The sledgehammer was falling.
Falk’s boots creaked against the iron catwalk as he drove all his weight into the swing. Twelve pounds of drop-forged iron screamed through the steam, tracing a deadly curve toward the eight-inch circle of laminated glass.
“Now, Lin!” Julian roared.
Lin Mei didn’t hesitate. She jammed the sharp brass cursor of her Pickett slide rule straight between the copper terminal lugs inside the Simplex junction box.
A blinding blue spark flared against the wet brickwork.
SNAP-CRACKLE!
The sharp tang of ozone cut through the sulfurous steam. Overhead, the heavy iron impulse solenoid inside the cast-iron slave dial fired with the crack of a starter pistol.
The black spade minute hand didn’t tick forward. It lurched.
