Panoptes

Panoptes is Greek for all-seeing; it comes from Argos Panoptes, the many-eyed giant of myth.

“That isn’t me. I’m Pan, neither a giant nor many-eyed, but I am all-seeing, and it is my curse that I will carry to the grave.”

My great-grandmother Baba told me that when I was born, a childless witch begged for me to be her heir, but mother and father would not hear of it, and for their denial, they were killed, and I was cursed.

Baba trained me the best she could to use the curse of seeing everything everywhere all at once as a gift to help those who lost items that were precious to them.

I’ve even managed to aid local officials in finding murderers and thieves. Still, the townspeople look upon me with suspicion or fear. “Turn away. She has the sight,” they whisper as I pass by.

My cat doesn’t seem to mind my curse one bit. I fear I would go mad without her companionship.

Once in a while, a strange request is made. I wonder if that old witch isn’t trying to cause me to fail for her amusement.

“Excuse me, Miss, but are you the girl who can see everything? ” a raggedy little girl asked.

“Aye, I am she. What does a little street urchin like yourself need?” replied Pan.

“I have lost something very important, and I’m afraid that if I don’t get it back, many people will suffer badly,” said the child.

The word “suffer” caught my attention, so after discussing the matter further, it was revealed that her family was the keepers of the fabled Eye of Horis and that removing it from its setting would cause a plague.

“So the Lord Mayor is in possession and intends to give the Eye as a brooch?” asked Pan.

“Yes, Miss, that’s correct. Many will die, and more will suffer because I tried to sell it,” the child answered.

“Then we must stop him,” exclaimed Pan.

Grabbing her bag and cat, the two rushed to the town center. Pan told the child to remain hidden while she talked to the Lord Mayor. Arriving at the manner house, the child made herself scarce.

“I am here to see the Lord Mayor on a matter of extreme importance,” said Pan

“He’s busy. Come back next week,” said the guard.

“I see you are still visiting your brother’s wife, and I believe she is with a child—your child, a son. Oh, how proud you must be,” remarked the girl.

“You’re that girl, look, I don’t want no troubles. You can see him in his study—second door on the left. A son, you say,” replied the man, half smiling.

Pan walked to the door, knocked twice, and then entered.

“What the devil, who are you, and by what right do you come in here uninvited,” said the Lord Mayor.

“The stone you stole is the Eye of Horis, and if you remove it from its setting, people will die, including your wife and children, that’s who,” said Pan.

“I know you. The all-seeing girl, well, I don’t believe in your trickery, and if you don’t leave now, I will have you hanged in the morning,” said the man.

“Suit yourself. I’ll reveal that you and Master Slator sold the town’s grain to the Malthusian army. You do know how many starved that winter, don’t you?” Pan remarked as she turned to leave.

“No one knows that,” said the Lord Mayor.

“I do, and I know where you hid the Malthusian coins they paid you. Imagine what they’ll do to you when they dig it up and find it in one of Slator’s flour sacks,”

“Take the accursed thing. I could care less about it,” said the man as he retrieved the artifact and handed it to Pan.

“Good day, sir,” said Pan, who turned and walked straight out of the manor house.

“Did you get it, Miss? ” asked the child. Pan led the little girl back home and sat her before the fire.

“So if I give it to you, how do I know it will be safe? Look at you—you’re an urchin. Someone could steal it from you as you slept,” Pan asked.

“No worries, Miss. This outfit is a ruse. I had to wear it, or my mum would have seen me. Since I was the one who lost it, I had to get it back, or I wouldn’t get any puddings forever,” said the child.

Pan handed the Eye to the child and bid farewell.

“Well, Samantha, that could have turned out very badly indeed. “Shall we have tea now,” said Pan, removing the cat from her bag and setting the kettle to boil.