Wieden District — Vienna, Austria
When does a day begin to feel too long?
When does the breath of sunset feel forced?
The mind has many questions; today, he listens.
The way back is far too crowded for his liking—an irony, considering his workplace. How long can one man reiterate the same garbage before vomit burns through his throat completely?
He felt the brush of a shoulder against him as he passed through the crowd. He could hear the clockwork now, emanating from deep inside him, growing louder. It knew where he was going.
Home
He glanced at his watch in a hurry.
"Come on, I can't be late. Not again," he whispered to himself.
Tick
Tock
Tick
A miracle from Mekhane itself that he not only greeted the church on time but arrived ten minutes early.
"Good evening, Professor."
His internal organs nearly groaned now.
"Hello, my dear Theo. How have you been holding up?"
"The same as you."
A moment passes in silence.
"How does the clock tick?"
"Weaker every day. May His broken touch heal us all."
"Amen."
With quiet reverence, he was let through. The days when the church felt like a home were slipping past, and his body was failing to feel it.
"How are you on this fine day?"
He looks up to see Priest Konstantin. In days past, he would carry a wave of energy strong enough to lift people out of their seats. Today, it doesn't even reach his eyes.
"Good enough I suppose. Are all of us here?"
"Yes, Ms. Kienzl arrived only a few minutes before you."
"And our guests?"
"They will arrive shortly."
"Then should we assemble?"
The remaining eight weary souls gather around the clockwork center.
Each voice booms over the other, all vying to be heard.
"Are they trustworthy?"
"How can they be? Do they follow him? I say it is foolish to bring them in such a sanctimonious space."
"I agree, not even those among our ranks have had the pleasure to walk these halls. To bring outsiders is madness."
"Yet they follow the coin, do they not? Their loyalty can be bought and sold. Our coffers offer much."
"And what if it is not enough? When they want more, we will be forced to offer our lives."
"Priest, what say you?"
A pause descends upon the table.
"This feeble is unnecessary now. Already had we reached out to them. Already had we given them a taste of what is coming to them. Already they have acted. And already have they completed what is to be done. Now we will finish this."
Each member remains in silence.
Theo enters quietly.
"Your holiness, they have arrived."
"Then let's meet them. Ms. Kienzl, fetch their reward."
Eight men clad in black combat gear emerge. They quickly spread, each holding post on the edges of the room.
A single woman dressed in white appears flanked by two more men by her side.
"Good evening your holiness."
"And may the blessings of him be upon you."
"I love what you've done with the place. Makes it really pop."
"Do you have what we seek?"
The woman snaps her finger. One man next to her reveals a suitcase.
"And do you have what we want?"
Ms. Kienzl reveals a suitcase of her own.
"Open it, we want to see for ourselves. You understand, yes?"
Ms. Kienzl opens her suitcase. Small diamonds are filled to the brim.
"Then we are done here. Here is your equipment to cut down Area-21."
Ms. Kienzl and the man exchange suitcases.
The woman suddenly makes a gesture.
Each of the posted men open fire on each of the table members including the Priest.
The woman turns around and faces her men.
"Do we have the data?"
"Already locked and loaded."
"Good, have them wire the money in exchange. We all just got a whole lot richer."
Later, in another room…
"Mission complete."
"Good work agent. How much did it cost us?"
"Around fifty thousand. Pennies in the bucket compared to the rest."
"Good, you are dismissed."
"Yes M'am."
The door locks shut. The woman turns on her computer. A face appears on screen.
"Relations have really outdone themselves as usual."
She pulls out a cigarette.
"They believe themselves to have free will. To be in control."
She lights it. She breathes in and lets the smoke curl.
"But they never were."