Anant was complaining that my blog posts were taking the form of cryptic one-liners by the day. So I have decided to post a cryptic multi-liner instead.

***

The child sat quietly looking condescendingly at all that was happening down below. He was in no hurry. The people down there were scurrying about making their clumsy attempts at putting things together, and were failing half the time. Those, whose attempts succeeded, would be jubilant at their success, and would dance around with joy, uninterested in the longer term results of their deeds. Those who failed, would lament as if their life had become worthless.

It was so funny. Little did they know that the key to all their success lay in his hands and in his hands alone. And while they perspired unknowingly, he could sit back, and laugh at them. It felt so good to be so powerful. He felt like he was God!

His eyes fell on one particular young man. The first time the young man tried, he was late. Others stepped in before him, shoved him aside, and he was left standing, eyeing the trophy wistfully, while they carried it away. He so wanted to have it, and now it was gone. If only he had been a little faster. But now it was no use worrying about it. The child up there looked at the forlorn expression on the young man's face and smiled, shaking his head.

Suddenly, the young man noticed that the trophy had been left ungaurded. He did not know what had happened but there it was, out in the open once again. He was not the only one to notice it. Other people were also making their way towards the trophy. In the mad rush that followed, the young man suddenly found that he was ahead of the crowd. The only obstacle in his path were the keepers of the trophy. He had to deal with them somehow.

The child also noticed what was happening. Presently he sighed. It was time for him to act. He got up from his comfortable position, and picked up the small gold bow lying near his feet. He picked up the gold arrow next to it, and put it on the bowstring. He knelt down on one knee, looked down, and took careful aim. He pulled the string and held it for one second. He let go the string.....