30. Construction

[ The barn ]

What about the barn ? A barn is a barn. Nothing special. Just a big, time-worn building, with worn paint and a slightly wobbly base. Just a good old barn.

--- Greg was kind enough to lend us his barn. There are so many spare parts here that we can use to build a drill in the shortest possible time.

Indeed. Stephen's father, Greg, decided to put his barn in their hands. But I had to get to him first. Since there was no Warp here, we had to get there by car. It took them an hour.

Everyone was here except Lapis. Unfortunately, she didn't want to help the gems. But if I knew that the planet would soon die, I would help. August just decided to keep it quiet.

--- Good. First you need to create a drawing.

While everyone was looking around the barn for useful items, Pearl began drawing a sketch of the drilling machine.

--- Stop it ! I'm the engineer here !

And of course, Peridot didn't like it.

--- We can do the drawing together.

--- Together ? When did the pearls learn to build ? You can only stand for beauty and that's it.

--- Excuse me ?

--- You heard everything. Shoo ! Whose pearl is this ?

--- I'm not whose ! I'm on my own !

--- So you're useless ? A discarded pearl.

--- You ! Come on !

Pearl summoned her weapon and was about to attack Peridot. It was a good thing Augustus was there to grab Pearl.

--- Let me go ! I'll show this cheeky girl who's useless here !

--- Ha ! You only know how to talk !

--- YOU !

--- Calm down, both of you ! Pearl, get a grip on yourself, Peridot, one more trick like this and I'll hook you to the fence.

--- Tsch. As you say.

--- And now, you will pull yourself together and draw a drawing together. Understand ?

--- Yes

--- Yes

--- Get to work

After that, the work went smoothly. Everyone was pulling things out of the barn while Pearl and Peridot worked hard on the blueprint. It was already lunchtime when they finally finished.

--- You're pretty good at this, for a pearl.

--- I'll read it as a compliment.

Now that they had the blueprint, it was time to get to work. First, they had to create a framework, the layout for which they would build the drill. They began to make the frame, and in 2 hours they managed. So they decided to take a break.

--- Why did the work stop ?

No one wanted to answer her. But someone had to, and Augustus took over the role.

--- We're taking a break.

--- A break ? What is it? We have a planet about to explode and they're taking a "break" !

--- Everyone needs to rest. Otherwise, you'll burn.

--- How will you burn ?! And what exactly is this "break" ?

--- Okey. Look.

Augustus stood up, took Peridot by the armpits, and placed her between his legs. Then he lay down on the grass again. and Peridot, Peridot's head was on his stomach.

--- So what ?

--- This is a break

--- Lie on the ground and do nothing ? Is this a break ?

--- Yes. This is it.

--- This whole planet is weird. We gems never rest. We must work for the glory of our Diamonds.

--- Peridot.

--- What ?

--- Shut up and rest.

--- ...

For the next half hour, they just lay there. It seems that Peridot wanted to say something, but she quickly changed her mind and just lay next to August. Then they continued their work. They split up into teams to make it easier. August was with Peridot, Pearl was with Garnet, and Amethyst was with Stephen.

--- Peridot.

--- ?

--- You said that all gems were created by Diamonds.

--- This is true. We were all created by their hands.

--- Good. Do you want me to ask you a question that will blow your mind ?

--- No ! I don't want my brain blown up !

--- This metaphor. I mean, you'd be surprised.

--- A. Understood. Well, tell me.

--- Good. If the gems were created by Diamonds, then who created the Diamonds themselves ?

--- What ?! The diamonds were not created. They always were.

--- This can't be happening. Everything has to start somewhere. How were they created ? Who created them ? Did they appear on their own ?

--- You're talking nonsense again ! They were, are, and will be.

--- Whatever you say. But think about it.

--- No thanks.

The work went on in silence. But not for long.

--- Now I'm interested. Where do people come from ?

--- It's easy. We are born.

--- I know ! What is the process ?

--- Well, our species is divided into male and female individuals. To create a new person, they, as it were, merge ! And then a new one comes out of the female. It can be both male and female.

--- Good. Then who created you ?

--- There are many theories.

--- Tell.

--- The most common theory is that we were created by a super-powerful entity called God. He created the very first two people, and they created our kind. It's called religion.

--- And the second one ?

--- At the moment, most people believe in this theory. We are humans, the most advanced being on this planet. We have evolved since the creation of the planet. First from micro-organisms, then fish, lizards, monkeys, ancient humans, and finally us. Our family is very old. Approximately our species is already 300-400 thousand years old.

--- This is crazy.

--- I know ! And this is the most fun ! We don't know who we are. It's fun and sad at the same time.

--- You were talking about a female and a male.

--- Exactly. When they have a child, they start a family. After that, for the rest of their lives, they teach, educate and pass on their experience to a new generation. It's a family.

--- How long can your species exist ?

--- Our maximum is 100 years. But few people reach it. In most cases, this is 60-70 years.

--- I see. Then where is your family ?

--- I don't have one.

--- Then, how...

--- I don't have it, that's all. My family is the Gems and Stephen. I don't need more than that.

--- Good. Tell me something else.

--- Whatever you say. There are several religions...

Augustus spent the next hours until nightfall talking to Peridot. She was like a child, wanting to know about the world around her. She absorbed knowledge like a sponge. Since it was logically dark at night, we decided to stop the work and continue tomorrow. Everyone went to sleep in the barn, and suddenly it started to rain. Thunder and lightning thundered.

--- We're under attack ! Faster! Get up ! Enemy attack !

--- Peridot, it's just rain.

--- Are you sure ? What if they're enemies ?

--- You think so.

--- I hope so.

--- Come to me

It came a little closer to Augustus.

--- Closer

She moved a little closer.

--- Closer

She was right next to him. He quickly took her in his arms and pulled her under the covers.

--- What are you doing ?!

--- Go to sleep. Get up early tomorrow.

--- But...

--- Sleep, period.

After that, Augustus fell into a world of dreams. But even in a dream. he wouldn't let go of Peridot, so all she could do was lie there and look at his face. Her eyes were slowly closing and her last thought was...

" Warm "

After that, the barn was quiet. Only the rain beat on the roof and struck the clock until the momentous moment. The past is near.