Okal's Will

“Where’s my hammer?” I had scanned around for it, but I had concluded that it must’ve grown legs and decided to walk away from me, so I had asked Marvin who just shrugged back in response.

Marvin wasn’t good for much except holding nails in place, but if he didn’t even know where my hammer was, he had no purpose.

Being on the fifth floor of this contraption made the effort of walking all the way back down to my truck to find my hammer make me groan so deep it rumbled my bones, but it had to be done.

No one else’s tools felt right for me to use, and to be honest it would feel like blasphemy to use someone else’s hammer to get the job done. I had found my own tools with the help of Okal the god of construction, and I know that he would want me to find the hammer to do his will so I conceded, and started the long walk down. 

“There should be a hammer in the tool box around the corner. Marvin had pointed toward the next room that didn’t even have its plaster walls installed yet, but I was already walking out of the room towards the wooden stairs.

Much of the building was just wooden framing, and metal pipes for plumbing except for the eight floor, that had some window panes installed about a week ago. Although, the stairs were sturdy, they were marked with the debris of construction. Piles of sawdust, some splatters of paint, and the smell of cigarette smoke had accompanied my journey down them.

As I walked down I remarked on all the memories I’ve had on this project. On the fifth floor Marvin had dropped a lit cigarette and nearly burned the whole building down a month ago (He’s not allowed to smoke on the site anymore). On the fourth floor I remember looking out to the rest of the city, and seeing the view of the Lower Districts where I live, and talking to the guys about how I almost got robbed on my way to work a couple of weeks ago.

All of this work that I’ve been a part of was all done in the name of Okal. He was the reason I was even here today. Most of my projects are like that. This one was slightly different. About a year ago I had a dream that I was drowning under piles and piles of sewage, and Okal had offered his hand so that I could get out. When I was pulled out, and had wiped my eyes all I could see was this tall shiny building full of complicated pipes. Okal had stood atop it, and shined so bright that I had woken up.

I’ve always had these dreams, but Okal had never shown his face to me in them. So I took this job especially seriously. When I found where there were going to start building, I was one of the first to to get started. I read up on the plans when I woke up, and after I had put my son Ricky to bed.

But even with all my knowledge on Network Five, I didn’t know what this place’s purpose was. Moreover, I didn’t know why Okal was particularly interested in it, but I am devout, and I will not question his will.

When I reached the second floor something new had stuck out to me. There were Pipe technicians here. But they weren’t the reason why I was curiously watching. They had installed some pipes that looked hand crafted, and nowhere in the plans did I see that something so intricated would be installed here. But when they saw me eavesdropping I had quickly turned, and headed down.

The ground level was busy around noon. Workers trying to enjoy their lunches, smoking and talking with their buddies, and flowing in and out of the sky blue Port-A-Potties. Some men had raised their eyebrow at my appearance. I was famous for taking late lunches, and believed that today I would finally slow down and join them for once, but I didn’t even look in their direction. I needed my hammer, and my stride didn’t waver

My truck had seen better days, but between paying for groceries for my son and I, Ricky’s schooling, and paying off the street rats that shake me down every month I could never save enough to buy a new one. But Luckily the construction site wasn’t far, and to be honest I didn’t need to drive, but Ricky’s school was deep in the upper districts, and I don’t trust anyone when it comes to my son; His Mother taught me that lesson.

When I reached inside my pockets for my trucks keys something made my mind trail back to the pipe technicians. I may not have been a plumber, but the whole thing seemed strange to me. By now the only piping that needed to be done was on the seventh and eight floors. I tried thinking that maybe they were just inspecting them, but inspectors wouldn’t be coming for another week so they could check the piping when it was fully complete.

Then I looked at where the Network Five was being built. Although, technically it was in the upper district’s territory, it was built on the lowest part of the upper district. On top of that whatever it was piping its outflow looked like it was going towards the Lower district. Maybe they were finally building some new water pipes for the Lower District.

Whatever Network Five was, I had to put it aside to find my hammer, and I could only cringe when I saw it laying on the floor of the driver seat. It had to have fell out of my toolbox. I whisked it up, closed, and locked my door, then darted back to the site at a brisk pace so that I could avoid the gaze of my coworkers.

Then I saw them again, on the first floor this time. I decided that to put my mind at ease I should watch them, and see what they do for a while.

There was one technician that was dressed in all orange with faded blue jeans, and was speaking to his coworker.

“There’s going to be an access panel here so make sure that the dial faces towards me.” The two workers that followed his orders looked like regular workers, but there hard hats were too new. They also had to be plumber technicians. 

“The sterilized Beta three screws have no attachments here, boss.” The worker in orange frowned at them.

“We don’t need sterilized screws for this job at all. I don’t know why you brought them.” That was strange to me. If there was going to be clean water flowing through these pipes, they would have to use some sterilized screws if people in the lower district were to drink this water. 

“Whatever, just use them, but they’re coming out of your pay.” The grunt worker frowned, and made a low grumble, but kept working. Silently, I slipped away.

If they weren’t moving water in these pipes, what was? The only other thing I could think of was sewage. But there’s no reservoir for sewage water to flow to in the Lower districts. It wouldn’t go to sea, would most likely flood.

Flood. Flood. Flood? The Lower Districts had its problems. I wished that I could leave with Ricky and never look back, but Okal had kept me here for a reason. He had to. All the cretins, degenerates, and desirables had congregated there, but there still lived honest people just trying to survive.

My heart started to pound, and my veins were solid like cable. If those posh good for nothing rich folk in the upper district were planning to send their raw sewage down to where me and Ricky slept, They would answer for it.

No, I had to take a breath. I went over the plans in my mind, and the only thing that made sense was that this was a sewage outflow plant. The pipe design, the rooms, and especially its position. But what could I do about it. Most of the guys thought I was a nut anyway because I followed Okal, and kept to myself. They wouldn’t believe me if I told them.

When I got back to the fifth floor I tried my best to hide my anger from Marvin, but he saw how hard I was clenching my hammer, and his eyes kept darting from the hammer to me.

“Was the walk down that bad?” Marvin stood with a bit of caution in his eye, but he had a joking tone.

“You don’t even know.” I went back to where I was working before, but I couldn’t swing my hammer. I just stood there looking at the nail Marvin was holding and I couldn’t do it

“If you’re just gonna waste time we might as well eat lunch, you’re the one whose all gun-ho about finishing this room today.” Marvin put the nail away, and all I could do was watch him, and think about what to do next.

“Go to lunch, I’ll finish what I can and join you in a bit.” Marvin scoffed, and shook his head. “Don’t take forever praying to your god or whatever.” Marvin had took his toolbox, and walked down the way I came.

I was alone on the fifth floor now, had to think about what to do next, but deep down I already knew. Okal had brought me to Network Five, not to build it, but to destroy it, and as his devout follower I would do his will.