Shattered Time by Craig Robertson

Author:Craig Robertson [Robertson, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Amazon: B08LBPTRBR
Publisher: Imagine-It Publishing
Published: 2020-10-15T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

"Time Maker, with all the due respect that exists in the universe," began the vector maker with profound trepidation, "may I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Are we—"

"Silence!" The time maker screamed his imperative so loudly the outer hull vibrated.

"But, lord, you said I could ask a question."

"I did and you did. The question-power I gifted you with covered your query as to whether you could ask a question."

"But I was asking permission to ask another question, one I feel is worthy of mention."

Time Maker-bob wagged a bony digit in the air. "Then you should have asked in a manner commensurate with that desire. I'm a busy lord. I cannot have clan members asking me questions simply because they feel a desire to do so. Don't you agree, vector maker?"

"Without reservation, master."

Of course it did. Who didn't want to continue living?

"Without reservation, master."

"Fine. Now I will allow you to reframe your initial inept word-sharing with me."

"You are beyond magnanimous, Time Maker. I am less than the dust between your foot-cleft lines. What I—"

"Vector Maker-pig," the boss asked imperiously, "are you stating as a fact that dust, or any other contaminate, mars my mind, spirit, or body? Do I hear your word-offenses correctly?"

"No, in the broadest sense of the word's meaning," was the vector maker's instant and hugely ambiguous response.

The time maker paced back and forth, mumbling to itself. The vector maker was not certain if that was a good sign or a bad one.

"I see you understand interpersonal relationships better than I estimated you would. Odd. I would have sworn you would have groveled and begged forgiveness. Hmm. Based on your brilliance, however dim it is compared to mine, I will allow you to re-reframe your words."

"Thank you. I am asking, Lord, if I might ask this question and a subsequent, unrelated one."

"No, you cannot."

What a spot. The vector maker was fairly certain its life was forfeit, but it did hate grammatical errors. All the clan did. Proper grammar was a whole thing with them.

"Beg discretion, but don't you mean to command that I may not, not that I cannot, naturally with all due deference on my part?"

"I like a crew member who values precision and purity as much as you do… er, what's your actual name?"

"Vector Maker-lew, Grace. Earlier you addressed me as pig. I naturally let that slide."

"Naturally, Vector Maker-not."

"Lew, sir."

"A common misperception. You might have been such-and-such lew, but now you're not."

"You suggest I alter my designation, Master?"

"Another understandable misunderstanding. No, I mean to say that currently you are not, whatever you were called."

But answer came there none. This was scarcely odd, because whoever that vector maker had been, it had never existed.

Pacing again, the time maker began a conversation with its only equal aboard the ship—itself. "I wonder what the vector maker who never was actually wanted to ask? It was so ... so wishy-washy and unfocused."

"Well, it wasn't unfocused, because it never existed," Time Maker-bob answered to Time Maker-bob.

"Truer words were never spoken," it agreed with itself.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.