"The God Wars" - Chapter Twenty-two: Trinkets

The God Wars

Chapter Twenty-two:

Trinkets

By Dwayne MacInnes

Hermes was surprised how fast the Otherworlders were transforming the world. He saw devices that even his fellow gods never imagined. A thing called a projector could flash moving images with sound onto a screen. He found these extremely entertaining. It was a shame all the mortals would have to die.

It was also a shame Ares had sulked for months after his defeat. If he had admitted the nature and extremity of his defeat immediately, the gods could have moved faster. As it were, the Otherworlders had already swelled their ranks with local Atlanteans. They had even shared the knowledge of the use and construction of their weapons with the locals. It would now be extremely difficult and deadly to destroy the mortals.

Hermes had set up shop outside one of the larger building in Zakrostas. It was only ten stories tall yet it was taller than anything ever seen on this world. Even Hermes was astounded as he craned his neck to look up towards the long spire than transfixed the apex of the building.

Dr. Reno walked past the merchant selling trinkets outside the military building. He could make out the ancient script on the side of the man's cart proclaiming he was Hyrtios of Hellekos. A few people stopped to see the merchant's wares and a few more even purchased the odd trinket the salesman offered.

Reno paid him little notice. He had to see the general and he dreaded it. The anxiety of explaining that he could not get the machine to work was giving the scientist an ulcer. Sometimes the pain in his gut rivaled the old wound on his chest.

Part of the problem was that they still had not perfected some of the parts needed to repair the machine. Another was that he had not constructed the machine alone. The only scientists present that help build it were himself and Dr. Berger.

Reno briskly walked up the steps and entered the building. The guards were used to seeing Reno and let him pass without giving him much scrutiny. The scientist then entered the elevator that took him to the floor where General Crist's office resided.

Reno approached the wooden door with a frosted glass window that had the words ‘Gen. Crist' painted on it in bold black letters. He shortly halted and took a deep breath before he knocked.

"Enter," a voice said from inside the office.

Reno opened the door and entered the office. General Crist looked up from his daily paperwork and motioned for the scientist to have a chair.

"Good day," Reno said as he sat down.

"Good morning," Crist replied pushing a cup of hot coffee towards the scientist. "I'm hoping you have made some progress on the machine."

Reno sadly shook his head, "I'm sorry general. But, we still do not have some of the parts down right. Also, when we built the infernal device we had blueprints, but because of security we do not have those. Dr. Berger and I are working hard to rebuild it, but you have to remember we are only two of the hundreds of scientist who built it."

General Crist frowned; he did not actually expect an affirmative answer. Yet he still hoped there would be one. The worn and aged look on Reno's face told the general that the scientist had been working hard to fix the problems with the damaged machine. The general felt guilty for pushing the frail man hard, but he needed results and he needed them fast. Many of the stranded men's hope resided in the fact that they would return home.

The general stood up from behind his desk and walked around it so he could be closer to Reno. The general then sat on the corner of the desk pushing several piles of papers out of his way.

"Okay, I know I have been pushing you hard. But, we need to get that machine working. Everyday another of my men becomes depressed and despondent. We have already sent nearly a hundred people to the mental hospital built here in the city. I have even been given numbers showing that suicides are rising.

"Dr. Reno, I am becoming a desperate man. I really need you to get that damned," Crist slapped his hand on his desk, "machine working.

"Tell me what you need and I will get it for you."

Reno shook his head, "General, we need better vacuum tubes. The ones we are producing are fine for light bulbs but as a tube, they are not sufficient.

"I am trying to reverse engineer the machine so that I can understand the intricacies of its functions, but that is tedious work and will take time."

Crist nodded his head. "Fine, I understand what you are saying. Give me a timetable on the reverse engineering."

Reno thought for a few minutes, "I figure it could take a year maybe two."

That answer did not sit well with Crist, he frowned and stomped across the room to a window overlooking the city below.

"No, that will not do," the general flatly stated. "I will give you six months."

Dr. Reno stared at the general's back with his mouth wide open. The general did not understand that these things take time and that rushing them could prove disastrous.

"But...but..." stammered Reno.

"You are dismissed," Crist said still looking out the window. He knew he was pushing the scientist hard. But, he had to give his men hope and he needed it fast.

Hermes watched as the man in a white long coat descended the steps from the building. The god had seen this man enter and leave the building several times. He knew from the discrete questions he asked the locals that his name was Reno, and he was a very important man. He was one of the ones responsible for the creation of the machines that threatened the gods.

"Pardon me sir," Hermes asked Reno in thick accented English, "would you care to see my wares?"

Reno started to push his way past the vendor when the man stuck a small trinket in his hand.

"Look at its craftsmanship," Hermes pressed.

Reno threw the trinket on the man's cart and stormed off. The scientist was in no mood for an annoying peddler. What he needed was a good stiff drink and he knew of a bar that served whiskey, another gift the Americans brought to this world.

As the scientist stomped down the road, Hermes quickly locked up his cart. He would return for it later. Right now, he did not want to lose sight of Reno. The messenger god, also the god of thieves rapidly wove his way through the crowded streets to follow the scientist.

Hermes observed Reno enter a local tavern. Hermes slipped inside and took a seat at a booth where he could observe the scientist sitting on a stool near the bar. When a woman approached to take his order, Hermes just asked for wine. He noticed that Reno was drinking something much harder and drinking it much faster.

Hermes smiled to himself. This would prove easier than he thought.