The Universe Builders: Bernie and the Putty

by Steve LeBel

  I feel trapped. I’m in some crazy game. To win the game, I have to win a Universe Award. Give me a break! How can a new builder just out of school do that? It’s impossible. Even if I had an idea for a winning universe, how could I do it? No matter how good I am at building, Billy is better at un-building. I spend days working on something; he wrecks it in minutes.

  I wish I could ask Dad. He knows all about building winners. But what good would that do? Even if he gave me the answer, how could I build it with Billy tearing everything down?

  I’m still upset about Billy’s last trick. I knew something was wrong because Gaia’s aura was really stressed. It turned out my plants were getting weaker. It took me days to figure out they were suffering from too much heat. The whole planet was getting hotter. But I couldn’t find the reason. Finally, I realized Billy had moved the planet closer to the sun. I only spotted it because I rechecked my biosphere calculations to see if I’d made a mistake. There was no mistake in the calculations. But my planet wasn’t where it should have been. If I hadn’t figured it out when I did, everything would be gone.

  I can’t imagine what he will do when I put animals on the planet. They’re more vulnerable than plants.

  I hate him. I just hate him!

  Let’s Try Faster

  Billy had no idea why Uncle Shemal hadn’t fired him yet. When Shemal called Bernie into his office, he’d been sure that was the end of it. After all, Bernie’s world was so wrecked it bothered even him to look at it. Apparently Shemal needed more convincing.

  Bernie must be stuck on his higher life forms. There was no sign of any animals on either of the lab continents. No matter. Plants were vulnerable to lots of things. And he had another idea for them. He doubted Bernie would notice what he had done.

  With power beyond imagining, Billie grasped the world in his mind. And he gave it a twist, making it spin faster. It was only a little faster, but it was enough to make a difference.

  “Oops. I pushed too hard. This end of Bernie’s continent got a bath,” Billy said in mock dismay. He laughed as the ocean waters swept over the east coast.

  “It’s subtle, Bernie, but I think you’ll like it.”

  He left the office and headed home. It was late, and he needed his sleep.

  Little Friends

  Billy had changed tactics. He would leave at quitting time, but then return at random times during the night to do his mischief. Fortunately, Bernie had the backdoor that let him check his world every few hours. But the strain of constant vigilance was showing. For weeks, Bernie had made little progress. All his time was spent in defense and rebuilding. He was tired and frustrated and desperate for relief.

  He checked his universe and was relieved to see nothing had happened in the time it took him to walk home. Wearily, he tried to prepare himself for more checks throughout the evening and the two or three more times he would wake up during the night to check again. It was exhausting.

  Then he brightened. How could he have forgotten? Back in school, when he was stressed, he would go for a walk in the woods. It always helped.

  Maybe that’s why I’m upset lately; I haven’t been to the woods, he thought.

  * * *

  As Bernie closed the door behind him and turned in the direction of the woods, the tiny observer smiled, knowing she would have the honor of telling the others the boy was moving toward the woods. The swift relay of her silent signals brought the tribe together to hear Catila’s report. Bowin was pleased. It had been a long time since the boy god had ventured out. He motioned for the group to proceed quietly as he led them along the path the boy had taken.

  * * *

  The sun still hung in the sky, but dipped lower with each moment. Bernie stumbled over an exposed tree root. Cursing, he knew he couldn’t blame his cloud. He was tired and being tired made him clumsy. It had been so long since he’d had a good night’s sleep. Up ahead, Bernie saw his favorite place, an opening in the trees with soft, moss-covered ground, where he had solved some of the world’s greatest problems. Well, not really. But it had felt that way at the time. Those problems seemed so minor now.

  He sat down to think. Maybe he would just close his eyes and rest them for a few minutes…

  * * *

  Even though it was light and they had observed no other movement in the woods, Bowin posted sentries. It was good that he had been cautious. If he had not, there would have been no warning of the approaching nazark.

  The first report came from Shelda, who spotted the ferocious nazark from her tree at the edge of the clearing as it climbed up the side of the plateau from the wild country below. Bowin signaled for everyone to retreat. He would take no chances. This evil creature had killed and eaten far too many of his kind. Nothing could compete with the long claws and venomous bite of the fierce monster. Their best hope was to get away before they were noticed. Then he thought about the boy.

  The young god had fallen asleep in the clearing. The nazark lifted its head and sniffed the air. Bowin knew from its reaction, the black beast had discovered a scent and knew it wasn’t alone. The deadly creature looked around for the prey he knew was there. Bowin held his breath, hoping the nazark would not notice the boy. But he did.

  Bowin watched the nazark lower his head and bare his fangs as he crept toward the sleeping form. What could Bowin do? None of his kind could hope to defeat a nazark. Many of his friends had died trying. Even if he called everyone together, they could not prevail. And yet, he could not let the boy come to harm in this way.

  But the boy was a god. Perhaps the nazark could not harm him. Perhaps the boy would awaken and laugh at such a puny creature intending him harm. As Bowin struggled with what to do, he realized he had already made a decision. He was moving full speed toward the boy and the approaching nazark.

