A Darkness Terrible

In days past, the philosopher Glaucon lived in a large town, near a larger city. His life was peaceful and happy. But lo, one night as he returned from the public gymnasium, he found his house cast into darkness. The animating power had deserted it; as it had three times before in that summer. He looked out, and saw lights north, and lights west; but none beside him. And lo, upon his father's return from his travels, he did step into a pile of dog's gifts; and it was most foul.

The animating power returned, in time; but again, even as Glaucon watched a tale of Star's Battle with his father and esteemed sibling, the power was lost unto them. And lo, it did flicker some time later, and then again fail; and Glaucon did venture, with father and esteemed brother, outside their home, where they did see a great whirling bird, illuminating the earth beneath. And Glaucon ventured to the land beneath which the whirling bird circled, first by foot, then by cart; and he did see the polis-men, and the fire-men, and did hear a most woeful tale, of the failure of the transformative force (not once, but twice!) and its pyrotechnic demise.

And Glaucon was content.