500: An Anthology of Short Stories

“This event is being taped in front of a live audience,” Adam explained, smiling widely into the camera lens. Although he looked relaxed and seemed in control of the telecast, he was a knot of nerves ready to snap at the least provocation. He sneaked a glance at Eve, his heart bumping hard against his chest when their eyes met.

“Our guest tonight has been kind enough to open up his estate to us so that we can explore to our heart’s content all the marvels he has collected on his travels over the years. Lucius Misère has seen and done it all. He has promised that tonight he will reveal his most prized item for the very first time, the rare and last of its kind: the pomegranate bonsai tree.”

The spectators gasped in delighted surprise. For the past fourteen years, the entire world had been searching for this famed last living bonsai, without success. To hear that Lucius Misère actually owned it, would display it for all to see, was a major source of excitement for the world. Twitter was instantly overwhelmed by tweets about it.

Eve was thrilled. Looking one more time at Adam, she thought, “Keep them glued to you with your media dance. Don’t you dare go to pieces on me!” Then she melted into the crowd.

Seconds later, she was in the sanctum sanctorum, exactly where their plans had revealed it would be. It was deserted, as she had known it would be. Lucius loved the limelight too much to stay here while the action was all up front. Silently, stealthily, secretively, Eve investigated the private area, looking carefully for hidden panels in the floor and walls. Serendipitously, she found the secret panel in the ceiling when a flying insect distracted her, causing her to look up. Her trained eye instantly spotted the faint lines of a square set flush within the ceiling. After about three minutes of further examination of the room, she found the button that would lower the recess. It was disguised as a protuberant tree whorl in a wall painting. “Ingenious,” Eve conceded.

With bated breath she waited as the column lowered slowly, bringing within her reach the most exquisite, breathtaking miniature tree. Its green leaves, brown bark and tiny red pomegranates sparkled with the essence of life. Eve reverently lifted the plant from its pedestal, cradling it with the utmost care.

“You will change everything. You are the answer to renewed life. Lucius has no right to hide you away in darkness.”

As if in response to Eve’s words, the bonsai pulsed suddenly, a brilliant burst of light that left the woman bereft of breath. As she made off with the treasure, Eve heard her mother’s prediction proclaimed all those years ago in their garden.

“When the time comes, the fruit of the last pomegranate bonsai tree planted in the earth of its origin, Japan, will allow a devastated Earth to be fully reborn.”

Life would soon flourish anew.