  Bowin gave his fiercest battle cry as he raced forward. He bounded onto the boy’s stomach to awaken him, and his forward rush carried him further still. He landed on his feet between the young god and the snarling nazark.

  He yelled his fiercest threats, but the monster snarled and stood his ground. Then it began moving closer. For Bowin there was no possible retreat. No means of escape. Bowin thought of the way they would remember him. Bowin, the bravest of the tribe, they would say, had died trying to save the boy god. It was a fitting epitaph.

  Without warning, a deep shout rang through the woods. The nazark looked up at something behind Bowin and snarled, again exposing his deadly fangs. Bowin could not risk taking his eyes off the nazark to see what was behind him. His first moment of inattentiveness would be his last. He continued his fiercest yell and held his ground. He heard his friends join in the shouting from their hidden places around the clearing. The hungry nazark backed up two feet. The snarling continued, but the shouts grew louder and from more directions as the rest of the troop joined in. Suddenly, the nazark turned and slunk back into the wilderness from which he had come.

  Bowin watched without moving as the dark figure retreated. He lingered in his own thoughts, numb to the idea he had survived.

  “Thank you,” came a sound from behind him.

  Bowin whirled around to see the young god standing high above him. The boy moved slowly, careful not to make sudden motions as he sat down. He held out his empty hands in front of him. Although Bowin did not understand the boy’s words, the meaning was clear. A gesture of friendship.

  * * *

  “I think you saved me from something awful,” said Bernie. “It took a lot of courage. Thank you.”

  Bernie looked around the clearing and spotted more of the little creatures. “I didn’t know there were any of you left.”

  He sat calmly, as a dozen little creatures emerged from behind bushes, crawled out from under leaves, and lowered themselves from tree branches. They watched for any sign of disapproval from Bowin over their approach, but he gave none.

  Bernie found himself surrounded by new friends he didn’t know he had.

  Something Is Very Wrong
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br />   “We will begin with a report on the tragedy last month,” Leader Gondal said to the Senate. “Branton, our minister of science, will review this for us. Minister, if you will, please.”

  Branton stood and faced the assembly. “You all know about the giant wave that killed 1,347 citizens on the eastern coast sixteen days ago. Three villages were wiped out when the ocean, without any warning, surged over the land. The only thing that stopped it was the Central Mountains.

  “At the same time, people all over the country reported feeling dizzy and unstable on their feet. There was some speculation they may have felt the deaths of the people on the east coast, although there were no similar reports during the horrendous forest fires that killed even more.

  “A few days later, Lord Alcandor brought more news. Apparently, the giant wave was not the only occurrence on that day. Lord Alcandor is here to present his findings himself.” The crowd shifted in their seats as they prepared for more bad news.

  “Thank you, Minister,” said the Leader as he turned to the man in the center of the stage. “Lord Alcandor, thank you for coming. Before we start, I will tell the Senate that Speaker Zardok was also invited to attend this meeting. His aide informed me the Speaker has pressing business elsewhere and cannot attend.”

  Some members of the Senate made a booing sound and a few more stomped their feet. Gondal held up his hand for silence. “Please give your attention to Lord Alcandor.”

  “Thank you, Leader.” Alcandor turned to face the Senate. “I’ve discovered disturbing things. Before I start, I must tell you, I don’t have answers to the questions you’re going to ask me.”

  “Get on with it,” shouted one of the senators.

  “Very well. We’ve known for a long time how long it takes the Sun to go from sunrise to sunrise. It never varies. But, sixteen days ago, this changed. It used to take ten candle marks for the Sun to rise, make its trip across the sky, and pass under the world to where it rises again. But now it takes nine candle marks. For some reason, the Sun is moving faster.”

  Gasps from the crowd echoed the shock in the heart of every person present. The greatest constant in the world, the immortal, unchanging Sun, had changed. This was terrifying news.

  “Where is Zardok? Does he know?” a senator called out.

  Leader Gondal said, “I informed Speaker Zardok of Alcandor’s findings four days ago. He offered no comment on them. Lord Alcandor, please continue.”

  “I’ve also been closely observing the night sun. As I reported two months ago, the night sun goes through a cycle that repeats every thirty-two days. It shows its full strength at the beginning of each cycle, gradually giving up more and more light until it becomes dark on the seventeenth day. Then it grows in strength, adding more and more each day until it reaches its full strength again on the thirty-second day. We’ve charted four complete cycles since the night sun arrived. But since the giant wave, there have been changes. The night sun has been slowed. The night sun’s cycle of thirty-two days now takes thirty-five days.”

  The Senate made few sounds. The news was too shocking.

  Gondal, though he had heard this before, knew he needed to guide the discussion. “This is incredible news, Alcandor. The Sun is moving faster, and the night sun is moving slower. You’re sure of these measurements?”

  “Yes, Leader. We also used a water clock to confirm the measurements. There is no mistake.”

  Alcandor seemed lost in thought. The Leader had to prod him by asking, “Lord Alcandor, can you tell us why this has happened?”

