Prometheus

By Martin Marais

When two shepherds, out hunting a wolf, stumble across a raggedly-dressed man chained to an alter rock they find themselves in danger of becoming embroiled in the affairs of the gods in which mere mortals should not involve themselves. However, what else are two lowly, honourable shepherds to do in such situations, but become involved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Martin Marais
• Release date: Jul 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370163717

Martin Marais

I have wanted to publish a novel for many years and although my mind was bubbling with ideas none appealed to me sufficiently to make the time to write it. I then read "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara, a splendid telling of the American Civil War battle of Gettysburg. The story is told from the viewpoint of those who took part in the battle. I was intrigued by the structure of the book and it inspired me to put aside the time to write my own novel. Fortunately I had the prefect subject to hand. The Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) has always held a fascination for me, especially the Battle of Paardeberg, which was, arguably, the turning point of the war. What intrigued me was why the British commander, Lord Roberts, a man of reputed enormous compassion towards his men, put them through such torment in a forced march of over one hundred miles across South African semi-desert and why the Boer General Cronjé responded in the way he did. It was the decisions and actions of these two men during the prosecution of this particular battle that were to change the direction of the war. My debut novel Paardeberg: Lord Robert’s Gambit is my attempt to understand the thoughts, values and convictions of some of those involved in the battle and to write down their story. Of French Huguenot stock, I was born in Kitwe, Zambia and spent most of my childhood in South Africa. I now live in England.

Book preview

Prometheus

A short story

By Martin Marais

© Martin Marais 2017

Martin Marais has asserted his rights

under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988,

to be identified as the author of this work.

This edition published in 2017 by Martin Marais

*

Prometheus

1

And that, Isokrates concluded dramatically, his eyes scanning the awed faces of his audience, is how I got the scar.

As he stood up, the gloomy light of the tavern’s tallow lanterns seemed to realign and focus on him. He lifted his tattered tunic and turned. One of the shepherds, who was sat at the table, raised a lamp to allow a better view and the rest of them gathered around to examine the scar. Of course, they had seen it before, but as, undoubtedly, the most courageous shepherd amongst them, Isokrates received their utmost respect and they went through the well-established ritual. Some could not resist, but to hover their fingers down the lengths of the ragged claw marks that the bear had left etched on Isokrates’ back. None, however, dared touch them.

Old Kleitos, who alone had remained seated, smiled to himself as he watched the men go through the ritual. They had all heard the story before, many times, but it was a magnificent story, the best of them all, and Isokrates was a past master at telling tales, which was why his story was always the last to be told during the shepherds’ gatherings on these cold winter nights. Kleitos lifted his leather tankard and took a draft of his warm mead. He was the oldest shepherd in the valley, by far, and his great age and