
December 30th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Gonna be one looooooong week.
Good one, David – enjoyed your work as usual 🙂
December 30th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Of course, an ironic twist would be that time doesn’t flow the same in either place, so even though it takes them 20 years to make the trip, they come back exactly a week later of our time. Kind of a Narnia time shift thing.
December 31st, 2013 at 1:00 pm
just loved it!!!!! 🙂
January 1st, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Oooh, now that could be an interesting trip 🙂
January 1st, 2014 at 8:44 pm
A great idea, and the story begs to be continued…
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Ha! “Not even English”!
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:05 pm
If it’s not English, it’s worthless,right? 🙂
January 7th, 2014 at 7:36 am
Reblogged this on Mind Chatter and commented:
Short but will make you smile.