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Description

Dmitri was proud of his crew. They were sturdy, hard-working people. And a good thing too, since the entire village depended upon them to complete the rows so that all may eat. Yes, many have been killed in their work - crushed by the blocks or falling to their demise when a row suddenly went. But they were looked upon as necessary sacrifices to the welfare of their family and neighbors, and where practically worshiped as heroes of the people.

This shift was a particularly difficult one. The blocks came as the sometimes did, in an order that was, to put it kindly, unhelpful. Dmitri and his crew did their best, of course - he would expect no less. They rotated the blocks as fast as they could, and would occasionally find success as rows were completed. However, the blocks still came, and there seemed to be no relief. Then, it came.

It was the tallest block Dmitri has ever seen in his short tenure as foreman. Long and straight, it could be used to complete several rows at once, and perhaps save this day. Dmitri barked orders which his team immediately and faithfully followed. All looked well...until the block suddenly got shifted a little to the left! There was no stopping it, as it came to rest on top of the incomplete wall, sticking up like Babel's fated tower.

Dmitri could not explain it. Perhaps a crane operator nudged a control incorrectly. Perhaps the surveyors actually made the wrong observations and sent forth faulty measurements. Perhaps some information got mangled in communication somewhere. Dmitri may never know the full truth, but one thing was certain.

It was going to be a very cold winter for the village.