AN INVENTION TO SHOCK THE WORLD

They were now well into the last month of winter.

"Brat you better have a good reason for having me waste time in this backwater village."

The burly man scowled as he spoke roughly to the little boy. It was ironic that not even a year ago he himself also lived in this 'backwater village'.

Instead of squirming or exhibiting fear from a man who could more than break him in half with a slap, the boy slowly sipped some hot tea from a mug. He was siting very comfortably on the wide couch.

Because he monopolized the largest seating spot, the rest of the occupants had no choice but to stand. A large flat table was centered in the middle of the room with a thinly patched quilt covering something underneath.

This limited space and further having to stand only served to fuel Griz ire.

"And what the hell happened with your shoulder?"

Chu grimaced as he unconsciously touched his shoulder. He had gotten bitten during one of their cave training exercises. Not only him even Lucy had not come out of that place unscathed.

'An estimated ten or twenty bats my ass! The damn cave network seemed to spawn those blood suckers.'

Chu placed down his mug on the edge of the table. Now that Griz raised his blood pressure, he surely had to vent it out.

"What about you Mr Kim. Do you feel the same way as Mr Griz. Having to come all the way out here because of a little summons from me?"

"No, no. Heavens not at all."

Chu cleared his throat and finally stood up. He knew very well that both of them only came here because of money. Merchant Kim made the trip because it was now nearing the end of winter AND because John had informed him of a ready load of pelt and lumber.

Griz was here because John pleaded in his letter that the boy had shown him something that could make an endless stream of money.

'A veritable river of gold to be had.'

"Cut the talk kid. Let me see what can have John begging me to travel here in Winter."

Chu placed his hands behind his back and faced them. Two older men and one younger one were staring back at him. In the corner Ming, Simon and Thomas were carrying out their own little conversation.

"What I am about to show you will shake up the entire Empire as we know it. However it will be up to us to capitalize on it. As Merchants it will be up to you to seize the opportunity while it last. We must also be very careful not to be swallowed up by others as we begin."

Chu held out his hands. On his palms lay two small gears made of wood.

Griz was the first to break the awkward silence.

"What the heck is that?"

Merchant Kim was confused as well. Only John remained still but his face was bursting with excitement. He had helped the boy in setting up that covered table and also preparing the demonstration.

"Let's go outside. I believe that actions speak louder than words."

Chu cloaked up and headed outside. Flabbergasted Griz and the others could only follow. The group made their way to the well near the lodge entrance. Normally the well was covered to prevent the risk of water freezing during winter.

Today the well was surrounded by a wooden fence and draped around with a heavy quilt to prevent anyone from peeking inside.

John rushed to open the small gate for his seniors. They all walked into the little area surrounding the well. Sometime during the trip a little girl followed them and stood at the side with Ming.

"Everyone knows that to draw water from a well requires a rope and bucket. It is also a known fact that the work is very strenuous and not suited for weaker individuals. The weaker the person the smaller the bucket.

Today all that will change. In any place that requires water to be drawn this invention will be a gift from the heavens. No matter how deep the well, the average person can draw water very easily. Sally if you may, please start."

The little girl shyly stepped out and made her way to the well. She held the large rope bucket in her hands and pushed it of the ledge into the well. With a splash it landed at the bottom.

She then moved to the side where a handle was sticking out not to high from her reach. A small stool allowed her to stand comfortably.

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It was then that Griz noticed the contraption. Three gears each one larger than the last, interlocked with each other from the handle to the horizontal log the rope was tied onto.

As Sally spun the handle the smaller gear moved the larger ones much slowly. Most importantly was the bucket that was slowly being lifted. When the bucket came up Sally stopped and released the handle. With a 'tock' sound, a small lever latched on the larger cog stopping it from reversing with the weight.

The young girl grabbed the bucket and brought it to the side before releasing the lever. Another thud and the water filled bucket landed on the side of the well.

The two experienced merchants looked on at the demonstration as surprise gradually led to shock. Both of them personally tried out the new contraption, but their minds had already foreseen countless uses.

"Holy Shit! Do you know what we can do with that thing?"

