Weekend Worlds gets taken over this week by neo-Aegea, since I was in the midst of telling you a story. I've decided that this story is better told in three parts, however, and so below, you can find the middle of my translation.
Always,
Dr. John Skylar
Chairman
Department of Anachronism
University of Constantinople
Image via WikipediaJonas set off on his own to find the old Machinists' shop. For the first half hour of his walke,d he cursed the Engineers of his home City and himself for his lack of preparation. His bag contained provisions, augury and sacrificial equipment, all manner of texts, but no map.
The locals were kind enough to help, however. They yelled helpful advice to him where ever he went.
"Dumb-ass, you can't walk on this part of the sidewalk, that's reserved for the Captain's men!"
"Watch where you're going!"
"Give me your purse!"
The last one, he did not listen to. By then, so fed up with the state of his mission, he just pulled out his Aegis and watched its green light dissolve the assailant. He cursed himself again as he ran out of the stinking alleyway. His sandals clanged on the deckplate and his robes billowed around him.
He muttered, "This city is killing me. I have to hide, or either the thugs or Athena will end me."
Just then he saw a faint glow in the smoggy mists of Lex Ave. A reddish light from a Harpazō Metro stop.
Like the rosy-fingered child of morning, and idea dawned on him, "I'll hide in the Metro!" he yelled.
Passers-by stared at the Engineer. They took him for crazy. He raised the collar on his service robe, and rushed toward the Metro entrance.
Soon safely below, he navigated the payment system with ease. It only took a couple of spare parts from his wallet, and he could make the fare.
He slipped through the spinning metal gates to the underground labyrinth. At that time, Captain Sennacherib ordered his sorcerers, all of them fallen Engineers, to construct a special breed of Thalassians that would guard the metro and command the vast bathyscaphs that navigated its maze of watery tubes.
These Thalassians he called Minotaurs, and they were terrible beasts, with the faces of sharks, and horns to go along with. [act this out, you should get a reaction from your audience; use gestures!]
Jonas saw the terrible beasts, and in fear, rushed into the first bathyscaph that arrived. The other people onboard looked at him as they might a giant bug, for in reality, their Captain's decree made Engineers just as unwanted.
He sat down in the first seat he could find, but still, they would not keep their eyes off him. He tried not to let it bother him, and went over his plan in his mind, "I will go to the old Machinists' and see if I can sleep there. I will hide in its basement. Athena will not find me."
He never realized that all of this made up a part of the goddess's plan.
At least, not until several cycles into his ride. As the Star's light disappeared from the bathyscaph windows, the glowstrips above flickered. Jonas looked around him and saw none of the passengers looked concerned. But then, a terrible noise and commotion shook the bathyscaph, and the glowstrips went dead.
Jonas heard confused whispers, then, from nowhere, a voice boomed, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are experiencing a minor delay as the gods demand we throw out one of our passengers or be utterly destroyed."
A dark cloud of dread extended over Jonas when he heard those words. Athena found him.
The other passengers began to yell, "Who will it be? Tell us!"
In hopes that Athena might fall be appeased, Jonas said, "Let's pray! Perhaps they will have mercy. I am an Engineer, let me lead you."
The people, though they did not believe in the gods, felt desperate and so they followed him. Just as his hymn ended, however, the bathyscaph shook again, with more violence. They heard cracks in the porthole glass, and steam spewed from its Engine.
Again the Minotaur's voice boomed, "Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience, but rest assured that in two minutes' time the bathyscaph will be destroyed."
Again, the people wailed and cried. "What fate is this?"
"I just wanted bread!"
"I'm went to visit my dying aunt, I don't want to die too!"
Jonas sighed. Perhaps, he thought, Athena would fall for a switch. "What if we draw straws?" he suggested.
The starlight returned in time for him to see the others' nods at this suggestion. He took a package of straws from his sack, cut off one, and then mixed them together. He was ready to offer them around when a large passenger stood up and held out his hand.
"Give them to me, Engineer. I want to be sure we have a fair deal."
Jonas looked at the sizable man. He saw no way out of it, and handed over the bundle.
They all drew. A small child opened his hand first, "Mommy! Is it too short?"
"No, son...but mine is." Jonas heard in reply. Indeed, his mother had drawn the short straw. She would go in Jonas's place.
They led her to the airlock at the end of the bathyscaph, and the large man began to spin the wheel to let her out.
When the door swung open, Jonas screamed, "No! I will go. It is me they want. Send me, and this will all be over."
The people glared. And then, they cast him into the sea.
Part III on your Sunday!
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