"It's not the prep work we need you for. Your time comes tomorrow when your engine shows us what you can make it do. There are a lot of people following this effort. Vince has a number of other projects riding on how well your baby performs." She nodded a good night and headed off for her tent. Arlen checked Karl's efforts on the boiler, left some instructions to be called if something unexpected should happen and then headed for his tent, too. His dreams that night were a confusion of small babies flying through the air.
****
A whistle roused Arlen from his sleep. From where he was lying on his cot, it could be argued that there might be a hint of light just breaking out in the east. Sergeant Cooper was turning out his squad to a chorus of groans and complaints. Arlen's joints agreed and refused to budge. The cot wasn't the worst place he'd ever slept, only the worst in recent memory. He finally rolled out and stretched to get the worst kinks out. A nearby washtub provided cold water to clean up. The smell of ham and eggs cooking erased most of his ill thoughts about the army. An hour later, after a delicious breakfast and two of Dr. Gribbleflotz's blue pills, he went to check on the donkey engine. Karl was already there, adding a small shovelful of coal to the bed of coals in the firebox. The heat from the fire was a welcome relief to the damp morning air. A quick check showed that the steam pressure was up.
The sun was casting visible shadows when Colonel Pitre approached. "Is everything ready? It looks like we might have a hot day today, so we might as well start now."
Arlen did one last safety check, to make sure everything was tightened properly. "It's ready! Warn everyone we're starting!" Arlen winced when Sergeant Cooper blew his whistle from directly behind him.
"Stand by to start the lift! Everyone man your assigned ropes!"
Arlen slowly advanced the throttle to start the engine. The gears engaged and the slack on the lifting cable slowly came in. Overhead, the lifting dolly started to descend as the cables to the locomotive took up the strain. After a moment, Arlen backed off on the steam and disengaged the gears, letting the slack run back out. He turned to Beth. "Just like backing a car out of a ditch, I'll have to rock it to break the mud's suction!" She just nodded in agreement. On the third try, the engine straightened and started to lift. Arlen slowed it down, calling out to the ground crews, "Keep your lines tight! We do not want it to twist!"
As the locomotive rose above the pond, the entire clearing reverberated with cheers. Arlen stood, sweating from the heat of the boiler and the tension. He muttered under his breath, "Don't cheer until it's on the flatcar. A lot could still go wrong." He locked the gear for the lift and shifted to the moving drums. Just then, a gust of wind hit the locomotive and started to twist it. One man was pulled off his feet and deposited into the nearby mud, but the locomotive was stopped before it could jump the upper carrying cable. In their anxiety to stop the twist, the ground crews over-corrected and started the loco in the other direction. Luckily, the wind now helped and they were able to get it straightened out. When everyone was back in place, Arlen called out, "Starting the move!"
Slowly, the cables paid out to the far side and wound in on the near side, pulling the engine over to the waiting flatcar. Another hour and the locomotive was safely lowered to the flatcar and tied down.
Colonel Pitre came over to congratulate Arlen. She had a message in her hand. "Well done! I'll make sure the proper people are informed how well your equipment worked. By the way, this message came in shortly after you started the lift. I didn't want to break your concentration, so I exercised command prerogative and waited." She was smiling from ear to ear.
The message read: "Congratulations! You are the proud father of a six pound four ounce baby girl and a seven pound two ounce baby boy as of 5:15 this morning. Mother and babies doing fine. Mimi says she'll give you and Vince a one hour head start when she gets out of the hospital! Deidre
Arlen stood there stunned. Finally he managed to blurt out, "I'm a father!" The nearby soldiers heard the comment and started a another round of cheers. Karl came over and spoke in his ear, "I've got a hand car standing by that will get you to Grantville inside the hour. Just grab your bag and go. We'll finish up here." He pointed to the nearby handcar and crew. Still in a daze, Arlen trotted over to his tent, stuffed everything into his duffel bag and raced over to his transportation.
An hour later, he was shown into Mimi's room. Deidre Hardy, Mimi's best friend, was there, along with both sets of grandparents. The twins were wrapped up, one on each side of mom. Mimi fixed Arlen with a stare, "Took your time didn't you?" Arlen stood rooted to the floor, unsure what to do or say. Finally, Mimi and Deidre couldn't hold back any longer and broke into peals of laughter. "Just don't make this a habit!" Mimi quipped. "We heard how the lift went. My labor started just as you were leaving with the engine, but the doctor thought the delivery would take longer. I told them to wait and let you finish the job. Too many people were counting on you to try and rush you back without an emergency. I'm still not sure, though, if I'll give Vince the same benefit of the doubt!"
As if on cue, a knock on the door announced Arlen's boss, Vince Masaniello. "How's the new mother doing?" he asked cheerily.
Mimi scrunched up a pillow and let fly. "Just you wait, Vince Masaniello! When I get out of here, you have a one hour head start and then I'm going to get you."
Vince feigned a hurt look. "How would that look? Killed by the wife of my new vice president?" He turned to Arlen and shook his hand. "Congratulations, Arlen. Colonel Pitre reported that everything went as planned. I'm starting a new division for marine and heavy equipment and I want you to head it up. We'll expand at the current site so you won't need to move." He looked toward Mimi. "And, in the future, you can send someone else out on the projects."
Mimi looked torn between throwing another pillow and hugging Vince. She finally relented and gave Vince a hug. Then, she fixed Arlen with another stare. "You're still forgetting something!"
Arlen quickly realized he still hadn't kissed her and quickly remedied that oversight. When they both finally came up for air she asked, "And?"
Arlen was totally clueless, until Deidre poked him in the ribs and whispered, "Their names!"
"Oh, right. Their names?"
"Since you weren't here, I decided on Ariel Marie and Donald Kevin. That's how they are entered in the hospital's records." Mimi and Deidre picked up the twins and handed both to Arlen. "This is your daddy, kids."
Arlen was flustered. "How do I hold two at once?"
Mimi smiled wickedly, "You'll learn quickly!"
****
A week later, two letters went out from Vulcan Locomotive Werks, addressed to the Hudson's Bay Company in Copenhagen and to Admiral Simpson in Magdeburg. The first read:
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to inform you that your order for ore cars left by rail this day and should arrive in time for your scheduled sailing date. The pumping and mining equipment you had requested we develop have been designed, the power supply has been tested and they should be ready for the requested spring delivery.
Vincent Masaniello
The second letter was much more informaclass="underline"
John, the engine works! It's producing well over two hundred horsepower under load. Colonel Pitre said she's sending you her evaluation by separate letter. I've got the walking beam assembly in production and should be able to ship the first power plant before winter sets in.
Vince
Letters Home, 1 and 2
So That the Blind May See