“Back under the arch!” Iven shouted.
The hauling driver had already reached for reverse.
Cora rang the rear warning bell. Lio jumped down beside the points and signaled the clear branch. The college furnace began retreating toward the stone loading arch while its crew crouched behind the wagon sides.
Iven stayed beside the first rail.
Above the shared line, six figures moved along the retaining wall.
Two had rifles. One stood behind a low plate shield. The others carried hooks, bars and the long tools men used when they expected a frightened crew to surrender a machine.
“Stop the western car!” someone called.
The hot-metal carriage kept moving.
