The castle walls gleamed. Bright banners flapped in the stiff breeze. Armies of palace guards stood at attention. They denied all who approached an audience with the King.
“The King’s busy. And anyhow, the affairs of the kingdom run smoothly.”

Inside, the throne room was empty, and covered in dust.

Matthew F. Amati writes about software for a living. Two of his stories are forthcoming in Flash Fiction Online.