Part 22

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“So, in short, magnetism is a special force that makes certain materials attract or push away from each other. Like my wire wrapped iron rod, it can pull metal objects towards it without touching them. This happens because of something inside the stone or metal that creates an invisible force.

This invisible force can make things move or stick together. Inside these special stones, there are tiny particles that all line up in the same direction, creating a powerful force. When you have two of these stones, they can either pull each other together or push each other apart, depending on how you hold them.

We can use this force in many ways, like making objects move without touching them or even creating energy. It might seem like magic, but it's actually a natural part of how the world works.”

“Well, I go’ bou’ alf o’that. An’ i’ soun’ like magic wit’ rules, bu’ you say your worl’ runs on i’. So i’ mus’ ‘e reliable,” Eldrin responds, a little incredulous and a little lost

“Yes, it does sound like magic, and looking at the way we tamed it, its symbolism looks a lot like runes, but the runes are for understanding, not operation. In fact, we regularly give kids a lightbulb, motor and battery to play with as an introduction to electricity.”

“So you are saying you are going to make a kid’s toy and it will overhaul our world?!” Lena interjects, quite fed up with all of this tech talk and really wanting to do something else. Realizing she just continued the discussion, she sighs and puts her forehead on the desk.

“It’s not a kid’s toy!” I retort, “Some are used in them, but some of our largest industries are only capable because of massive motors, moving assembly lines, and cranes that carry tonnes of molten steel around the foundry. Saying it’s a kids toy is like saying the lever is a kid’s toy. Sure it can be made into a seesaw, but it can split logs, move heavy things and so much more.”

Thallion has not stopped writing since I started discussing, but chimes in at this moment: “Anyways, now that we are all here, and we have the parts, let us begin fabrication of this mighty machine”

“So first we need an awful lot of very thin copper wire,” I state. Everyone looks apprehensive at the mention of copper. “Since all of you have an issue with copper, I’ll draw it, I just need the tools.”

“Go’ ‘em righ’ ‘ere! Pliers, drawin’ pla’e, an’ win’er”

“Good, I’ll start working on that, with Eldrin as I’ll need him to soften it again. Meanwhile, the three of you can start by checking the fit of the 2 magnets to the motor casing, and determine a way to hold the brushes such that they do not contact the body. Bad things happen if that occurs. Also, Try to see if you can compact charcoal hard enough to make the brushes. Originally they were literally copper brushes, but I don’t want the risk of copper more than we need”

Taking the navel orange sized translator, I head over to Eldrin’s and am immediately greeted by the wave of heat, as shutting down the forge and reigniting it would take too much time and fuel. Eldrin shows me where he anchors the drawplate, and shows the attachment point for the winder. Setting it up, I feed the roughly rounded bar into the largest hole, and clamp it onto the winder using the pliers. Slowly turning it, the copper gives and stretches. After pulling it through, Eldrin grasps the spool and tosses it into the forge, heating it until it is cherry red, then quenching it to cool so it can be handled again. I unwind the tip of the new cable, and run it through the next largest die.

We work in silence, just the sound of the forge, and the hiss of the cable hitting the water.

Eventually, I ask the question that has been on my mind since Eldrin appeared after fixing the translator. “Eldrin, why do you have a heavy accent even when translated? Shouldn’t the translator remove all of that?”

“Eh? Oh ya. The ‘ranslata, ‘tis qui’e good for ‘ransmission of non elven tongue. I’ learns slowly, bu’ me orc ba’groun’ really messes with announcia’ion, wha’ with tha tusks. I usu’lly spea’ in elvish, bu’ the ‘ransla’or really despises my ‘ee’ sound. ‘Tis ac’ually surprisin’ tha ‘t works fer ya a’ all. Howeva, me na’ive tongue translated scares off many, espec’ly young’uns”

“Yes…yes.” I reply. How is english even remotely close to elvish, compared to orc? I am not even of this planet, so my language does not even descend from them!

Trying to not think about that at the moment, I continue to draw the wire, as we go down in sizes, it takes longer to draw as there is more wire to pull through.

Just constantly turning the wheel, my mind wanders off again eventually, after the 14th decrease.

I know I should let it go, but the weight of me not having a purpose and accidentally being summoned is driving me insane. What am I to do? I cannot go back unless I make a teleporter, or whatever was in that tower that I supposedly broke.

“‘Ey! Pay attention! Ya jus’ snapped the wire!”

Shaking my head from the daze, I see that I have turned the spool a few times since the wire snapped.

“Grea’. Now I ‘ave to work i’, an’ mel’ the two en’s ‘ogetha.”

“Can I do it?” I reply, hoping beyond hope to have something mentally stimulating to distract me from that path again.

“‘Ave any forge ‘perience?” “Well, no…”

“Then I ‘ave ta do i’”

Eldrin grabs the wires by the very tips of his fingers, and bringing them to the forge, heats the ends to red again, using tongs, he guides the 2 ends together, and beats them into one. Sprinkling water over the joints, he puts the tongs down and grabs the wire, bringing it back to me.

“Yeowwwwww!” He tosses the wire on the floor, and grabs his right hand. “Heavens above! I have, yet again, inadvertently subjected myself to the accursed touch of that wretched copper! The ensuing agony is intolerable. I entreat you, with the utmost urgency and alacrity, to retrieve the esteemed bottle perched above the forge, without a moment’s delay!”

Jumping up and grabbing the bottle, I rush over to Eldrin, popping the cork off of it, immediately I recognize the smell of apple cider vinegar.

“Now s’and back, this hur’s hella lot”

He pours a small amount into the palm of his hand, I back up as I see his face scrunch up in pain, and him grit his teeth. He sucks in air through his teeth and then punches the wall.

“Damn ‘rea’men’. No’ sure wha’s worse: the cause or the cure. I go’ the wire back togetha, draw i’ through the same die ta smooth it.”

Seeing all that, I nod vigorously, and set it back up, seeing how he is the orc, the strong tough one and that small amount of contact did that to him, I would hate to see what it would do to others.

After a few minutes, I ask “I guess that is your native tongue translated?”

“Aye. Sorry ta scare ye wif tha’.”

“No, no issue, just sound really formal to me.”

“Huh. ‘Tis quite formal, bu’ the large words tend ‘o scare of the othas, ‘specially los’ venturers. Shoutin’ ‘FEAR NOT’ ‘ends ta en’ qui’e poorly for the both o’ us.”

I burst into laughter, here the orcs sound like gentlemanly scholars!

“Good ta see ya laughin’ again, now le’s ge’ this wire s’re’ched”

Over the next couple of hours, We draw the wire until it is less than a millimeter in diameter. My fear of causing more pain to others keeps me focussed for the rest of the time.

“Ey, ‘fore we ‘ead back, jus’ know ‘tis was no’ your faul’. You did no’ summon yourself ‘ere, ‘t was no’ your choice. As fer the wire, i’ happens, and I am surprised you are ‘anging on this well.” Eldrin states, caringly, sitting back on the stool he has behind the counter, forehead sweat glistening in the light of the forge.

“I di’ no’ ge’ the entire discussion with the others, but you are young, los’ and alone, similar ta many ‘venturer I had arrive at me forge la’e a’ nigh’. The danger has passed. Relax, and ‘alk when ready.”

Calmed down, I nod, while choking back some tears of relief.

“Now, le’s go change the worl’”