Too Pretty

Barbie

I probably needed to start researching that paper for class. It was due on Friday, and it was already Wednesday. I’d been distracted by hanging out with Steven and the homework for other classes. I really couldn’t put it off any longer.

Most of my research consisted of finding accounts of the ancient folks that saw me on the field of battle. Before, when I was assigned to a fight, I would stay until it was done. Mostly that only took a few days. The folks that wrote about me were always the ones on my side. The other side of the battle never drew another breath to tell the tale.

I found Tissaphernes’ story of the Ionian War in 413 BC. He recounted a tale of a large man that he referred to as a djinn that stood to the side of Agis II, wielding a lash of flame that mowed down the troops it struck. He gestured and the enemy ships burst into flame. I remembered that I controlled the fire that destroyed the Athenian ships. After all these years, I couldn’t remember why I was there. Something to do with a Persian king.

How to come up with a reason for the myth? Old Tissaphernes gave it to me with his prayers that the gods would not blame the Spartans for the workings of the alchemists.

This myth was invented so the atrocities that the Spartans committed would not fall on their shoulders with their gods. The Spartans could not admit that they used rudimentary bombs when Aries was clear that the only honor in battle was strength against strength.

I found a couple other examples of genies and attributed it to people not wanting to take responsibility for the results of their wishes. There was no known way to defeat a genie, just that people would get what they deserved and then it would vanish.

I just had to string that together and I’d be done.

When I finally finished the damn paper, I had a new-found respect for fiction writers. It was hard to talk about things that had happened while limiting myself to only what I could find documentation on. Then misinterpret it creatively.

I wondered if Steven had his paper done yet? Only one way to find out. I got out my phone and called him. Eleven p.m. is not too late to call.

He picked up on the second ring. “What’s up, Barbie?” His voice certainly sounded alert enough.

“Just checking in to see if you got that lit paper done. I did mine tonight.”

“Yeah, what did you do it on?” He sounded genuinely curious.

“I picked genies. They are everywhere throughout history when you start to look. A lot of the ancient battles were said to have a genie on the winning side. In Islam, they are believed to be made of smokeless fire.” Might as well find out what he thought about paranormal stuff.

Since I was paranormal stuff.

“I didn’t know any of that, but they sound pretty cool. All this supernatural stuff is really interesting. Going to battle with a genie on our side wasn’t something we had to learn in basic.” He gave a soft laugh. “I wish they would have. Might have broken up the boring drills.”

I gave him a basic description of what I “found” about them, mostly talking about things that I’d actually done or seen.

“Now what do you think of them?” I probably shouldn’t have pushed, but I was curious.

“They sound pretty cool. Too bad they aren’t real.” At least he wasn’t against differently inclined pseudo-humans. It’s not like I was a real genie anyway.

He paused. “I did mine on zombies.”

I could see that. “Why did you pick them?”

“I thought they were interesting, always following the one directive, not having to worry about anything else. There’s nothing left of their brain for morality or restraint or fear. They don’t have to worry about the future or remember the past.”

I wondered if Steven knew he was telling me more about himself than he was about the zombies.