Eifelheim - Michael Flynn [103]
“A circuit, as when Everard makes a circuit of the Herr’s estate.”
“Many thank. This circuit helps move our cog through the inward-curling directions to the other world. Or so the ‘servant of the essence’ has said.” By this, he indicated the third Krenk, who bore the name Gottfried. “His more cunning devices were ruined in the shipwreck and cannot be repaired, but this primitive one may serve in their stead. The essence runs from this point, the mover, out and back through a lattice of copper wires, and so animates our machines. This essence is contained in … storage barrels, but these barrels grow ever more depleted from lack of the generative power. This may restore them.”
Dietrich stared at the illumination. “This device will speed your departure?”
Hans did not turn his head. “It may not serve,” he admitted, “but it must be tried or we will be ‘saved by the alchemist’.” At this, the Kratzer scissored his mandibles sharply and the servant of the essence stiffened. Hans bent over the “circuit.” Dietrich had noticed how the alchemist’s suicide had affected his strange guests. They had become more subdued, but also snapped frequently at one another.
“Is the essence that runs through the copper,” Dietrich wondered aloud, “an earth, water, air, or fire?”
Hans said nothing, so the Kratzer answered. “We call those the … ‘four seemings of a material.’ Fire, I suppose. It can burn.”
“That is because fire atoms are tetrahedral, with many sharp points. It must move very fast, that being an attribute of fire.”
Hans, who had been “reading the circuit,” raised his head from the illuminated manuscript at that and parted his soft lips in the Krenkish smile. “Yes, very fast indeed.”
“Fire seeks always its natural position, to move upward to the fourth sublunar sphere.”
“Well, this sort of fire seeks a lower position,” Hans said. “Or ‘potency,’ I think you say.”
“Then it must partake also of water, which moves toward a lower sphere—though fire and water, being contrary, do not easily mix. So, your fire-water must then flow through the copper channels as water flows through mill races and moves Klaus’s mill wheel from potency to act. Do these fruits on your vines signify machines? Ja? But to move a machine needs a strong current. The height of the dam is of great importance, since the greater the drop, the greater the work performed.”
“The potential drop in this circuit is very great,” said Gottfried, the servant of the essence, “as is the current. We have secured the remainder of the ingot left with the Freiburg smith. It will not encompass all repairs, but will suffice to build this device.”
“What?” said Dietrich. “That was to be the man’s payment!”
Hans tossed his arm. “Our need is greater. The ‘bug’ that traveled with you told us where his shop stood. We flew down at night and retrieved it.”
“But that is theft!”
“That is survival. Are goods not distributed according to need, as you read from your book?”
“Distributed, not taken. Hans, the natural arrogance of your people has led you from the Way. You see a thing and, if you want it and you have the power, you take it.”
“If we remain here, we die. Since life is the greatest good, it requires the greatest effort; so to work toward our escape cannot be called inordinate.”
Dietrich started. “But life is only the greatest of corruptible goods, so it is not the greatest good of all, which we call God. To desire what another possesses is to love yourself more than you love the other, and that is contrary to charitas.”
But Hans only tossed his arm. “Joachim has sketched you accurately.” Then he turned to the smith. “Lorenz, can you draw copper finely enough?”
“Copper wants a colder fire than iron,” Lorenz said, “and then it is only a matter of piercing dies of the proper size.” He grinned at the expressionless Krenk. “No worry. I will start work once Venus is ascendant.”
“Venus …” Hans cocked his arm in a gesture indicating uncertainty.
“That planet is favorable for copper-working,