Conversation with Kirin Jindosh

Guard

Kirin, sir, we were confused by your most recent response. The Duke was — well, he was furious. He sent me to interview you about your progress.

Kirin Jindosh

One of the maids took me for a walk. We dug beetles in the park, with shiny green shells.

Guard

I don’t — understand, Mister Jindosh. Working with Anton Sokolov, were you successful at lowering the cost of Clockwork Soldier production? The Duke is expecting a reduction of eighty to ninety percent, based on your own estimates.

Kirin Jindosh

She let me keep a few of them in a jar. I pulled off their legs.

Guard

Uh, that’s interesting. Let me remind you, as Grand Inventor, you’ve been given everything you requested. But with that comes a responsibility for deadlines, an expectation of progress.

Kirin Jindosh

Wait! I remember the undertaking you’re talking about now. Yes, yes.

Guard

Excellent. So what can I tell the Duke?

Kirin Jindosh

I had a visitor, I think. Or maybe they came for Sokolov. It’s hard to recall the details. Anton wouldn’t help, but I was close to finding a way to — the difference engine is inscribed in copper, along the concave surface of the inner head mechanism.

But, wait. I — I can’t. It slips away. The beetles we found today, I’m going to give them all names.

Guard

This is useless. What am I going to tell Duke Luca?

Transcript

Kirin, sir, we were confused by your most recent response. The Duke was - well, he was furious. He sent me to interview you about your progress.

One of the maids took me for a walk. We dug beetles in the park, with shiny green shells.

I don't - understand, Mister Jindosh. Working with Anton Sokolov, were you successful at lowering the cost of clockwork soldier production\? The Duke is expecting a reduction of eighty to ninety percent, based on your own estimates.

She let me keep a few of them in a jar. I pulled off their legs.

Uh, that's interesting. Let me remind you, as Grand Inventor, you've been given everything you requested. But with that comes a responsibility for deadlines, an expectation of progress.

Wait! I remember the undertaking you're talking about now. Yes, yes.

Excellent. So what can I tell the Duke\?

I had a visitor, I think. Or maybe they came for Sokolov. It's hard to recall the details. Anton wouldn't help, but I was close to finding a way to - the difference engine is inscribed in copper, along the concave surface of the inner head mechanism. But, wait. I - I can't. It slips away. The beetles we found today, I'm going to give them all names.

This is useless. What am I going to tell Duke Luca\?