Here's a bonus flash piece from a writing retreat at Western Colorado University. The sprint prompts were: Professor, pyramid, domain. Here goes:
MISGUIDED PROFESSOR
Professor Lewis stared at the pyramid in dismay. It wasn’t like the piles of stone found outside Cairo. Its sides were much steeper, as were the dozen or so others standing in a line.
“What are these?” he asked his guide, Hawatta. “Who made them?”
Hawatta’s English was perfect with a slight British accent. “They are the only remains known of the Kush culture, Egypt’s sometimes partner, but mostly their rival.”
The Professor frowned. “I’ve heard of the Kush, but not much is known about them, right?”
“Ah, you Westerners,” Hawatta said, not without a touch of rancor. “If you didn’t steal sculptures and obelisks from a culture, you think nothing of it.”
“Now, wait a minute—” Lewis protested, but Hawatta cut him off.
“The Kush’s core domain extended from just south of Memphis in the north to Lake Victoria in the south. And, they conquered and ruled Egypt up to the sea for four centuries.”
Hawatta’s indignation was lost on the Professor.
“That’s fascinating,” Lewis said, “but why have so many of these pyramids fallen into ruin?”
The guide shook his head. “They were looted for mummies and grave goods to be sold to the English and French explorers who raped our culture. How can one explore a culture that has lasted five thousand years?”
“I see your point,” Lewis said, mainly to shut the man up. “So, what are we here to explore today?”
An ugly smile broke out on Hawatta’s face.
“You will be exploring the depths of the tomb hidden beneath the ransacked pyramid.”
He pulled back a few large rocks blocking the entrance to a vertical shaft. When Lewis bent over to peer into it, Hawatta gave him a shove.
As Professor Lewis’s cries faded out, Hawatta replaced the stones and returned to the airport to pick up his next visiting professor.
THE END
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