Read Online The Fifth Magic (Book 1) by Brian Rathbone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brian Rathbone
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opening there," Martik said, and though happy for him, no one expressed surprise; that alone soothed Martik's bruised ego. "We need to move this scaffold to here." He was about to apologize, but the men didn't hesitate for an instant. Bradley jumped in and helped. Martik grabbed a young man among the most muscular on the crew. "Bring me one of those shafts, but be careful with it. We don't have the tools or knowledge to make a replacement. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," the young man said.
Watching him go, his step a little too anxious, Martik hoped the boy calmed himself before coming back up with the shaft, but then his attention was drawn back to the orifice itself. His crew had reassembled the structure, and he second-guessed himself, hoping he'd not had them rebuild it in the wrong place. Despite all his accomplishments, Martik still worried he would make another mistake. It was just part of who he was, he supposed.
After climbing atop the structure, though, Martik was rewarded with excellent access to the perfectly round shaft. This one was still clean and smooth inside, and all he needed was the stone key. It was soon handed up to him.
He hesitated. There was no way to be certain this orifice would do what he thought it would. He couldn't risk anyone but himself in the event he was wrong. If he evacuated the entire work site, as his gut told him to do, he would look like a dolt and might lose what faith he had remaining in his abilities.
Either way there was risk, but only by evacuating could he take all the risk on himself. "I thank you all for getting us to this point. What I'm about to do might be dangerous, or it might have no effect at all." People laughed. "I can't risk any of you based on my feelings and hunches, so I am going to ask you all to move back to the top of the ramp." This was less enthusiastically received. It meant shutting down the entire operation for the day.
"I know," Martik said. "I'm sorry. If this does what I expect, I'll be able to get down safely. More than one of us coming down at once could mean big trouble. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong."
The crew didn't debate or grumble, they just cleaned up their work areas, gathered their tools, and made an orderly retreat.
Bradley stood beside Martik after everyone else had gone over the edge and down the ladder. "What do you think it's going to do?"
"Go on down, and I'll show you," Martik said with a grin.
"The crew and I agreed. I'm staying and protecting your back," Bradley said. When Martik opened his mouth to respond, he said, "They wouldn't take no for an answer. Surely two of us can escape whatever doom you face as easily as one?"
Knowing no discussion had taken place after his evacuation order, Martik shook his head and handed Bradley the torch. "Don't burn me this time," he said.
Bradley smiled. He hadn't burned Martik with a torch in a long time, but Martik would never let him forget it.
Once everyone else gained the safety of the upper slope, they climbed together. Martik could feel the crew's eyes upon him as he and Bradley climbed. The thought of sending for Trinda was quickly banished, though he thought he saw guards running from the chamber. That was fine with him. If they summoned Trinda, then she couldn't possibly blame him. Thinking back through their history, Martik knew she might still find a way, but at least he would make it more difficult.
At the top, Bradley held the torch overhead and to one side. Martik wasted no time and lifted the heavy stone over his head and tried to get it into the orifice. Bradley offered his other hand to steady the shaft and Martik smiled. It really was a two-man job. He'd have been hard pressed to do this alone, and he had to admit his ego was at times his worst enemy. The shaft slid upward as they guided it. Afraid to take his hands away, Martik glanced at Bradley, who was also ready to keep the shaft from sliding out and shattering atop the mighty stone wheel. Both were proven wrong when the
"Yes, sir," the young man said.
Watching him go, his step a little too anxious, Martik hoped the boy calmed himself before coming back up with the shaft, but then his attention was drawn back to the orifice itself. His crew had reassembled the structure, and he second-guessed himself, hoping he'd not had them rebuild it in the wrong place. Despite all his accomplishments, Martik still worried he would make another mistake. It was just part of who he was, he supposed.
After climbing atop the structure, though, Martik was rewarded with excellent access to the perfectly round shaft. This one was still clean and smooth inside, and all he needed was the stone key. It was soon handed up to him.
He hesitated. There was no way to be certain this orifice would do what he thought it would. He couldn't risk anyone but himself in the event he was wrong. If he evacuated the entire work site, as his gut told him to do, he would look like a dolt and might lose what faith he had remaining in his abilities.
Either way there was risk, but only by evacuating could he take all the risk on himself. "I thank you all for getting us to this point. What I'm about to do might be dangerous, or it might have no effect at all." People laughed. "I can't risk any of you based on my feelings and hunches, so I am going to ask you all to move back to the top of the ramp." This was less enthusiastically received. It meant shutting down the entire operation for the day.
"I know," Martik said. "I'm sorry. If this does what I expect, I'll be able to get down safely. More than one of us coming down at once could mean big trouble. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong."
The crew didn't debate or grumble, they just cleaned up their work areas, gathered their tools, and made an orderly retreat.
Bradley stood beside Martik after everyone else had gone over the edge and down the ladder. "What do you think it's going to do?"
"Go on down, and I'll show you," Martik said with a grin.
"The crew and I agreed. I'm staying and protecting your back," Bradley said. When Martik opened his mouth to respond, he said, "They wouldn't take no for an answer. Surely two of us can escape whatever doom you face as easily as one?"
Knowing no discussion had taken place after his evacuation order, Martik shook his head and handed Bradley the torch. "Don't burn me this time," he said.
Bradley smiled. He hadn't burned Martik with a torch in a long time, but Martik would never let him forget it.
Once everyone else gained the safety of the upper slope, they climbed together. Martik could feel the crew's eyes upon him as he and Bradley climbed. The thought of sending for Trinda was quickly banished, though he thought he saw guards running from the chamber. That was fine with him. If they summoned Trinda, then she couldn't possibly blame him. Thinking back through their history, Martik knew she might still find a way, but at least he would make it more difficult.
At the top, Bradley held the torch overhead and to one side. Martik wasted no time and lifted the heavy stone over his head and tried to get it into the orifice. Bradley offered his other hand to steady the shaft and Martik smiled. It really was a two-man job. He'd have been hard pressed to do this alone, and he had to admit his ego was at times his worst enemy. The shaft slid upward as they guided it. Afraid to take his hands away, Martik glanced at Bradley, who was also ready to keep the shaft from sliding out and shattering atop the mighty stone wheel. Both were proven wrong when the
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