A little fantasy

Young Kirht was not an ordinary gnome, he was an Apprentice and it gave to him an indisputable reason to behave himself this way. - "Ha!, - he thought, - I mess with this hatched whole day, and this whimperer' ll tell me what I need to do!" Kirht understood that really "sniveller" Tigl was only a half of year younger as him and it was not allowed to"mess" to him too, but what an impudence! He, appearing to this world only six lakes ago, has already had time to take Master Shear fancy and worked his first week inside the Cavern. But Tigl's sorted out little stones with old chaps and children. And now he informs that he need a water for boiling of chiken. - I even don't think about it, - mutters Kirht, - I'm tired... , - and sits on fells quikly. But the strangest was that Tigl turned and went away without any words... It's seemed so unusual that it's wanted to come up and help, but something kept...

The work with Shear wasn't easy. Stuffiness, rock hash, dust... . But Shear toiled selflessly whole day and only footwear was entrusted to Kirht yet. Footgear... The Apprentice still was crazy a little from his recent discovery. Of course, he played with elder guys and considered that he knows a lot about this life... but when Master brought him to Cavern at first time...

Kirht never made up his mind to know why do elfs and sards have wives and children, but they - gnomes are only men and they looked not less than 3 lakes old.

And then he has saw. The Cavern was packed by figures cutting from stone. The gnomes. True to life. While he touched lightly to rough-hewing rock, Shear spoke: When some gnome was lost, the Council desided if he needs a substitute. If yes - they call me. And I find a suitable rock and begin to hit. Only real expert knows which traits must be silhouetted throuhg stone for turning out of genuine worker. After that when the figure is ready...

- Why, - Kirht interrupted perplexedly, - I'm too? From stone?

-All of us...Well, then you have to make mixture on mineral pitch and bronze dust basis and coat rock with it...

-But I'm alive!, - the learner put in again...

- Of course, you are. But ask Elder who did breathe life into us.... You see, you stayed this way, fixing your stony eyes to wall till 9 lakes and the Elder twice a week whispered his mumbles in your ears.

- It means that I emerged on this World owing to you and the Elder?

- It follows that it is. But not exactly. If I did not feel that it's time to revert to earth for me then it will be two stone-breakers or any warrior instead of you...

- It seems that you have known who I'll be when you... made... me? And you kept silence 6 lakes afer that... And what of that? I must be only that one which you intended me...? And .. there are not any other ways...?