It was hours and a few dozen bruises later that the three men headed into the warmth of the forge as the winds began to pick up outside, sending snow swirling and drifting. Their audience had grown and shrank as time passed, as the others began to get cold or finished up what they were doing and took a break to see what was going on up on the hill.
“You had more aggression to work through than I thought you would,” J.T. told Thom as the trio got settled inside. Matt headed for his anvil while J.T. stepped over to the bellows. Thom took a seat near the jury-rigged grinding stone, stretching cold, sore muscles that were already protesting the paces he’d put himself through. “Something come up that we should be aware of?”
Thom shook his head, reclaiming his sketchbook. “Not really. Just frustrated in the middle of working on something for Marin and the baby is all.”
Matt raised a brow as he rubbed warmth back into his fingers. “Anything we can help out with?”
“I’d planned on enlisting a little help from the two of you, yes.” Thom sighed and turned up the lamp’s wick, flooding the space with light as the once-dim flame flared brighter with the addition of more fuel. “Hoping that whatever I manage to design won’t be beyond my ability to create.”
“What the hell are you working on, Thom?” J.T. began to work the bellows, starting to bring the coals back up to temperature again so Matt could get back to work. “Sounds like you’re trying to design something ridiculously complex.”
Thom smiled faintly. “Not complex, just special. I’m designing a cradle. I just hope that I can build it without hurting myself.”
“I fail to see how that would be beyond your abilities,” Matt said, picking up his hammer and a pair of tongs. “Hell, you figured out how to give us radiant heat down there.”
“If this was an engineering problem, I doubt I’d be having this much difficulty. It’s design.” Thom sighed, staring at the cover of his sketchbook. “Nothing seems right.”
“If you build it for my sister and that baby, Thom, it doesn’t matter what it looks like.” Matt smiled lopsidedly. “She’ll love it.”
“I hope you’re right,” Thom said quietly. “God, do I ever hope you’re right.”
Thanks for the new post. Seems too quiet for them. Must be time for another attack of these supernatural beings. (or parallel universe beings). I’m still not sure exactly what they are.
Stay warm.