The Universe Builders: Bernie and the Putty (37 page)

“Who are the lords and ladies?”

“They are the oldest of our people. There are 117 of us now. Zardok, Gondal, and I are three of the lords. It’s an honorary title given to the oldest of our people; no one remembers when we were born.

“How do you suggest we approach the Senate and the Temple?”

“For the Temple, the only one we need to talk with is Zardok,” said Alcandor. “Whatever he decides will be law throughout the Temple. We should talk with him first. The Senate is more complicated because there are more people with less power. If we can win Zardok’s support, it will be easier to convince the Senate.”

“That makes sense. When can you arrange to meet with Zardok? It should be in a place where we can talk privately.”

“I can try to arrange something in two days. We should go to him, I think. Zardok does not trust my science and if we met here, he might think you are some sort of trick.”

Bernie couldn’t stifle a small laugh. “Well, if he thinks I’m a trick, it won’t be hard to convince him I’m anything but.”

“Great Protector, how shall I let you know? Is there a way we can communicate?”

Bernie looked around the room. He saw a large rock Alcandor was using as a paperweight. He pointed to it and said, “If you need to speak with me, take that rock and move it to the other corner of your desk. I will know, and I will come to you when I am able.”

“Your powers are amazing, Great Protector.”

Bernie smiled. It wasn’t much of a trick. All he had to do was stop by and see if the rock had been moved. If it had, then he looked for Alcandor. If it hadn’t, then he would do a fast forward with the time lever until he arrived at the time when Alcandor did move the rock. Alcandor was a bright guy, but he would never understand this stuff. Better keep it simple: if you want your god, move the rock.

Meeting with Zardok

Bernie suppressed his shimmer and stayed incorporeal as he followed Alcandor through the Temple’s long corridors. Three times, they met workers clearing away broken stones and shoring up walls against further damage. After several unavoidable detours, they arrived at a small waiting room, where a priest stood next to a large set of doors. As the priest recognized Alcandor, he bowed his head slightly.

“Welcome, Lord Alcandor. Speaker Zardok is expecting you. Please go in.”

Alcandor acknowledged him with a slight bow of his own head.

* * *

The chamber beyond was large. The man at the far end of the room stood as Alcandor entered the room and walked forward to greet him.

“Alcandor, you said you had urgent news. Have you found this Protector of yours?” Zardok asked, in a mocking tone.

“Actually, Zardok, I’ve done exactly that.”

“Surely, you jest. You know I give no credence to such theories. It is not necessary to hypothesize a new god to explain what has been happening to us.”

“Perhaps we can avoid our usual debate, if I just introduce you to the Great Protector and let him speak for himself.”

Zardok shook his head, but said, “Please do.”

“We should stand over here,” suggested Alcandor. “He’s quite large.”

As they moved back, Bernie positioned himself as before, hovering cross-legged in the center of the room. He went through his checklist: beard, long gray hair, white robe, muted golden shimmer, reverberating voice. All set. Now, slowly become visible.

If Bernie was going for shock and awe, it clearly worked. Zardok stood speechless, staring at the godly figure before him. Moments later, the high priest seemed to have a ‘weak-knee’ moment. Alcandor grabbed a nearby chair and guided the speaker onto the seat only to discover Zardok had been trying to get on his knees.

“Just sit, Zardok. The Protector doesn’t expect us to kneel before him. In fact, you’re going to find him different from anything you may have imagined.”

“I never imagined him at all,” croaked Zardok.

Bernie was overwhelmed by this display. He was just ‘Bernie’ at home, at school, and at work. Here, he was so much more.
Being a god is a rush
, he thought. Composing himself, he looked directly at Zardok.

“Zardok, I come with terrible news. Your world is in grave danger. Although I’ve tried to protect you, the evil forces are very strong. I no longer believe I can keep you safe.”

Zardok gave the Protector a quizzical look. “The Sun will keep us safe. He has protected us since the beginning of time. He will continue to do so.”

Bernie shook his head. “The evil I speak of is more powerful than your Sun, Zardok.”

