Grantville Gazette 48 by Paula Goodlett

Author:Paula Goodlett [Goodlett, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 1632, Inc.
Published: 2013-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

On the track to Grantville

Wolfgang had written and signed a note for Jakob's grandfather, who was sleeping after the night shift. Then they walked to the highest part of the premises. There a similar pair of endless metal bars lay on a gravel road like Jakob had experienced on the way from Eisenach.

These bars were supported by crosswise wooden beams and held by big nails. On this "rail track," as Wolfgang called it, stood a weird vehicle.

Four metal wheels around a wooden platform, a wooden bench in the center, two small seats like saddles to the right and the left, and a bar before them. Some metal things below these seats, apparently to put the feet on. At the back it had an open wooden crate with bags in it.

Two brawny young men in blue trousers were waiting for them. "Guten Morgen, Meister Wolfgang," they greeted.

"Are you ready?" Wolfgang asked, and the men nodded.

"Ja, Meister. We have already talked to the railway station. We'll have to wait at the switch; the train to Grantville will pass in fifteen minutes. Then we can follow."

Wolfgang looked at the tower in the middle of the big yard which had four big clocks showing in the four winds. It was ten minutes to ten in the morning.

"Just in time," he said, "exceptionally." The men laughed.

"Jakob, these are Johannes and Hannes. They'll come with us to Grantville."

"Grantville!" Jakob shouted. "We're going to Grantville! Hurrah!"

The he frowned "But won't that take too long?"

"We'll see," Wolfgang said. "It depends on the legs of our draft animals."

"Hey, master," Hannes said. "Don't be disrespectful, or we'll suddenly be sick." Then he grinned.

"Come on." Wolfgang waved Jakob on the bench. The two young men mounted the saddle-seats, and Wolfgang stood at the back of the vehicle.

Then Wolfgang pushed, and the two men stepped on the footholds. Left and right and left and right. The vehicle started to move. Wolfgang ran and jumped onto the vehicle and sat at Jakob's side.

The vehicle got faster. Shortly afterward they left the Lokschuppen premises through a large gate. They moved down a slight slope, and the men didn't need to step anymore. The vehicle was running down on its own. They even had to pull a long lever to screechingly put a brake on the back wheels.

After a short time Jakob could see the Saale and the vehicle stopped. Their "track" joined another one, coming from Jena and continuing south. At the link stood a large pole painted white. All men now looked to the left in the direction of Jena.

Jacob suddenly heard a hooting sound. And saw something really weird. Compared to all the weird things Jakob had already experienced at that day.

A vehicle approached. It was larger than an ox cart and had a glass box on it. Behind it, other bigger wooden boxes followed, on wheels. Two of these boxes even had windows, and Jakob could see people looking out.

The leading vehicle made a humming sound, far softer than the tsh-tsh-tsh of the "locomotive.

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