Life Springs Eternal (standard:science fiction, 942 words)
Author: pjlawton	Added: Nov 22 2003	Views/Reads: 3455/2263	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
What if there really was a fountain of youth? A young traveler is about to find out.

Life Springs Eternal 

By 

P.J. Lawton 

It was April 1st 1850. He was casually riding down the country lane when
he came upon the old man sitting against the hedgerow fence.  Seeing a 
feeble wave he stopped his horse to inquire if help was needed. 

“Are you ill? Do you need some assistance? 

“No young man,” came the quiet quavering voice, “I am not ill, just
tired, very, very tired. However, yes, I could do with some assistance. 
There is somewhere I must be today at exactly noon. One minute past is 
to late.” 

“Well, where is this place that's so important that you have to be there
at exactly noon, and not a minute past?” 

The old man realized that the young man was having sport with him but it
didn't matter. He could not go there alone! 

“There,” he said pointing to a distant hilltop cover with boulders and a
small stand of trees. 

“Hum, my old friend, that's got to be at least two kilometers away. It
would be quite a ways out of my way. I need to be at the market by 
noon. Helping you would make it awfully hard to get there on time. Can 
you make it worth something to me?” 

“Young fellow, whether or not to help me get to that hilltop could be
the most important decision you will ever make.  What if I give you 
something worth more than all the tea in China, all the gold and jewels 
in the world?” 

With a slight laugh he said. “Sure old man, you look like wealthiest man
in the world. Just what could you give me that would be worth so much?” 


The old man stared in the young mans eyes for a moment then quietly said
one word. “Immortality.” 

With a shocked expression the young man started to speak. Before he
could do so the old man raised his hand. “Wait. Help me to my 
destination and I will share with you my secret, the secret of eternal 
live. But, we must hurry!” 

The young man pulled the old man to his feet and helping him into the
saddle, started a slow walk for distant hilltop. Along the way he was 
told the following tale. 

The old mans voice was quiet but surprisingly strong. “ One day many,
many years ago I was in the same position that you are today.  I came 
upon an old frail old man sitting by the hedgerow fence. For rendering 
him assistance I was given the secret of eternal live.  I see that you 
are still skeptical. Believe me, everything I am about to tell you is 
very true.  You see, once every 50 years at exactly noon on April 1st a 
grand phenomenon occurs.” 

Pointing toward the hilltop he continued. “On the far side of that hill
is a small cave. Inside the cave is a dried up spring.  Dried up that 
is except for one minute once every 50 years. For one minute and one 
minute only sparking clear cool water flows. If someone drinks of the 
water he will in essence live forever.  There is one important thing 
that you must remember, to be immortal, to live forever, you must be 
there at precisely the set date and time. If you do not drink from the 
spring you will die.  The spring does not give you eternal youth, but 
simply returns you to your youth. You will age in a normal manner. If 
you choose to drink from the spring you become the keeper, a 
responsibility you must not take lightly.” 

“But what does the keeper do? Why is that so important?” 

“As the keeper you must ensure that nothing happens to the cave. Should


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