The
Revolutionary
Once
upon a time, Sumadastron the Time-Lost was ordered into the Baron’s presence.
He entered with his head bowed and his hands tied behind his back. Following him
was his keeper and scribe, Brother Quark.
The
Baron frowned. “Charlatan, you waste my time,” he told Sumadastron. “You brag
of future miracles and wonders, but you refuse to foretell fortunes!”
The
stranded time-traveler said, “Time is a tree; there are many futures. I am from
a divergent timeline, so I cannot predict politics.” Behind him Brother Quark, with
eyes as wide as saucers, wrote down his every word.
“So
no battle outcomes? Nothing useful?”
the Baron sneered. “Just ravings about harnessed lightning! And flight! And
democracy! And baths and baby toys!”
“And
universal law,” said Sumadastron.
“In
this valley, I am the law,” the Baron
said. “Can your precious universal law help me in my distress? Perhaps you know
some futuristic secret with which I can slay my many enemies?”
Sumadastron
the Time-Lost thought, two parts sulfur,
three parts charcoal, fifteen parts saltpeter, but he kept silent.
The
Baron drummed his fingers. “It would be a shame to dull my headsman’s axe upon
your scrawny neck,” he said. “So go! Follow your keeper and scribe to his
order’s vineyard; there stomp grapes and scribble nonsense, and bother me no
more! I have work to do, places to go, people to meet, fights to fight! I am a
man of action, I have no use for your dreams! Leave me, now!”
Sumadastron
and Brother Quark bowed low, then backed away and out. Once upon the road, Sumadastron
asked Brother Quark, “Does your vineyard have a wine-press?” Brother Quark
nodded. “And does it have a Printing Press?”
Brother
Quark blurted, “A what?”
Sumadastron
smiled. “I’ll show you,” he promised.
Moral: Deeds cannot
dream what dreams can do.
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