Cheated

By G. W. Thomas

"I've been cheated," said the dying man. His name was Krulek, dean of the College of Wizards.

"Who has cheated you, Krulek?" asked the visiting wizard.

"Who has not?"

"I don't see it," admitted the Rainbow Man.

"When I was a boy, the King exempted all second sons from service in the Narah-bezan War--until I turned sixteen. That year I went off to the trenches. I nearly died in the desert."

"But you didn't. You returned to a veteran's welcome."

"Some welcome! The pension had been seven gold ducats a year. But when I returned it was dropped to two silver. The year the Senator Redmont's son retired it was raised to twelve gold! But all I ever got was two silver."

"But you rose to be Dean of the College of Wizards."

"After thirty years! The first time I was up for the promotion, I was passed up for the nephew of the old Dean. Ten years went by. The second time I was refused because the committee felt women candidates had been overlooked in years past. On the third try I was passed up because the Senate wanted to placate the Narah-bezans. I only got the job because the Dean died unexpectedly. I've held the post for only a year now. And I am dying."

"But your year has been fruitful."

"My year bears rotten fruit. Look at my assistant for example, Petucci. A knucklehead who ruins more experiments than he finishes. The funds have been cut again and we have discovered only one new spell all year--a cure for warts in pigs! Bah, what fruit, I ask?"

"You have had some bad luck, my friend."

"Cheated. Not bad luck. Cheated by the Fates. I curse them--" With these words hissing from his pale lips the man sank into his sheets and expired.

There was a knock at the door. The young, mawkish apprentice, Petucci, ran in, huffing and puffing.

"What is it, man?" demanded the Rainbow Man.

"The experiment. It works. We've discovered immortality."

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