“That is not possible. Nothing is more powerful than the Sun,” Zardok said with confidence. Straightening in his chair, Zardok asked, “Did the Sun send you to talk with me?”

“No.”

“Then where do you come from? What are you doing here?”

“I have always been here, Zardok. I was here before your world. I was here before your Sun. I have always been here. I will always be here.”

“How can this be true? Nothing is greater than the Sun. Nothing existed before He did.”

Bernie, sensing the conversation heading in the wrong direction, tried to get back on topic. “Zardok, you know what has been happening to your world. You know things are getting worse. The only safe place for you and your people is on another world.”

“What? The Sun will protect us. We have no need for another world. This is our world.”

“Please, Zardok,” said Alcandor. “Listen to Him. I believe He offers us our only hope.”

“I have never heard of another world. Where is it? What is it like?” Zardok struggled to regain his composure.

“The new world is much like this one. It has a sun, a night sun, and two tiny suns,” said Bernie, trying to use terms Zardok would understand.

“Another world with another Sun? How can there be another Sun? Surely it must be a false-Sun.”

“No. It’s just like the Sun you have now,” Bernie said reasonably.

“That is not possible. How can you claim such a thing?” asked Zardok, his voice rising.

Bernie shrugged and said, “I know because I made it.”

“You made a Sun?” Zardok asked with disbelief all over his face. “There is only one Sun.”

“No, there are lots of suns. I’ve made quite a few, actually.”

Zardok stood and glared at Bernie. “You are a deceiver and a blasphemer! Your words are false beyond doubt. In the name of the Sun, I cast you out. Take your minion with you. I will hear no more of this!” Zardok shouted.

“Well, that didn’t go very well,” Bernie said to Alcandor.

* * *

And neither did the next eight times Bernie tried to redo the meeting. He used his time lever to return to the start of the meeting. Although he tried different approaches and different arguments, it still ended up the same.

Zardok believed in the Sun. He didn’t believe in Bernie.

A Dead End

Bernie materialized in the study and advanced time to when Alcandor returned from their meeting with Zardok. It was early evening, and Alcandor had been thinking about the failed meeting for the hour it took him to walk home. Bernie, on the other hand, was still fuming over the eight failed meetings which, for him, had happened just moments ago.

“I’m sorry, Great Protector. I’d hoped he would show more wisdom.”

“Maybe meeting with the Senate will go better.”

“Even if the Senate is in complete agreement, the split between the two will mean many people will not leave.”

“Oh, Chaos! This whole thing makes me so mad I could just spit,” Bernie growled.

Bernie noticed the shocked look on Alcandor’s face. He blurted out, “Well, you know, I just get upset sometimes. I try hard to help, but no one wants to listen.”

Alcandor didn’t seem to be listening. He was staring behind Bernie. A number of his books had jumped off their shelves and were leaping about the floor like fish on dry land.

Looking in the direction of Alcandor’s gaze, Bernie said, “Oh, sorry.” The books came to rest.

“Great Protector, what’s happening here?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s too hard to explain,” Bernie murmured, forgetting to put the echo in his voice.

“Alcandor, let’s call it a day. I need to think about this. Please give it some thought. We’ll talk again soon, okay?”

Alcandor bowed his head and said, “Yes, of course, Great Protector.”

Bernie winced. “And that’s another thing. I don’t feel much like a Great Protector. Maybe you should just call me Bernie. That’s my name.”

“Ber-Nee? Lord Ber-Nee?”

“No, just Bernie.”

“Very well, my Lord. I shall address you as Bernie. But I suggest we call you ‘Great Protector’ in public,” he said. “It will be easier for people to understand.”

“Good night, Alcandor.”

“Good night, Gr— Bernie.”

Lenny Gets Upset

“So this Zardok won’t agree to anyone leaving the planet?” Lenny asked.

“No. He practically threw me out of his office,” Bernie admitted. He immediately regretted his words. Lenny had criticized him more than once for not behaving like a professional builder and doing what needed to be done. Bernie braced for the tirade he knew was coming.

