He stands under the full moon in the middle of the stone circle, naked and surrounded by the twelve standing stones.

The timing has to be perfect. He looks up towards the shining stars. “Today…” he thinks, “we conquer heaven.”

He holds the ancient clay tablet in his left hand, ready to smash it on the altar. “You kicked us out of heaven because you were afraid of us, old fool. Did you really think we’d never find the doorway? That we would never figure out the key?”

The distant church bells begin to chime.

One… “Your children have grown up.”

Two… “You took paradise from us.”

Three… “You pitiful old man.”

Four… “Afraid of the new knowledge in our eyes.”

Five… “Afraid we might outgrow you.”

Six… “Afraid to loose your grip upon us.”

Seven… “You closed the door on us.”

Eight… “You left us to our fate.”

Nine… “Well, today we turn the key.”

Ten… “Get ready, you old fool.”

Eleven… “Tonight we make you pay.”

Twelve…

He smashes the piece of ancient clay against the stone below him.

The stones begin to glow as he laughs at the completion of his life’s work.

The glow turns into blinding light. The door to heaven is wide open… But, but… something is wrong!

A look of horror crosses his face as he suddenly realizes the true meaning of the scribblings on the broken tablet now shattered at his feet.

He is the key, but a key cannot only be used to open a door! He tries to scream, to run, it is too late…

The glow fades, leaving behind a perfect circle made of thirteen standing stones.

From among the dark trees, an old man walks into the circle, picks the intact ancient clay tablet from the altar, and walks back into the night.

The timing had been perfect. The lock has once again been turned. The door will stay shut long enough for the next key to appear, and lock it back again.

“You kicked us out of paradise, old fool, waited for us to beg for mercy. But you never expected us to lock the door behind us.” Thinks the old man with a smile.