The City of Steel

A small, round, and rather old man in a lab coat toddled forward. "Oh, I have quite a few new gadgets to display Captain Peacock, now let me see." He turned around to a table on which lay a few strewed objects with flashing lights and beeping sounds, "Ah, here we are. First, I present to you what I like to call The Granger Gazer!"

"But," The captain picked up the machine and studied it for a few seconds, "It looks just like a pair of binoculars."

"That’s correct," explained the professor, "it appears to be nothing more than a pair of binoculars, but with a few modifications. If you will just simply place it in front of your eyes," the captain did so, "Good. Now by simply pressing the buttons on top of the lens, you can zoom in or out up 500x! Not only that, but with the dial on the side you can change the lenses to an x-ray lens, infrared, or night vision".

"Astounding!" exclaimed Captain Peacock, "I can see for miles! Through the walls of the building even! - Wait a minute." Captain Peacock adjusted the Granger Gazer, "What does that soldier think he’s doing? Bring him to me at once!"

A small but well built soldier was brought before the captain. Fear was the obvious emotion in his eyes.

"What is your name?" asked the captain, the soldier stood there, scared out his wits. The captain repeated himself, "WHAT IS YOUR NAME! ANSWER ME!"

The entire room fell silent as all eyes turned while the soldier attempted to speak "I-I-I’m, I mean, my name- my name is- Private Lucas sir," Said the young soldier trying not to cower in fear while looking up into the eyes of pure evil.

"Well Mr. Lucas," Started the Captain, "Do you know why I have called you in here?"

The soldier thought a moment, "No sir, I’m afraid I don’t. I guess it’s because I’m not at my post."

Captain Peacock paced back and forth in front of Private Lucas, "Well then, if you cannot what is wrong I will tell you: You are out of uniform."

Private Lucas looked onward, quite puzzled, "I beg your pardon sir?"

"Can’t you see what is wrong with the attire you have on?" Said the captain with the must surprised on his face.

The private studied his uniform for several minutes, comparing himself to the other soldier who walked by, "I’m sorry sir, but I can’t see what is wrong."

The captain was infuriated, "YOU ARE WEARING THE WRONG PAIR OF SHOE!!"

"My shoes?"

"YES YOUR…. I mean, yes your shoes. Allow me to explain: Throughout this war, with all the marching and running that goes on, we have received several cases of athletes foot among the soldiers. So in order to reduce this condition, each soldier is issued two pairs of shoes and is ordered to alternate shoes after each day. In order to make sure that the soldier do so, soldier are ordered to lace each pair of shoes a different way; one pair with the laces crossed, the other pair of shoes must have the laces going straight across. Today, we wear the shoes with the laces crossed, but you are wearing the shoes with the laces going across. Now, you have two choices: you either go back to your bunk and change, or you can lace the shoes you have on the right way."

The private gave a deep and relieved sigh, slowly bent over, and began to lace his shoes.

"Very good soldier." Captain peacock then turned his attention back to Professor

Granger, "Now professor, from what I can see on this table, they all appear to be for spying or observing."