“Then just get rid of him,” Lenny said through gritted teeth. “When he’s gone, the others will do what you want. I suggest finding a good public place and turning him into a pillar of fire. That will get everyone’s attention.”

“I can’t do that, Lenny.” Bernie’s shimmer radiated with the seldom-seen colors of firm resolve.

“Well, you’d better figure out how to do it, or you’re going to get fired,” Lenny said in an infuriated tone.

“Come on, Lenny. You’re being too hard on him,” Suzie said, not for the first time.

“No, I’m not,” growled Lenny. “He’s throwing his life away for no good reason! He should have cleared off that whole planet and started something new weeks ago. Instead, he’s letting time run out, and it’s going to be for nothing.”

“Alcandor and his people aren’t nothing, Lenny. They’re as real as you or I,” Bernie insisted.

“No, they’re not! They’re just created beings. They don’t matter! What matters is keeping your job.” Lenny was angrier than Bernie had ever seen him.

Then, without warning, Lenny picked up his tray and moved to another table. The only other sound was Sissy’s clucking as he moved away.

What’s He Like?

Alcandor tossed and turned all night. His thoughts were dominated by his experience with the Great Protector. He had many questions.

Alcandor’s logical mind pieced together what he knew. First of all, he thought, He’s incredibly powerful. The things He’s done to save our world make that clear. Anyone who can stop giant waves, put out forest fires, stop hurricanes, change the color of the night sun, is more than just powerful.

But He’s not
all
-powerful. He can’t undo things that have already happened. He can’t make Zardok do something he doesn’t want to do. He thought He could convince Zardok to go to the new world, but He was wrong, which means He can’t tell the future. He’s willing to fight on our side against the evil forces, but He isn’t sure He can stop the evil, which means the evil may be more powerful than the Protector.

I can’t believe He said He made a Sun for the new world. Is it possible He’s more powerful than our Sun? And even if He’s more powerful, why hasn’t He talked about seeking help from our Sun? Surely the Sun would be a great ally in this fight. It’s as if He doesn’t think the Sun can help Him against the evil forces.

And why does the Protector have a name? That’s another mystery. Why would anyone need a name, unless there were more than one of them? And if there are more Protectors, why haven’t we heard about them? Surely there would be many unexplained events if other gods were living on our world. If he doesn’t live here, then where does he live exactly? Does he just float around in the sky?

I didn’t expect Him to have emotional reactions either. He was really upset after the meeting with Zardok, and it caused my books to fall off their shelves. He didn’t even know He’d done it. Can you imagine what would happen if there are lots of gods someplace, and they ever got in a fight about something? It could tear the world apart.

I can’t shake the idea He’s hiding something. He seems sincere about wanting to help us, but when He got upset, His voice changed, and He sounded like one of us. That makes me wonder if His deep echoing voice is real. And if He’s changing the way He sounds, then what else is He changing? If He wants to look like us, why didn’t he make the color of His skin and His hair the same as ours? I understand him being bigger. To do what He does, He’s undoubtedly a lot bigger than He seems. If anything, He’s probably making Himself smaller than He really is, just so He can fit in our buildings.

Oh, Lord Bernie. What a mystery you are…

Alcandor Tells Gondal

Alcandor had no choice. He had to tell Leader Gondal about the Great Protector. And he had to do it soon.

The failed discussions with Zardok could not be ignored. Zardok was undoubtedly already making plans to discredit them both. That was insanity, of course. The Protector was the only thing capable of saving their world. Alcandor could not allow Zardok to discredit the Protector. The only remaining hope lay with Gondal and the Senate.

That’s why he asked Gondal for a private meeting.

* * *

In his Senate Building office, Gondal waited for Alcandor to arrive. As Alcandor entered, he stood and greeted his visitor.

“Welcome, Alcandor. I hope you have some good news,” Gondal said pointing to a seat.

Alcandor paused to brush fallen masonry off the chair. He looked up, saw a crack in the ceiling, judged no collapse to be imminent, and sat down. They had known each other more years than either could remember.

“I found Him,” said Alcandor simply and calmly.