The Plague, by Mark Tulin – Friday Flash Fiction
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The Plague, by Mark Tulin
7/2/2020
When King Theobald was gravely ill, all the people in his kingdom praised him, saying what a gracious and resourceful monarch he was, and wished him a fast recovery.
Once the King died from a long bout of the bubonic plague, everyone could relax and breathe out a sigh of relief. Now that the King was dead, they spoke about the ruthless way he governed and the many people that he tortured and beheaded.
But their reprieve was short-lived. A new king would soon take the throne. They hoped that his rule would be shorter and less barbaric.


Death eventually takes the most fearsome of tyrants.
Yes, Rosaliene, they can’t live forever.
But there always seems to be another one to take their place.
Yes, Liz. It’s a vicious cycle.