Multiverse 5 Snippet 3

 Sitrep:

So, I got the manuscript back from Rea. I am sitting on it while I work on a few additions. (maps!)

 In other news, I'm 1/4 done Pantheon.

On to the snippet! 

 

Still in The Collection:

One would think this war was against another tribe, but of course, that was not so. The giants were monstrous, yes, and primal, but they were unorganized and lacked much in the way of technology. For some they barely clothed themselves, and a club was the best weapon available.

The goblins were scattered and not united. The elves kept to themselves unless provoked. No, this was a war between men. Professor Jaroll Verax shook his head as he studied the painting. They tried to blame the other tribes but in the end man only had themselves to blame for their shortcomings.

Not that they would ever see it that way. No way.

He looked at the line of eager students out the window and sighed. “What are we on?”

“Seven, sir,” his wife and assistant replied. When they were in working hours, she was all business, especially in front of the public.

“Very well, send the next applicant in,” he said.

He listened to the speal from the lad but other than being muscular he was of little use. He had cotton between his ears and was classic jock, good for moving heavy bits but that was it. He sent the lad on his way and then went to the door.

“This is a meticulous job that requires hours of study and research through books,” he called out to the assembly. “It pays little, but for those truly interested, the work is its own reward.”

He was not surprised when a majority of the applicants faded away within moments. Only three stubbornly remained. He waited a moment and then motioned to the trio in.

There were two lads, both straplings and a lass. The lass looked every inch as stubborn as his wife, and he had a sinking feeling she would back this one's application to the hilt.

He pointed to her first. “Ladies first. Name?” he asked curtly.

“Ester Able,” she replied with a soft voice.

“Have you any experience with historical archives?” he asked.

“I worked in the city library until it burned down,” the girl replied.

He nodded. “So you know the index system?”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Ah? Have we met?”

“I saw you at some social functions before the war,” she said.

He studied her. She had a matron-style hair updoand a prim conservative look but she looked back at him with cool eyes.

He nodded slowly. “All right,” he said as he turned to the second lad. “You are?”

“Reg Fauxcore,” the lad said with a bit of a stutter. He seemed rather nervous.

“What did you do before this application?”

“I, ah, worked as a bus boy. And I've done messenger duty,” the lad stated. He had long black hair pulled back in a pony tail but had a powerful smell about him. His clothes were rather ragged.

“Are you a student at the University?”

The lad shook his head.

The professor grimaced. “I'm afraid this job is for students only,” he said firmly.

The lad looked ready to cry but nodded. He started to back away. “Wait,” the professor said. He fished out a pence and flicked it to the lad with a thumb flick. The lad fumbled it but caught it. “For your trouble.”

The lad nodded and took off.

The professor turned his eyes on the other male. “And now we're down to two. Name?”

“Dapper Harpin,” the lad said. He had acne but was relatively clean. He did have the odd scent of smoke.

“Been smoking?”

The lad grimaced. “No, sir. I was pulled in to the bucket chain.”

“Ah,” the professor said with a nod. “I don't take to smoking. It's a bad habit, and it can lead to some disastrous accidents.”

“My grandfather had a pipe but I never liked smoking,” Dapper replied.

“Ah?” the professor frowned as he tried to place the name. “I remember your name for some odd reason …”

“I am in Professor Trem's course and Professor Quill's history course.”

“Quill. You applied for the internship but you were passed over.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Found other work?”

“With Master Lox and then Master Faw and then Master Pen.”

“Pen,” the professor's eyes lit. “You were the lad he turfed out for printing his schoolwork?”

“I was also printing my first monograph,” Dapper replied with a nod and grimace.

The professor blinked. “I see,” he said in an admiring tone of voice. “Bold brass ones, lad,” he replied.

Dapper said nothing.

“It isn't uncommon for students to do that though. You have to write your thesis monograph somehow after all. Get very far?”

“Not far enough,” Dapper sighed. “Sorry, sir,” he said after a moment.

“Not a problem. You won't have much opportunity to use my materials here, but you will learn quite a lot if you stay on. That is, if I hire you,” he said.

He eyed the two. “I will put it bluntly, the pay sucks, the hours are long, but we will feed you what we can when we can. This work is subsidized … barely,” he said with a grimace.

“But there is only enough work for one,” his wife interjected quietly.

“Yes, quite,” the professor replied. “So, I'm giving each of you a week trial.”

“Together or separate?” the lass asked.

“Hmm …”

“If we split them up, it is fair to them. They won't have a chance to compete directly or sabotage each other,” the professor's wife interjected.

“My colleague is correct,” the professor said. “A week I find is too short and yet overlong for our limited budget,” He grimaced.

“If it pleases you, sir, I'll work the first day for half pay and food,” the girl said.

The professor noted his wife's sudden interest but nodded. “Very well.” He turned to the lad. “Come back in a week for your trial.”

“Yes, Professor. Ah, can I ask what we're to do?” Dapper asked.

“Ah. Well, I can show you.”

~~~=^=~~~