by Chris Hechtl
“Ah,” Deidra smiled, face clearing. “That's good. Very good.” She was glad something could be done about the waste. The gaijin had instituted a trash removal service the first month they had arrived. The healer Carter had insisted on it, something about disease and animals. It had made the river look better in a short time, though the abandoned valley and mine they were using to store it in had been turned into a wasteland.
“Exactly. I see what Ryans is getting at. By using every part of the industrial cycle we can kill many birds with many stones,” Wanda said, nodding thoughtfully.
“Mixed metaphor there I think,” he teased.
“Oh shut up,” Wanda sighed.
<==={}------------>
On their way back to the castle they passed a toy maker's stall. Deidra paused, looking at the models.
“He's been busy,” Ryans said, pointing to the little wooden truck. “A hummer.”
“No way,” Wanda burbled, eyes lighting. She looked. “Stryker too. I like the little ships myself.” She pointed to the ship. It had string rigging and cloth sails.
“Can I help you?” an elderly man asked. His hands shook a little. He wore a dirty, worn leather apron.
“Oh we're just looking,” Wanda waved dismissively.
“I see,” the man nodded, sounding suddenly disinterested in them.
“Japeto?” Deidra asked, brushing her bangs away. “Is it you?” she asked.
The old man looked startled then, paled as he knelt. She came over and rested her hands on his shoulders. “Yes my liege,” he said quietly.
“I've missed you,” she smiled. She patted his shoulder. “Get up old friend,” she said. She looked around for a moment, smiling as her eyes caught sight of the rocker in the corner.
“Is that a branack?” Ryans asked, hand touching the painted wood. “rocking branack?” he asked, clearly amused. He could just imagine a kid riding the thing. At least they had done one without the horns and spikes. Wouldn't do to put a kid’s eye out.
“Guess so,” Wanda said nodding. “One of those stick horse thingies too. With a branack for the head as well.” She pointed to a group leaning together in a corner.
Deidra's hands toyed with the miniature harness on the rocker then turned to trail along the fabric of the dolls. “Is she?” she asked quietly and turned to the toymaker. The old man shook his head.
“Last winter,” he said softly.
“I'm sorry to hear that,” she said, face falling. She ran her hands over the doll. “I'll take the lot,” she said looking up.
Japeto looked startled. “My liege I...” She waved it away.
“I'll have a servant come for it,” Deidra said firmly.
He nodded, face wooden.
“And of course with your pay,” she said smiling. His face cleared.
“Can you make a chess set?” Ryans asked. The old toy maker blinked. Ryans pointed to a game nearby.
“It's similar to that. I can get you the specs. Sixteen pieces on each side. One black set, one white on a checked board.” He thought for a moment then shrugged. “I've got a program but I'm curious to see what you can do with the idea.” He'd liked them in plastic but he'd love to see them in wood with the right stain. The King's had been plain black and white and not very detailed. You'd think with an entire winter to carve and nothing better to do some people would take to carving better and more intricate things.
“Ah yes Dominus,” Japeto said, bobbing his head in confusion. He looked to Deidra. She smiled.
“Japeto, royal toy maker, this is my sponsus Eugene Ryans,” she smiled to him. He smiled back.
“Your majesty,” the toy maker tried to kneel but Ryans stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“Save your knees my good man, really.” He smiled. “Do you have a lathe?”
The old man nodded. “I use it for many things my liege.”
Ryans waved it way. “Think you can make a Kingdom version of some of the toys we've got in mind? And the chess set of course.”
“It would be an honor.”
“For your sale as well,” Ryans said smiling. He nodded to Wanda pushing a wooden hummer back and forth. Deidra was running a finger over a wooden mock up of a rifle. Ryans reminded himself to have Wanda or Charlie check for lead in the paint when they received delivery of the toys.
“I would suggest an apprentice though, from the looks of things you should be getting some interest soon,” he said. He turned to see a group of people nearby. Japeto looked relieved.
