Page 6 - The Daily Builder - Day 04

“They do not need to be tended There was nothing there. the harsh elements. The arabi had “Your war has stilled, the heavens the sands, they came to an oasis. surprised. He hadn’t heard this
every moment, in case that was “Will you help me?” Jak asked been right. It had dramatically quiet once more,” Agnez observed. It was the first Jak had seen, one history before.
your next question.” finally. reduced the heat while adding very Shielding his eyes from the Agnez said they’d eventually “A star shines but when joined
Wondering if this odd woman Agnez returned her gaze—so little to his step. Without her help, sun, Jak looked across the desert. visit. Palm trees offered shade, by a universe of stars, they can
finding him was luck or ill news, penetrating Jak had a hard time he would have died during the first The battles above had stopped, unbowed by the power of the sun. brighten even the darkest night,”
Jak gathered his food, water, and maintaining her stare—before she two days of their trip. He saw that true enough. The Imperium had Rock blocks surrounded an open Agnez said. “Many followed that
other light supplies into a pack. He leaned on her staff again, ancient now. But it also made him look like won as far as he could tell. But maw in the desert, a darkness man. Truth ruled by love is the
moved his mech pilot’s laz-pistol age slumping the woman once an arabi—and the desert people the destruction in the skies had deep into the world. Jak could made stronger still.”
for easy access if the need should more. “I will. And I welcome to were not liked by those who lived crashed to the Splinter. Thousands smell the water there. Looking Jak nodded. “What steps did he
arise. you to the Splinter.” in Solomon Fyre. of similar smoke plumes rose in closer, he saw the well had been take?”
“You will not need the weapon,” Then she cackled. Jak turned his attention to the the distance, more broken wrecks lined with technology, the kind “Clean water is key. Food springs
Agnez said simply. She gestured Jak wondered what he had gotten mech. This was a different sort of great titans. that helped maintain its source. from it,” Agnez said, leaning
with her chin at the pack in his himself into. of danger. He did not recognize The mech battalions of Solomon The arabi pulled a long water skin her staff against one of the palm
hand. “Where do you think you are the mech and, as such, he had no Fyre were no more. from beneath the folds of her robe, trees. She never seemed far from
going with all of that, city-born?” * * * idea of the pilot’s Royal House “Do you think anyone could touched a titanium sensor-panel it, a talisman of sorts for the old
“You can stop calling me that. allegiance. survive in this desert without aid,” upon the well, and water flowed woman. “Once water is available,
My name is Jak.” The smoking ruins of the He trod carefully. Jak asked. from a spigot into her bag. The plants and animals are easy to
“Jak,” the arabi tried it on her crimson mech blistered the sand He had no idea who else might The arabi squinted, following goats huddled about a stone trough raise. What’s done after that is
tongue. “Short name. Means you around it to glass. want to kill him. his regard. She saw the smoke too. as Agnez first watered the palms the key. A slaughtered goat feeds
are destined to do great things. It had been several days since The mech smoked, broken and “Perhaps. But not for long. You and then the goats. Only then did a man for a few days. A goat that
Great things, yes.” Jak left Viridian behind. He barely recognizable. It had been have done well with my guidance. she offer Jak her full skin. He sat spawns a herd of goats? It can feed
Jak had no idea what the woman approached this new one on wary shot asunder, legs gone, and half of You learn quickly. I suspect a upon one of the blocks and took the a nation. A nation that sells a goat
meant. “What is the closest town, feet, covered by a black robe. Agnez its titanium chest blown open. Jak few could do the same without cold water, grateful for the wetness for other needs? Needs like sugar
village, whatever where I can find had supplied its light sheathe of went to the cockpit, its faceplate guidance, though not likely.” upon his lips and the respite from or clothing or medicine? This is
transport back to Solomon Fyre.” silk to combat the burning sun, to shattered. No one was within. If “I have much to learn,” Jak said walking. Agnez drank after him, how a culture rises above poverty
“Need a guide,” she said. It keep her charge safe. At first, he the pilot had survived, the driver and meant it. The knowledge the both quiet as the day waned. to balance.” She paused. “These
wasn’t a question. wondered if it would help, such a had left no evidence of passage on old woman possessed seemed “Where did this well come from?” things were known. But he shone
“Point me in the general simple defense against the sands. infinite. He had only witnessed the Jak asked finally, feeling cool and a bright sun on it. On a philosophy
direction.” The desert could hide smallest part. “One day you will refreshed. “The technology is—” to teach and to care.”
“City-born Jak, I doubt you will many secrets. have to tell me how you learned to “Beyond my people,” Agnez “And what is that philosophy
survive traveling these lands,” survive.” finished. Jak nodded awkwardly. exactly?” Jak asked.
Agnez said, straightening and “Like you are doing now. One “Yes, I have heard that before from “Nature is not a resource to steal.
holding her staff out before her. sunrise a day, one sunset to enter both city-born and off-worlders. If maintained with honor, it can fill
She looked like a prophet-specter night.” Wells like this have existed for bellies for an eternity.”
with all the world’s power at her The arabi said no more. Instead eons. The desert is filled with It was an idea that had never
command. “The war of the heavens she continued their trek, tongue wonders and it is not the desolate occurred to him. It hadn’t needed
above is not the only threat to you. clicking the roof of her mouth at place people think. Harnessing to. Clothing, food, and the items
There are dangers lurking in the the goats that awaited on the next those wonders has always been key for survival had always been
Splinter that would leave your dune. Jak followed, thinking. to survival. A bearded prophet— supplied by the Dreadth family.
bones bleached and buried by the The woman left him riddled. It one of your people—took it upon Those ruling within Royal Houses
forever sands.” had annoyed Jak at first but now himself to improve the life for all lived very different lives from that
“Regardless, I have to try,” Jak he pondered her words long after on Erth. Yes, he brought sustained of Agnez. They gave nothing back
said, pack in place on his back. spoken, wisdom hidden in every water. Yes, he brought conservation beyond money. Sometimes not
“The All Father sees what is to sentence she spoke. He had come of food sources. Most importantly, even that. They did not farm their
come and time grows short,” she to realize there was a much larger according to the All Father, the food; they did not have to worry
said, looking off into the distance. world out there, one very different prophet brought awareness. May about clean water. It left Jak feeling
“‘The end happens when the from the life he had been living small hearts join a big and make a hollow.
middle tires.’” only days earlier. difference in less fortunate lives.” “Do you understand?” Agnez
Jak looked where she stared. After another few hours over “One man did that?” Jak said, asked finally as if talking to a

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