No. No, no, no, I can't be dead. There's no such thing as an afterlife. That's just something they sell you to keep you in line. This is just a dream, and a stupid one at that. There's got to be a way out, a way to wake up. A way to finish it. A way to win.
The little girl is kneeling in front of me, sticky hands splayed against my rock face again. Her expression is wide-eyed and hopeful. Bobo, I remember. I have no idea who or what Bobo is or how to find... it? Him? Her?
Worship Points received: 1
Wait, what?
[MINOR ROCK
POWERS
Inconsequential Miracle (WP 1)
WORSHIPPERS: 0
WORSHIP POINTS: 2
INFLUENCES
None
DOMAINS
None]
I've known spaniels with eyes less pleading than those of little Dee. I guess I could try an Inconsequential Miracle. She did just give me the extra point, after all.
What about her Tribute? Would it hurt her feelings if I didn't accept? Would it make her a Worshipper? How many Worshippers to a level? How many levels until I can escape?
One Worshipper is required in order to reach Level Two.
Uh... "Y?"
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Tribute accepted.
Worship Points received: 1
Huh. No new Worshipper.
The flower and the pebble are still sitting on top of the rock. This doesn't make sense at all. If I was awake, I would have a headache.
I still have no idea who or what Bobo is, even though it's my dream so I ought to know. I focus on the girl instead, and imagine her finding what it is that she wants.
Worship Points reduced to one.
Nothing seems to happen. After a while, the man reaches down to take her hand, and leads her away.
Wait, why did nothing happen? You took my point!
"Never mind, Dee. The spirits can't always help you." The shepherd holds out a hand. Dee catches it in both of hers, and leans into him as they walk away.
Time blurs a bit again as I chew over the unfairness of losing an imaginary point. Voice is annoyingly sparing with information. My subconscious must be a real mess. I talk to the Voice just to have something to listen to, asking more about what a “numen” is.
A numen is a spirit of a place or object. Most are so minor that they never gain consciousness. They gain Power through the worship of mundanes. Those who gain enough Worshippers may become gods.
The sun and the moons, are they gods?
Yes
There's a god called Brian?
Yes
Is he a very naughty boy?
I do not understand your enquiry.
Never mind. Where is this place? Not its name. Where is it supposed to be? Is it... a different planet to Earth? Some sort of different dimension?
I do not know.
You're just an AI with a limited data set, aren't you? Don't tell me. You do not understand my enquiry. Tell me about technology. What tech level is this place. Bronze age? Iron age?
I...
What do people make farming tools out of? Do they have ploughs? How do they pull their ploughs? Do they... have scientists? Engines, that can make vehicles move without an animal to pull them? Is there writing? Do most people know how to write? Do they know about boiling water to make it safe to drink? Do they have newspapers? What about television?
Memory capacity exceeded.
Oh, great. I broke the Voice. I broke what’s in my own head! A therapist would have a field day. “Just lie down on this couch, m… M…”
Mr? Miss? Mrs? Which is it? Why don't I know? Why can't I remember? Why have I forgotten my own name?
Names are not available until the tenth level of Power.
Oh, the Voice is back. All it took was a bit some bad news. How many Worshippers to reach Power Ten, Voice?
To attain Level Ten, you require one Domain, ten Worshippers and the successful performance of a Miracle witnessed by at least three Mundanes.
“Rock…. rock… rock! ROCK!” DeeDee is thundering towards me through the grass tussocks, her hat missing and her hair flying behind her. She's clutching something to her chest, small and white and fluffy. As she stumbles to a halt in front of me, almost splatting herself against the rock, her fuzzy handful gives a single half-suffocated and half-terrified mew.
“Thank you Rock!”
The shepherd is in sight now, far behind his daughter. Poor guy must spend half his life running after her.
The girl bounces exitedly, causing her pet to give another breathless protest. “Bobo was right there waiting when we got home! You're THE BEST!”
I feel a little let down. It's great that DeeDee has her lost… kitten? back, but that could have turned back up all on its own, no Miracle needed. It seems like cheating.
I hear a faint chime.
Worshipper gained.
Then again… perhaps the Miracle DID work.