“I hadn't hoped...” he said then sighed. “I had carved for the war effort but then was laid up sick for some time...” he curled his hands.
“We know. A lot of people were. You’re lucky to have survived,” Ryans said nodding. A minor illness had hit the capital while they had been away. Dozens of people had become sick. A few had died. Sue had found out when they had returned and hadn't been happy about it.
“These toys are new. I made them yesterday,” Japeto said nodding to the truck. “But I'm out of material,” He waved his hands in despair. “Lignum and similar material is so hard to get now...”
“And we're not helping anything by buying it up for various projects,” Wanda said looking a little guilty. She shot a glance to Ryans who nodded.
“I tell you what; once you're paid you can get more to replenish your stocks. Once you do I'll see if we can work you into the plastics or ceramics program.”
“Ah?” Wanda said turning to him.
Ryans shrugged. “Sure, if he can sculpt like this for a master...”
“Ah, yeah, I get it,” she nodded. He shrugged as Deidra and Japeto looked confused.
“We'll explain later. It's a bit confusing, but once you get the hang of it then you should need a lot less wood and it will be much easier on your hands,” she explained. He waved to the elders curled hands.
Japeto nodded, looking confused but relieved. “As you will it.”
Deidra nodded. “I do. And I want to know if anything untoward happens Japeto, you are after all the royal toy maker.” She smiled, darting a wicked glance to Ryans.
The old man's eyes widened theatrically. “But your majesty you and your sister are too old...” Japeto started then caught the glance between Ryans and the Queen to be. “Ah I see. Well, bless you both. Mithra and I were never blessed with younglings, though we loved them with all our hearts,” he murmured.
“Well, it's a bit early, but what the heck, let's just say we're putting our order in now while we can,” Ryans replied, he glanced over his shoulder to the crowd. Some were near enough to look at the Terran style toys. A bidding war was starting over a green hummer.
“Looks like the holiday toy rush is here and you've got other customers. We'll sort things out with what he has left later,” Ryans said taking each of the women by an arm. Japeto nodded.
“As you wish. Thank you for easing an old man's fears of a cold winter.”
“The honor is ours old friend,” Deidra said smiling to him as they exited behind the guards.
“Japeto?” Wanda asked surprised.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Ryans said shrugging. “I take it you and Zara loved his toys?”
Deidra nodded, looking a little torn. She looked back to the besieged toy store. “Mithra made the most incredible life like dolls,” she said softly. She clutched her free hand to her chest. “I grew out of it after a time, more interested in the knights and such.”
Ryans nodded. “Tomboy right. Swords and stuff?”
She smiled in fond memory, “and the rocking branack.”
“Ah?” Wanda asked looking over to her.
Deidra grinned slightly; glad she was one up on the gaijin. “It's used as an early riding aide. To train children to ride. And later to train squires to joust.”
“Oh.”
“Not that father ever let me joust for real,” Deidra said darkly.
“I highly doubt that ever stopped you,” Ryans said with a snort and an eye to his part
ner. Her lips puckered in a smirk.
“You know me too well,” she replied, wrapping her arm through his.
“The black mystery knight?” Ryans asked amused.
“Oh but of course,” she grinned wickedly, almost skipping.
“Of course,” he said nodding.
“One thing that bothers me... that sucker had a western style saddle!” Wanda said looking thoughtful.
“Oh I doubt it,” Ryans said.
“I don't. I saw that thing and a couple of his miniatures. There's even a miniature cowboy in there. Complete with Stetson hat and six shooter gun belt. It makes you wonder just where he saw them...” Wanda said thoughtfully.
“Yeah, it does at that,” Ryans said suddenly thoughtful himself.
“It's no mystery. Some... riders of horses arrived through the portal many years ago. They did not live long,” a guard said behind them.
Wanda and Ryans turned to the guard, staring at him. “Oh,” Wanda said slowly, turning to exchange a look with Ryans. He shrugged.
