An Invention
One day in a distant land lived two brothers who were working cleverly and ingeniously for they were inventors of the most prolific kind. Each day they thought of new ideas to save people time and effort but today they excelled themselves. This invention was priceless and it had to be safeguarded at all costs. No one else could be allowed into their workshop, no-one else to see their plans. This was a masterpiece which would earn them their fortunes. At all costs their invention was to be kept secret they made a pact not to even discuss the matter except in the confines of their workshop. They spent several hours pouring over their designs until they could replicate them with their eyes closed. Then they burnt the designs having committed them to memory. Feeling pleased with themselves now that their idea could not be stolen they set to work on their prototype. Expertly they cut, screwed pieces into position and filed the metal into shape. Long hours were spent until several small components were completed ready to be assembled. The brothers worked round the clock hardly stopping to eat or rest in their fervour. Their eyes gleamed in the firelight that eerily flickered in the grate of their workshop, filling it with dark shadows which ominously loomed around the two brothers. They took no notice of the phantoms, their hearts burning as they thought of all the money they would acquire once this invention were sold.
Now a certain greed filled their hearts that hitherto they had not known as the prototype took shape and thoughts of murder entered their minds.
“Why should he share my success?” the elder brother thought as he expertly welded metal; the solid metal melting under the white heat. He mused at his power over the metal as if it were his own fingers that blazed instead of machinery causing liquid metal to be produced. It was as if man and machine were welded to form a burning incandescence- an apparition of monstrous design and proportions.The younger brother was even more callous deep in thoughts of how to kill his brother. Yet his face remained unmoved, pale despite the heat of the workshop, his expression not even for a second betraying his emotion. His fingers carefully manipulated tiny pieces of metal into place each movement calculated with precision.
The hours ticked past each second beating its rhythm hypnotically as the brothers worked mechanically around each other. It was as if they were part of some great machinery whose cogs although fitting together were devoid of life, each doing their part without regard for the other. The night drew to its darkest hour when suddenly the brothers stopped for a moment. The elder lifted his visor revealing a red complexion beaded with sweat which he wiped with a cloth, then smiling he offered his brother a coffee who nodded but said nothing. Thus the stillness of the night was complete; their hearts black with hatred, plans and secrets hidden deep within their breasts. Two strong coffees were poured into mugs, the ebony liquid intoxicating their nostrils with the dark aroma. The hot pungent liquid moistened their lips with oily smoothness and as the coffee filled their bellies they appeared to be refuelled to continue with their work. Long into the night they toiled not noticing the dawn’s rays flooding their workshop with the hope that a new day brings. They did not hear the lark bursting into song followed by the dawn chorus for they did not listen to nature’s orchestra. Their eyes were burning with the light of molten metal, their ears filled with the whirring of cogs and metal pounding upon metal. What did they care for a new day? No, their hearts and minds were filled with darkness and machinations of malcontent. Finally their masterpiece was complete; their tools were put down, brows wiped and each brother stood back beholding the work of their hands. It was sleek, efficient and efficacious. Their design was like a temple to a new deity ready to be worshipped. As they revered the fruit of their labours their resolve steeled within their hearts. Each had to have the glory for his own; each wanted the recognition for the masterpiece to be for himself alone. This was not a creation to be shared – doubtless enough money would be earned beyond a shadow of a doubt to make each brother rich, but this was something else. This creation had been born from darkness and secrets; hewn from metal forged by burning desires and plotted with cold calculations. Although beautiful to behold it was devoid of life and as powerful and contorted as its makers. It was a weapon: so powerful half of humanity could be destroyed in an instant at any given time with precise timing to detonate at a chosen moment. So many nations would desire it; they would drive up its price with sophisticated bargaining and power struggles. Why share the glory of this super weapon? Why not take out one’s opponent without need for discussions of who should have what or who had put in more planning or calculations? It was simple the brothers should give his share to the other. Each knew it was pointless to ask, neither would voluntarily give away his share, it had to be taken by force - after all it was the only logical solution.
