The economics of Pan...

Pan sat in the center of the great council. He rolled his eyes as the scribe read off the charges, each worse than the previous. Zeus glowered down on the central podium where Pan sat, sighing.

Pan shot a sideways smile and a quick wink at Daphnis who was looking on shyly. Her face flushed as she raised her shoulders glanced away. He didn't dare blow a kiss, as this would place Zeus completely over the edge. Even Pan knew the boundaries not to cross. This boundary was somewhere in the vicinity of the outskirts of Hades. There would definetly be no fun to be had there.

So Pan listened on half interrestedly, marking the time by the grains of sand dropping through the hour glass.

"PAN!" bellowed Zeus, "WHAT HAVE YOU TO SAY REGARDING THE CHARGES RAISED AGAINST YOU?!?" "I'm sorry" quipped Pan, "I couldn't quite hear what you were saying." Even under threat of banishment, Pan couldn't resist a little jab here and there.

"PAN!" Zeus continued, "You have been charged with spreading disease and destruction throughout the land. The cost of your libations and frivolities have been great. What have ye to say?"

Pan sat thoughtfully as the sentence hung like a stale scent once pleasant. After some time, he broke the silence with a question. "How, could this be true?" said he, "I have done nothing but given the world a ROSE, yet you accuse me of sewing thistles."

Zeus uttered a low sigh as his voice calmed. "Pan, your ROSE held bitter thornes. Did you not know that only the top of the rose holds the pleasant scent? The remainder left over time is sharp, painful, and hard to let go. This is the price of your endeavors. For you are not human and do not know the pain, for time is neverending for you, thus the petals never fall."

Zeus continued, "Pan, is there no way that you will understand and cease your sewing?" Pan held no understanding of the weight of his words. He had never felt any of the pain of which Zeus spoke of. His was a life of pleasure and continual enjoyment. He couldn't conceive of the damage of which he was charged.

"Lord Zeus, " Pan responded, "I know nothing of what you speak. My work is the work of love and happiness. There is no pain, nor could there be. What loss you speak of, I know not. Therefore, I will not stop spreading my form of happiness. I will continue till the end of my days, which you know well will never come." With that, Pan leaned back against the rail and smiled triumphantly.

Zeus clapped his mighty hands together signifying that he was ready to pass sentence on the accused. "Pan, there is nothing to do with you, but to banish you. The cost of your freedom is too high." The panoply gasped at the sentenced passed, for many of them had taken part in Pan's escapades and had assured themselves that he would find his freedom in the end.

Zeus raised his arms to quiet the rising din. "Pan, despite this sentence, I do not pass the judgement upon you." Pan cocked a quizzical eyebrow. The gods sat in questioning silence. Zeus continued, "I pass this judgement on all present, BUT you. I know the secret acts of those in this room and I know of their hidden thoughts." The great room slammed to a convicted halt. "I pass this judgement, that you be banished from the hearts and lives of all, but I do not cast you from the land. It is the responsibility of all present to banish you from their lives, so that one day you will hold no sway over them."

Zeus clapped his hands for the final time and left the others with their convictions. One by one, the gods turned to leave, their hearts pierced with guilt. One by one they left, until the columned halls rang hollow.

Pan stood bewildered. What had happened? Was he still in trouble? No Hades?

"Huh." exclaimed Pan. And with that, he went off to find some libation.

The end.