[ WP ] write the song `` All Along the Watchtower '' as a short story

`` Well, let's see it,'' she said. 
 
 He held out his hand. In his palm were two rings that glowed softly in the dark storeroom. 
 
 `` What? That's it? I thought they would be... bigger.'' 
 
 He shrugged. `` I steal things that I can carry.'' 
 
 `` Let's get to it then. It's our only way out of here. It's almost midnight, they're going to find us soon.'' 
 
 They put on the rings and held their breath. 
 
 She tisked at him. `` You do n't know how to work them, do you?'' 
 
 He shrugged again, `` I am a thief, not a-'' 
 
 `` Oh shut up.'' She twisted the ring on her finger muttering to herself, `` Gosh this is confusing.'' Behind the door they heard guards stomping along the hallway looking for them. 
 
 She glared at him. `` We're going to die here and it's your fault. Do you know how long I've worked for this? Businessmen drink my wine, I entertain them and laugh at their insipid jokes. Plowmen dig my earth -'' 
 
 He coughed. 
 
 `` Shut up. None of them know that it was all worth it for this. But you did n't have the brains to steal the instruction manual. That's big enough for you to carry, is n't it? Now we're going to die here.'' 
 
 He held up his hands. `` No reason to get excited,'' he said kindly. `` We know better. You and I know it's all a joke. After all we've been through? That is not our fate. So let's not speak falsely now as the hour is getting late. We have to make them work.'' 
 
 She pushed him, `` Well I do n't know how to work a time machine, it's complicated stuff. Here let me take a look at yours.'' She grabbed his hand and the rings flashed. 
 
 **** 
 
 Up in the Watchtower, the Prince played idly with the ring on his hand. In front of him stood his exact likeness. 
 
 `` Yes we know that the thieves arrive sometime tonight. They take two rings from the bedroom. They're probably coming on bikes, they could n't risk public transit.'' 
 
 The first Prince looked out from the window at his city. Masses were streaming out, some merchants leaving after a day of selling goods, others returning from work in the mines. Some women, some children, no doubt a servants off on errands for their lords. 
 
 `` Hmmm...'' he mused. `` Well, we will keep an eye out. Did they use them?'' 
 
 `` Not that I know of. I should get back.'' He clapped his hands together and vanished. 
 
 **** 
 
 By the north gate, two motorcycles merged with traffic. They had bought the bikes from a dealer out in the mountains, but they were noisy and for some reason were excessively proud of their brand, Wildcat was painted in white letters across them. Not exactly inconspicuous. She looked over at him in the dim light of dusk as the wind howled. They only had one chance at this.
