Sink: Old Man's Tale by Perrin Briar Page A

said.
    “I don’t know,” Guard 668 said. “It just seems to flow a lot easier.”
    “Huh,” Guard 896 said. “I’ll have to try that one of these days.”
    “Do you reckon that’s how he’s doing it in there?” Guard 668 said.
    “How long does it usually take you when you stand on one leg?” Guard 896 said.
    “Not long,” Guard 668 said. “About the same as usual.”
    “That can’t be it then, can it?” Guard 896 said.
    “All this talk has made me need to go now,” Guard 668 said, squirming.
    The door opened.
    “At ease, gentlemen,” Graham said, walking down the corridor.
    “Are you going to ask him, or shall I?” Guard 896 said.

Chapter Twenty-Six
     
     
    Jeremiah put the final few pieces together and slid them into the back of the digger. It was finished. He smiled to himself and dusted off his hands. A job well done.
    The doors opened and Graham entered.
    “Don’t tell me you’ve finished it?” Graham said.
    “Incredible what you can do when you don’t let yourself get distracted,” Jeremiah said.
    “Believe me, now isn’t the time to be boasting about efficiency,” Graham said.
    “So, you finally decided to come back,” Jeremiah said. “Just in time to hog the glory.”
    Graham blinked.
    “Sorry?” he said.
    “You should be,” Jeremiah said. “Leaving an old man like that. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
    “How did you know…” Graham shook his head. “I came back, didn’t I?”
    “Not before you had your fun,” Jeremiah said. “Well, if you think I’m going to share the glory, you can think again.”
    “What are you talking about?” Graham said.
    “What are you talking about?” Jeremiah said.
    “We don’t have time for this,” Graham said. “Jeremiah, there’s something I need to tell you…”
    “Ah! I see you’re done!” Leader said, entering the room. “She looks marvelous.”
    “What, this?” Graham said. “She’s not done, not by a long shot.”
    “Actually, she’s just about-” Jeremiah said.
    Graham wrapped his arm around Jeremiah’s shoulders.
    “Listen to him, getting your hopes up,” Graham said. “He’s a cheeky sod. If you’ll excuse us, we need to get back to work.”
    “Graham,” Jeremiah said. “What are you-?”
    “Jeremiah, can I have a private word for a moment?” Graham said.
    Leader, curious, cocked his head to one side.
    “I think I just found a problem with the machine,” Graham said. “It would be very embarrassing if we were to turn it on and it doesn’t work.”
    Leader nodded.
    “Take all the time you need,” he said.
    Graham took Jeremiah aside.
    “What problem?” Jeremiah said. “You don’t know the difference between a screw and a bolt.”
    “How close are you to finishing?” Graham said.
    “I’m done,” Jeremiah said. “I just need to press the power button and it’s a go.”
    “I wish you hadn’t said that,” Graham said.
    “What?” Jeremiah said. “Why?”
    “I don’t have time to explain now, but I need you to pretend like you need more time to finish it. Can you do that?”
    Jeremiah looked askance at Graham.
    “Please,” Graham said. “This is really important. I swear I’ll explain as soon as Leader’s gone.”
    “All right,” Jeremiah said.
    They turned and approached Leader, who was pressing and probing the machine.
    “You’ve done a wonderful job,” Leader said as Jeremiah approached.
    “Alas, not as wonderful as I’d hoped,” Jeremiah said.
    “What do you mean?” Leader said. “You’re finished.”
    “I thought I was,” Jeremiah said. “But young Graham here has pointed out something that I hadn’t noticed. I need a little more time to work on it.”
    “What’s the problem?” Leader said. “Is it anything my engineers can help you with?”
    “No,” Jeremiah said. “I just need a little more time, that’s all. Engineering isn’t just about nuts and bolts, it’s about gut feeling, and my gut isn’t feeling one hundred percent on this