“They made their place in history when they saved a group of people from a pack of plains beasts. One of those saved was a King's son.”
“Oh. So what happened to them?” Wanda asked.
“They rode off to find their way back home,” Deidra said. “None saw them again.”
“Oh, well, that answered that,” Wanda said shrugging.
<==={}------------>
Ryans walked the battlements of the outer wall with Deidra after they returned to the castle. He noted the glittering wall catching the last of the evening light and paused to look at it. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked.
“What?” she asked, looking herself.
“Looks like, yeah it is,” he smiled, watching tiny figures setting up pieces of glass onto a frame of wood and metal. “It's a greenhouse.” He was glad; it was just in time actually, fall was now in full spring. The alien leaves were changing color and the last harvest was now in. Food was being processed and stored now.
“A house that is green? It doesn't look that way,” Deidra replied. “It glitters and has glass walls.”
“Yes, well, that's for the light. It's not a home to live in, at least not for people. It's a greenhouse. An indoor arboretum to raise a garden all year round,” he explained and then pointed.
“What about the snow?” she asked, concerned.
“It has sloped roofs like other buildings. In fact they're pretty far up, a good seventy degrees I think,” he explained, using his hands to model a pitched roof.
“Ah. Father said an angled roof makes the snow roll off of it,” Deidra said.
Ryans nodded. “Right. That's what they're trying to do here. Sticky snow will be a problem though. Hopefully they have a solution.”
“If the snow becomes too heavy it will collapse the glass?” Deidra asked and then nodded.
Ryans nodded as well. “Yup. But a guy or gal outside with a long broom or shovel can knock the snow off if they are careful.”
“This is the test greenhouse you mentioned to mother and the Dominus's?” Deidra asked. He nodded. He could see Mary overseeing the project. Good, he thought.
“Yeah, I hope it works. Yields will be low the first couple of times, but a greenhouse lets you grow food faster with less effort. There are fewer weeds, and the bugs can't get to them indoors. At least not while the doors and windows are closed.”
“What about heat?” she asked.
“Ah, well, see, the sunlight heats the room. At least part of the way. But since we don't have insulating glass to keep the heat in, I think Mary said something about using pot bellied stoves and water radiators to keep the place warm and toasty in winter,” he explained.
Deidra nodded. “Ah. A place to be when the winter is bearing down then,” she smiled. “We'll have to see it sometime.” She clutched at his arm.
He looked down, amused. “It would be an interesting place to explore. I bet there are all sorts of hidey holes we can have fun in,” he murmured wickedly to her. He stroked her cheek as she blushed and then kissed her. She blushed further and looked away, then walked on, pulling him along by the hand. He chuckled, putting up just enough resistance to make it interesting.
<==={}------------>
“They have some good ideas,” Serena murmured, watching the glittering building being put together. “I hear that greenhouse thing will allow food to be grown all year round. And flowers!”
“And allow plants to be started as seedlings early before planting,” Yorick said from behind him. Serena turned to him with a slightly chilly look. He put his hand over his heart and bowed his head. “Your pardon Domina,” he said and withdrew.
She straightened her skirt and then looked back, primly tightening her lips in a thin line of disapproval at the servant's interruption. Yorick had stolen much of her thunder, she thought in annoyance. Her husband glanced at her and snorted softly.
“I dare say it's an interesting idea. Though the glass must be very expensive,” he said.
“I believe the gaijin have found ways to make it much cheaper my husband,” Serena said with a small smile. He grunted. “How goes your campaign?” she asked.
He frowned, looking over his shoulder and then around to make sure none could hear them on the balcony. “It's interesting; though separating the gaijin alchemist is proving harder than I had thought. I believe that will have to either wait or be abandoned,” he said.
“Dare not invite her to visit the duchy or some other remote place?” Serena asked. The Duke shook his head. “And seduction is out?”
“She seems unwilling or uninterested in such things. If one had to guess she is either too busy or uninterested in the opposite sex,” Rojer said with a theatrical sigh.
