Consequences
written by: Johnch
Ville burst through my door, red-faced, waving the guild manual around, muttering under his breath. Just as I was about to ask if he had a problem, he slammed down the manual, making my pens jump. There with a broken spine, sort of open to page seventy-five.
“Look, what does this mean, it’s the last page in the book.” In a strangled, frustrated, bordering on insane voice.
Don’t.
There, in bold fifty-point font in glaring red, the only word on the page, seventy-five in the clock makers’ guild handbook. Written after the detailed instructions on how to ensure the detent was secure, unable to be removed by accidental or deliberate means.
Those instructions reminded me of the health and safety laws, quite emphatic about circumventing safety devices. Which seemed strange in a clock-making manual. However, it was done that way for a reason, and I should know, for I wrote the manual.
Ville, a short dark-haired youth, acne-ridden face, prone to fits of brilliance as a clock maker.
I had seen his plan for a novel escapement mechanism, daring and perhaps the greatest innovation I had seen. The guild had him marked as a potential master craftsman. With only one factor holding back his possible inclusion, his propensity to break rules.
I looked at Ville, trying to gauge his reaction to what I was about to say.
“Ville, I am glad you came to see me, now, what do you think the ‘Don’t’ may refer to?”
I watched as Ville struggled impotently with trying to understand. Realising he could not make the connection, I offered a suggestion.
“What was the last section about and the warning contained within?”
“It was about making sure the detent was fitted and no one could take it out.”
“That’s right, now do you understand the don’t?”
“No.”
I sighed and said,” It’s a warning to not remove the detent, for what follows is a disaster.”
I watched as Ville struggled with what I said, with a sense that perhaps Ville should not be a clock maker.
“How could a simple detent be catastrophic?”
“Well, what happens to the clock if there is no detent?”
He thought for a moment, and then I could see the realisation in his eyes.
“The clock could stop or go backwards!”
“Yes, so make sure the detent is as per the manual in your clock, I don’t think you would like it if your clock ran time backwards.”
As Ville turned to leave, I sighed, reached over to the attendee’s book opened to Ville’s name, and drew a red line through it. I knew he was going to join the ranks of the clockmaker’s rebellion.
He looked at me in surprise, “Why did you cross out my name?”
“Because I know you are going to make a clock without the detent, just to see what happens, and there is nothing that will stop you.”
With that, I closed the book and, looking at his smile as he left, I knew that by this afternoon, Ville would have completed his clock.
I sat thinking for ten minutes and then went to see my Acheon, chief clock engineer. I stepped into his domain to review Ville’s clock plans. I could have asked the Acheon to do it, but I wanted his mind free to assess whatever contingency plan would be needed to counter Ville’s rebellion.
The Acheon looked up as I entered and said, “Who?”
“Ville.”
Reaching over, he pulled out a file and opened it, laying it out on the table.
After ten minutes of contemplating, I folded it back up and handed it back, saying nothing.
“That bad?”
“Yes, start contingency plan 205.”
“So how fast will his clock go backwards?”
“Very fast indeed, we will be lucky if it doesn’t spill into other workshops. His design is very good with a few innovations, however, without a detent…”
With that, the Acheon paled and pushed me out, then set about in almost panicked haste, preparing for when Ville finished his clock.
I wandered over to Ville’s workshop to see how close he was to assembling his clock. With some relief, I saw that he had about another two hours’ work, and if his gaze at the other student was anything to go by, he might not finish it till the morning. However, I could not take the risk of another pupil being caught up with Ville.
Walking in, I gently took Kateria’s arm and said, “Please show me your progress on your clock.” Ignoring her meek protest, we walked quickly to her workshop. In the background, I could see the Acheon rapidly erecting the barriers.
Ville looked out of his window, saw me looking back, with a wide smile of defiance, picked up the detent, made to place it in the clock, and then threw it on the floor.
I walked over and offered my hand and said, “It’s been nice knowing you.”
Ville said nothing, just grinned and continued working. I slowly walked back to safety.
Fifteen minutes later, Ville wound his clock and started the mechanism.
It was never nice watching the sudden freeze of motion. And then Ville was gone, sliding back through his time till the moment of his conception. His workshop visibly became less worn, new paint from fifteen years ago shone in the evening sun.
The Acheon, pale face, stood for a moment, head bowed, turned to me and said, “I wish we could get rid of the rebellion group.”
Nodding, I slowly turned and went back to my office.
Opened the register and, as per usual, Ville’s name had disappeared.
This was the second time for Ville, and now I had to go and see his mother.
NOTE:
Based on the Prompt – The Clockmaker’s Rebellion
- Consequences - November 26, 2025
- Hallowe’en - October 28, 2025
- I Can Taste The Distant Rain - September 25, 2025
