I Read Stories: But Mayflies On The Water, Gazing At The Sun by Jennifer DeLeskie

 

 But Mayflies On The Water, Gazing At The Sun by Jennifer DeLeskie in Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Tagtug was the caretaker of the artificial ponds of Eridu. A poor man with a rich neighbour, generally considered unfortunate. The priests threatened him when the carp in the ponds began to sicken and die. He discovered a way to save them.

This is a test. The god Enki lives in a pond in the temple and the priests need Tagtug to save him from the lice that afflict him. As Tagtug dives, Enki speaks to him, warning him of disaster. Tagtug tries to use this knowledge to save himself and his wife. It goes wrong.

There are a lot of repeated phrases and scenes, which add to the feeling of oral history, highlight how and when things change and also, by repetition, make a lot of good jokes.

Read This: For a funny ancient-esopotamian-flavoured apocalypse
Don’t Read This: Death, destruction and doom should not be funny