The Brothers and the Duke

    Two brothers had two boats.  The older brother was called Koin, and he sailed his boat on the blue-green gulf, catching fish to sell at market.  The younger brother was called Soin, and he sailed up and down the coast bringing passengers from city to city.
    The brothers were too busy to spend much time together.  Most of the year, they sailed their boats and made their living.  But they both made sure to be back home each fall for a very important event.
    Near the end of autumn but before winter truly began, Koin and Soin would meet at their family home for their annual race out to sea.  They would sail as far and as fast as they could, and the winner was the one who sailed farthest before turning back.
    Since Koin was older and stronger, he won the race every year.  But this year, Soin knew that he would out-race his brother no matter how far he had to go.
    Soin arrived at their family home several hours before his brother.  He started cleaning the house, and lunch was ready by the time his brother arrived.
    “Hi-ho, Soin!” called Koin.
    “Ho-hi, Koin!” called Soin.  “Are you ready for the race?”
    “Ready as ever!” Koin was a man who smiled all the time, and he made you want to smile back.
    As they ate, Koin complained that there were never any fish in the sea, but Soin reminded him that there would have been more if Koin wasn’t late to everything.  Likewise, Koin pointed out that Soin would get more passengers if he waited a while before leaving port.
    “And you could spend a bit more time talking to that girl in the city,” said Koin with a massive smirk.  Soin turned bright red.  Lacking something to say, he started clearing the table.
    After cleaning the dishes and taking a nap, the brothers set on their big race.
    The wind off the water was cold and sharp, and it bit into Soin’s face and hands.  Hours passed, and lunch seemed like it had happened very long ago, but still they sailed forward.
    They sailed farther than anyone had ever gone before, and several miles further than that.  When finally they had gone even farther than anyone could imagine, Koin and Soin saw something floating in the sky.
    It was like a big and beautiful castle built on a large ball.  Towers and walls stuck out at every angle, making the castle look like a giant hedgehog.
    There was a long rope ladder under the castle, connected to a wooden platform sitting on the ocean.  Together, Soin and Koin steered their boats to the platform.  Nailed to the side of the platform was a signpost.
VISITORS WELCOME

    Together the brothers anchored their boats and stepped on to the bobbing planks.
    “Well?” said Koin.
    “What?” said Soin.
    “Do I go first, or you?”
    “You first.”
    Koin took hold of the ropes and began to climb the ladder.  Soin followed him up.
    The wind was even colder up here, and the sea seemed so big and so far below them.
    The brothers climbed the rope ladder into the castle, stepping off into a large and beautifully decorated hall.  Candles in ornate golden candleholders cast light on the polished stone walls and deep blue carpet.
    The brothers stood in silence for a time.  After a while, there came the sound of footsteps running toward them.
    A man rounded the corner at the far end of the hall.    He threw out his arms in greeting, and shouted at the brothers.
    “Welcome, my friends!  I beg you forgive me.  I was unprepared, even though you arrived at the exact right time.”
    “What do you mean?” asked Soin.  “You couldn’t have been expecting us.”
    “You misunderstand,” said the man.  He was closer now, and the brothers could see that he had shiny black hair and clothes made of what looked like gold silk.  “I mean that you arrived precisely when you arrived.  It’s harder than it sounds.  But please, let me bid you greetings.  Welcome, brave and noble travelers, to my Home Above the World.  I am the Duke of Time, at your service.”
    Koin and Soin bowed.  They knew that most people who claim such titles as Duke of Time are either madmen or liars, but they also knew that most people do not own castles that float high in the air.
    “We will not stay long, good Duke” said Koin. “You are certainly busy, and we should be getting home.”
    The Duke of Time made a large and sweeping bow.  “Please, stay for a while,” he said. “You are guests in my home, and I insist that you see its wonders before you leave.”  The Duke motioned for the brothers to follow him.
     The Duke of Time brought Koin and Soin through many halls of strange and beautiful things.  He showed them how he made the sunsets, by pouring pumpkin juice and crushed flowers into glass bottles and setting them to boil over a pure white flame.  He showed them how luck and fortune was carved onto wooden blocks and fed to a stone dragon that spat them out into the world.  Memories were stored on wind-color paintings (“Like watercolor, but easier to spill” he explained).  The Duke had uncalculators for creating risk, working next to the de-snatchers that made opportunities.  But for the very end the Duke of Time saved the very best, the Structure.  It was the spine of the universe, a rotating arrangement of black stone and bronze held together by ropes of lightning.  As they watched the Structure move to the heartbeat of all things, the Duke held the brothers by their shoulders as an uncle to his favorite nephews.  "You must understand," he said "Few people venture here.  My nephew brings everyone sooner or later, but few of them are capable of conversation."
    “It has been an absolute pleasure to meet you,” said the Duke, “So I have one great favor to ask.  Will you two come back to visit again?”
    “Of course!” said the brothers as one.
    “You don’t know how much that means to me,” said the Duke, tears in his eyes. 
    So Soin and Koin left the Duke of Time in his Home Above the World, with the Duke’s blessing.  They returned the following year, Soin with his new fiancee and Koin with a young apprentice, and they continued to visit the Duke every year until the end of their days and even for a few years afterwards.