Steampunk Carnival (Steam World Book 1) by Cassandra Leuthold Read Free Book Online Page B

ditching the buckets, which landed hard in the grass. An explosion thundered out of the engine. Katya’s arms flew up to shield her, but nothing touched her. Little debris decorated the air and the ground, mostly small metal scraps and bolts. Katya wrapped her arms around herself to try to stop her body from shaking.
    Now the security appeared, revealing themselves in their plain clothes by approaching the Beast while the patrons shrank back. Katya lingered where she was, a safe distance from the coaster’s west side. She had a perfect view of the band stage where two security men briskly motioned the musicians to safety. For the first night since the carnival opened, the marches stopped, leaving the air bombarded only by voices and grinding machinery. The giant Beast rumbled to silence as the moving cars slid down the track and turned into the resting station behind the vacated stage. One of the operators helped the patrons out of the cars, reassuring them that they were completely safe.
    Katya knew the real drama unfolded behind the coaster where the workers accessed the engine. She crept past the Beast, numerous patrons pausing to watch the activity before moving on to working attractions. Mr. Warden strode from his office toward the Beast faster than Katya had ever seen him move. Mr. Lieber kept in step beside him with a plainly dressed security man on his other side.
    “What happened?” Mr. Warden bellowed at the ride operator studying the engine hatch.
    “I don’t know. It just blew.”
    Mr. Warden shoved the man out of the way. “What do you mean you don’t know? Do you know how much money this makes in a night? It’s second only to the wheel. Where’s maintenance? They’d better be on their way.”
    “Security went for them.”
    Mr. Warden turned toward the maintenance office, meeting Katya’s gaze in the process. He returned her watchful stare for several seconds before shifting to greet the maintenance man hurrying toward him.
    “Can you fix it?” Mr. Warden barked before maintenance had even reached the engine.
    “Let me have a look, sir.” The maintenance man stepped past Mr. Warden, lowering his tool box to the ground. He examined the engine parts with thickly gloved fingers and heavy-lidded eyes. His drab, dark brown clothes turned him into part of the machine, he stood so close to it. “Here’s the problem, Mr. Warden. This valve right here leading up from the boiler.”
    Katya stretched her neck for a better view but could not see past the posts to what the man was indicating. She relaxed a little at the hope the incident was over.
    “Can you fix it?” Mr. Warden repeated.
    After half a minute, the man answered, “No. I’m not sure I can. I could look at what tools I have.”
    “Tools!” Mr. Warden exploded. He adjusted his jacket and lowered his voice. “I expect this machine up and running by the time we open tomorrow, or you are never stepping foot on these grounds again. Do you understand me?”
    “Yes, sir. I’ll just get more tools.”
    “Get your tools,” Mr. Warden growled amidst the sounds of the running coasters.
    The man slunk away toward the maintenance building. Mr. Warden led Mr. Lieber and the plain security back to his office. Katya couldn’t see where the ride operator had gone, likely around the front of the coaster to help the other man appease the disappointed crowd.
    Katya almost walked away, the spectacle of danger and argument completed. An unexpected figure passed beneath the giant coaster to the broken engine, rekindling Katya’s interest. The bearded game runner spent more than a minute there, his cream-colored suit with pale blue embroidered smoke wafting over it standing out against the dark metal and wood. He returned to his stall by the time maintenance returned holding a few extra wrenches in his hands. Katya strolled on, continuing her rounds. As she passed the Beast’s engine, she heard the last words she expected from the maintenance