The pump house at Tarn Kiln was lifting its largest housing when the travellers arrived.
Iven stopped outside the marked work line.
A crane stood over the opened service bay, its engine turning with a slow, even beat. The housing hung beneath a spreader, suspended by four inspected slings. Workers guided it with long lines from places where they would not stand beneath the load. At the centre of the operation, a woman in a close grey work coat held one hand against the braced control frame.
Her other hand pointed the next movement.
The crane keeper lowered a finger’s breadth.
The housing settled against its temporary bed without striking the shaft.
“Hold,” the woman called.
Everyone held.
