Part 15 (2/2)
The people stirred. They looked at each other. The man at the spigot lowered his hammer.
Athena held out Her hands.
”My people,” She said.
”You have not heard the end of My story.”
The people waited.
”Today,” said Athena, ”you are grateful for My gifts to you. Today you fill my roads with flowers. Today you sing the praises of Athena, the Great Road Maker and Plumber.”
”But,” She rumbled, ”there will come a time when you will forget. There will come a day when you will forget that your roads and your plumbing are Mine. There will come a day when you will want to abuse My weavings.”
The people raised their voices in disbelief.
”Silence,” said Athena. Then Her shoulders drooped. But Her voice was still strong.
”There will come a day, My children, when you will build fast machines that spew out poison into the air over My roads. You will dump poison at My roadsides. There will come a day, My children, when you will pour poison into My plumbing.
”We can't see it,” you will say.
”So what does it matter?” That is the day you will forget to clean the waters of My plumbing before they pour into the sea.”
Athena hung Her head. The people were silent. They shook their heads.
They could not imagine forgetting the Great Weaver or Her gifts. Then a woman cried out, ”Athena! We will not forget.”
Athena lifted Her head. The people took up the cry.
”Athena! We will not forget!” they shouted.
”We will tell our children. And our children will tell their grandchildren.”
Athena's shoulders straightened. She took two steps, and the Earth shook under Her weight. She stretched out Her arms and cupped one hand around the people on the mountain. She cupped Her right hand about the people at the edge of the sea. The people at the sides of Her roads pressed together.
”My children,” said Athena, and Her voice was like a thousand harp strings.
”See that you do not forget. See that you do not forget that the tapestries are Mine.”
”Never!” cried the people.
”We will never forget!”
Athena smiled.
”Then we are ready,” She said.
”Turn the faucet.”
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