3 Time to Steele Read Free Page A

impressive. That thing’s purring like a kitten. But the scientific basis for steam power isn’t new. People have been working in earnest on it ever since Torg the Defiler established his coal empire.”
    “You’re kidding,” I said. “How come I’d never heard about this?”
    Shay looked at me, tilting her head and giving me a smirk. “I thought we already established you’re not particularly well-versed or interested in science. Your words, not mine.”
    I frowned, unconvinced.
    Shay decoded my expression. “If I’m wrong, then why was the engine uncovered? Whatever’s beneath that black shroud is the real draw here.”
    As if on cue, the announcer flicked his baton at the workmen. As they closed the coal hatch and played with the levers, the flywheel began to slow, and the announcer switched his attention to the other side of the stage.
    “But, ladies and gentlemen, as magnificent, as astonishing, as portentous, and as awe-inspiring as the manufacture and functions of the Bock Industries reciprocating steam engine are, the implications of this next feat of science and engineering are even larger, even greater, and even more momentous.
    “Picture for a moment, as I stand here in front of this thick span of canvas, the state of the world in which we all live and work. Long has mankind achieved mastery of three of the four elements: fire, which we use to heat our homes and light our dark streets, water which we use to power our mills and churn our grindstones, and wind, which we use to fill the sails of our vessels. Earth we’ve used to grow our crops and build our homes, but with the advent of the Bock Industries reciprocating steam engine, synergy—” The announcer intertwined his fingers. “—has been achieved between the elements. Earth and fire combined to produce the energy previously harnessed from water and wind. But is there more? Are there other secrets, other natural phenomena, other elements which we’ve yet to harness? Well, friends…yes. There are. Lads, harness the machine!”
    Shay groaned as the mustachioed brothers removed the black canvas. “I’m glad my dad’s not here. He’d probably have a heart-attack hearing this guy talk about ‘fire’ and ‘water’ as elements.”
    Even I knew better than that. I shrugged. “He’s feigning ignorance to pander to the crowd. I hope…”
    The black covering fell under the combined pull of the burly-armed trio, revealing another curious contraption. This one also featured a large flywheel, but instead of steel it appeared to be made of copper, and it sat between arms wrapped with thick coils of wire. In front of the machine, up out of arm’s reach, were two broad metal plates that faced each other about an arm’s length apart.
    As the flywheel from the engine finally slowed to a stop, the workmen brought out long, heavy belts which they used to connect the two machines. A young man with medium-length brown hair and a thin mustache, dressed in a white overcoat, separated himself from the crowd onstage and stood next to the newly revealed machine. Once done with the belts, the workmen ran back to the Bock Industries engine and stoked the fires with more coal. The flywheel began to turn again, spinning the copper wheel along with it.
    “Ladies and gentlemen,” said the announcer, “although it goes against my nature, I’ll try to be brief. As this Bock Industries reciprocating engine spins—need I remind you, fueled by the power of the earth underneath our feet—it brings to life a new Bock Industries creation, one that’ll let civilization harness a power heretofore only dreamed of, the power of nature, the power of the heavens, the power of the gods above.”
    The announcer cast a glance at the young man with the lab coat. With both flywheels spinning rapidly, the young man placed a hand on a lever at the side of the newly revealed instrument and gave the announcer a nod.
    “Ladies and gentlemen…may I present the Bock Industries