"Damn brat, this is going to be hard to swallow!"

***

They were now back in the warm room of the lodge.

"I want to say that I am the person with the most shares in this company."

"Hey, hey old man. Get your story straight. Your shares are the same as John and Kim split three ways. 'I' am the main shareholder here in writing."

Chu smacked his hands on the table as he stopped Griz in his tracks.

"Amm, how come I have to split shares with Griz. John should be more than happy to give his superior half of his own."

"YOU DAMN boldface old man! You were also blubbering about our business with Master Griz. Don't try to worm your way out now!"

Chu knocked on the table as John berated Kim on the side.

"Now, now. No matter what, I am the chief shareholder and the chairman of this company. Merchant Kim will handle transportation issues, Griz will handle our marketing and ownership issues while John will take care of any logistics and research needs."

"Wait a minute, you left out something important. Who will handle our finances?"

Griz questioned.

"All transactions will be recorded on paper and sent to me. I have a competent team that will keep an account of our business. As for the physical gold it can be held with Griz until the end of the year. The profits can be shared out at that time."

Unless all three of them decided to team up and 'cook their books' Chu was confident he was able to find any discrepancies that might indicate they were robbing him.

He was not part of the accounting department but as a salesman he had witnessed countless schemes designed to rip off profits from a company. As for these guys, he was sure they would not bother to take advantage of their golden goose.

Griz and Kim were silent for some time before they both glanced at each other before Griz spoke.

"Kid, this thing will be hard for us to swallow alone. Just one of the 'models' on the table can keep our smiths busy for years. The problem lays in the fact that they can all be copied freely."

Griz glanced at the now uncovered table. On it lay several basic models highlighting the use of using the mechanical gears. The use in a drawbridge was very eye-catching.

The basic design was already in use, with the modification of the gear design it would become even more efficient. The main concern was how to get their product out before someone else came up with this invention.

If a small kid like this brat in a backwater village could dream up this kind of thing, no telling when those scholars in the guilds would have the same idea.

Merchant Kim suddenly spoke up.

"We have no choice as I see it. First we are going to need the Artisan Guild involved. That's the only way to hold back others from copying our invention.

Next we have to get the Merchant Guild to help us make contact with the biggest customer, the Empire itself. With those three we have our production, delivery and buyer linked together. Only with that we end up with a major problem."

"The inventors end up with nothing."

Chu replied making a stiff smile.

With no protection of intellectual property they would eventually loose out to the biggest and quickest supplier. It all came down to whomever could strike the iron the fastest.

Being given recognition and praise for an invention was a far cry from the merchants and blacksmiths who made the gold off his head. The majority of profits should undoubtedly fall in his hands.

Chu suddenly received a revelation. He smacked his head for his stupidity.

'Why the hell did he keep thinking about making money today?'

"Damn, I have it."

He stood up and faced the others.

"The main problem is setting up a meeting with the representative from the Empire. All we have to do in the meantime is gather enough stock to release in bulk. By the time others decide to copy us, we will have long sold out and moved onto another design.

After that we will sell our supplies to the Trading Post at a reduced price to keep the money flowing. All we have to do is package our products along with the related instructions. The water 'well handle' model is generic, so by using hammer and nails it can be installed on any well.

Besides we forgot one important thing my fellow merchants."

Griz tilted his head slightly as he pondered the new idea. He was in agreement with the kid but something still kept him back. The next few words continuing out of the kids mouth broke that indecision completely.

"You old misers are forgetting that manufacturing these cogs are virtually free!"

Chu followed up casually.

It was John who nearly screamed out in excitement after Chu made that statement.

"Crap the kid is right! Except for the thin piece of iron bands and rivets holding the cogs, they are all made of wood. The kid has virtually free labor and also endless material to work with. We're RICH!"

What was the key to any manufacturing company.

Location, location, location.

Chu had free labor and furthermore an endless source of free materials to work with. Wooden cogs was good for most of his future planned inventions since he was literally living inside the Great Forest. As for the iron bands and rivets needed, he was also not too far from the source in the north.

Only when the sounds of John fainting from euphoria did Chu finally awaken out of his thoughts.