“Ah,” Serena said with a reproving smile.
“How's your plan progressing my dear?” Rojer asked.
“Not so well with the princess. She's too busy and too public a figure to get one of her former paramours to seduce her. Also only one is left in the castle, it seems her majesty has done a rather thorough house cleaning and the others were transferred to other castles or are out in the field on quests,” she said.
“So you have nothing?”
“I didn't say that,” Serena replied with a slight smile. “There's still the maid,” she said. “But we were talking about the alchemist,” she said with a lurking smile.
“Don't gloat dear, it's unbecoming of you,” Rojer replied with a slight glower.
“I'm not gloating; I'm just amused by it. I see she has guards,” she murmured. Rojer nodded grudgingly. Apparently the gaijin leader and the Queen had wised up to her importance. “They cannot be bribed or...”
“No,” Rojer sighed. “No indeed. They're from the gaijin trained legion and very loyal to the gaijin. Something I hadn't anticipated. It seems their training has... welded them into the service of the gaijin.”
“Ah, not a good development,” the duchess murmured. Another couple came out on a balcony off to their left and further down. She looked down to them and then away. “Come husband, 'tis chilly,” she murmured, smiling at him. He returned the smile and re-entered their suite.
<==={}------------>
Max scowled at the mess of wire. He'd ordered a thirty gauge wire but instead the geniuses had turned out a ten gauge wire. Nice and thick but not what he needed. “Take it back,” he growled.
“Why?” Marcus the foreman asked. “Thicker is better right?”
“Not in this case. The idea is to do a standard thin wire then braid it into a thicker rope with other strands. Then do that again and again. A single strand this thick...” he tried to flex it but had a hell of a time getting it to bend. When he was done it was stuck. “See? You can't bend it. The wire I wanted will bend and flex. This will be a bitch to use and will break in the wind.”
“Um...” the foreman took off his gaijin styled ballcap and scratched at his scalp. Max caught sight of the mannerism out of the corner of his eye and
snorted softly. “That's a lot of copper boss,” he said.
“Right. For the amount you've got here we could do three times as much wire. And the smaller gauge can be used to make other things too. Although the smaller the gauge the harder it is to get electricity to flow through it. It's called resistance,” Max explained.
“Oh." "But if we braid the small gauge wire into larger cords we get flexibility of the small wire and reduced resistance of the large wire," Max said
“Look, it's a learning experience, I get it,” Max said. At least they hadn't coated the thing in latex yet. He waved to the native foreman. “Just reset the die system to the proper gauge I told you and run it through until it gets down to the proper gauge. It'll stretch the sumbitch out a lot. Just be careful you don't overheat it and snap it.”
“Um... okay,” the foreman said nodding.
“Once you get a couple of spools, tell me,” Max said, waving to the empty wooden spools nearby.
“What is all this for?” Marcus asked, rubbing his forehead. It was hot in the factory, very hot.
Max grinned. “Oh lots of things. Wire can be used to make chain, nails, transmission lines, phone lines, plus all sorts of electronic goodies.”
Marcus blinked at him. “I see,” he said, not sounding very sure.
“Once you've got ten gauge, it's the most common by the way, then we'll get a spool down to thirty gauge. That's tiny. About as thin as your hair. We can use that for wiring or other things. Inductors, speakers, heater coils, all sorts of goodies,” he grinned.
“Oh.”
“Don't worry about it kid, it's an honest mistake,” Max said. He'd have to check in with Orella, the super. Someone must have upped the gauge because it had been set on twelve when he did the run for the castle wiring. He'd have to find out why someone mucked it up.
“I'll correct it sir,” Marcus said, bobbing a nod. Max nodded and patted the young man on the shoulder. Marcus was well built, one of the former soldiers who had lost a hand in the battle. He'd invested quite a lot in this factory, his whole life savings. He needed it to work. Max thought, the entire Imperium needed it to work.