  Alcandor blinked, and said, “What? Ah… No, not really. I think we can say with certainty the events are connected. Whatever caused our Sun go faster is the same thing that slowed the night sun, and I believe the flooding was a side effect of that same force.”

  “How can you say something affected the Sun? It’s never been affected by anything before,” said Minister Tonst, the liaison between the Senate and the Temple.

  “That’s a fair question,” said Alcandor. “Consider the calamities that have befallen us in recent months. We’ve seen the creation of night sun and the two tiny suns. We’ve had unprecedented worldwide disasters, including forest fires, hurricanes, flooding, and most recently, the terrible heating. No one has ever experienced a time like this. All these things tell me our world is changing.”

  “We must wait for Speaker Zardok,” insisted Minister Tonst. “He will explain these things to us. Even now, he consults with the Inner Council to find answers.”

  Minister Nottag flashed his famous scowl at Tonst and said, “It makes no sense to wait for answers from the Temple. They’re in chaos. They haven’t had answers for a long time.”

  Numerous voices were raised in protest to Nottag’s words. The most common cry was, “Prove it!”

  Minister Nottag stood up and looked around the Senate. “Who here has not heard of the divisions in the Temple? It’s no secret many temples have been taken over by priests and priestesses who challenge Zardok’s leadership. Have you heard of the Temple of the Moon? Priestesses there claim the night sun is a new god sent to hold back the darkness. They claim when something evil attacked the night sun and turned him red, the power of the night sun was so great he healed himself.

  “And what of the group who claims the night sun is evil? They claim our ill fortunes began with the arrival of the night sun. They would vanquish the night sun and send it away. They too have claimed temples in the west and call themselves Soldiers of the Sun.

  “Every one of these splinter groups, and more besides, claim they know the truth. Some claim we have to change our ways. Others claim we’re being warned. Others claim our end is near. I don’t know what the answer is. I do know it’s a bad idea to wait for the Temple to find answers. We must find our own,” Nottag thundered at the crowd.

  This time, the Senate responded with, “Hear! Hear!”

  Leader Gondal stood and uttered the ritual words, “I hear the will of the Senate, and I will obey.”

  Gondal turned to Alcandor and said, “The Senate will seek its own answers. And you, Lord Alcandor, shall be our instrument. I charge you to return here in five days with answers to these questions and any others relating to the troubles that have befallen us.”

  Lord Alcandor started to protest, but his words were drowned out by the senators who cheered the mandate he had been given.

  Someday, He Will Pay

  Journal Entry

  I feel like crying.

  Billy has caused so many problems. I can’t get anything done. He practically burnt my world to the ground, and then he hit me with hurricanes and flooding. I was going to advance time and give the forests a chance to recover, but what’s the point? Billy will just do it again with something else.

  And lately, it’s getting harder to spot what he’s done.

  Last week, I noticed one of my plants had stopped producing fruit. It was starting to hibernate, which it shouldn’t do on this planet—because conditions never change. It took me until today to figure out Billy had spun the planet faster and skewed all my circadian patterns.

  I’m supposed to be making an award-winning universe. What a joke! Even if Billy went away today, I’m not sure I have time to do anything that will impress the Committee. I haven’t had time to create a single animal for my planet.

  Mom asked what I thought about moving closer into town. I told her we shouldn’t do anything until I complete my probationary period.

  I didn’t have the heart to tell her anything else.

  Blame the Night Sun

  Speaker Zardok, as head of the Temple, was used to respect and deference when he addressed the Senate, but the unprecedented death and destruction had not helped the decorum of the Senate.

  “You’re the one who claimed the night sun was a gift from the Sun. But ever since it arrived, we’ve been cursed with death and destruction. We’ve never had anything like this before. How can you claim it’s not the fault of the night sun?” Senator Blantor
shouted at Speaker Zardok as he stood on his raised platform in the center of the amphitheater’s stage.

  The audience in the stands shouted, “Hear! Hear!” and stomped their feet.

  Zardok seethed. He didn’t like being challenged. “Senator Blantor, let me understand. You are complaining about the problems that have befallen us, and you blame our Sun for sending the night sun?”

  “You are twisting my words, Speaker. I’m not saying the Sun would send destruction to us. I’m suggesting the night sun may not be the gift you say it is. It may have come from another source, and it may be the cause of our problems,” said Blantor, amidst more, “Hear! Hear!” from the audience.

  Minister Landor, responsible for the ships and the ports, said, “The ocean has been out of control since the night sun arrived. It rises and falls. Some ports flood every day while others lack enough water to float their ships. We had to evacuate several coastal towns because of flooding. I don’t see much good coming from this night sun.”

  “And who is your authority for blaming these problems on the night sun?” Zardok asked with contempt.

  “Alcandor has researched these matters for us. We’ve reviewed his findings and are satisfied with his conclusions,” said Branton, the science minister.

  “Then perhaps you should ask him to come before the Senate and explain these things to you. You obviously do not want my explanations,” Zardok snarled with unconcealed fury as he descended from his raised platform and stormed out of the Senate.

  Lookies!

  “You’ll never guess what I saw in the woods last night.”

  Suzie scanned Bernie’s food choices before joining in Lenny’s quizzical look.