“Well,” said Milleria slyly, thinking it would be best just to play along with the king’s delusions.  “I guess I could spontaneously generate a little life.  I’ ll need some broth, though.” 

     It was immediately fetched.  Milleria then whispered an incantation at the broth.

     “Well?” nagged King Larry. 

     “It’ll take a while,” replied Milleria. 

     It took a whole day.  But at the end of that day, the broth was murky, and microscopic analysis showed that it was swimming with life where before it had been steril e.  King Larry was elated.

     “Now all I need is about 10,000 soldiers.  By next Thursday preferably.”

Milleria was aghast.  She then...

• ...told the king that she had tricked him, and that air-borne micro-organisms landing and growing in the broth were really responsible. 
   
• ...stalled. 

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