Chapter 60: The Cart that moved without horses

The final week of construction nearly killed me and Finn twice.

Not because of explosions this time.

Mostly because the steam car weighed an absurd amount and neither of us properly thought through how difficult moving several tons of metal inside a cramped workshop would actually be.

"Push harder."

"I AM PUSHING HARDER."

The unfinished vehicle rolled forward half an inch before stopping again.

Finn stared at me with betrayal.

"You designed this thing."

"Yes."

"Why is it heavier than a fortress?"

"Because metal tends to weigh a lot."

"That sounds like an excuse."

The car now occupied almost the entire center of the shack. Compared to the rifles or even the steam engine itself, this was something completely different in scale.

The reinforced chassis sat fully assembled atop four thick wheels wrapped in steel rims. Beneath the frame, the suspension system connected the axles through layered leaf springs while the rear differential and drive shaft linked directly into the engine assembly.

The boiler itself rested near the front-middle section of the frame protected by heavy steel plating.

That part still made Finn nervous.

Actually—

Everything about the machine made Finn nervous.

The steering system became the next major hurdle.

Unlike horse carts, the front wheels needed independent pivoting movement. I eventually solved this using a primitive steering linkage connected to a horizontal control bar mounted near the driver’s seat.

The mechanism itself remained crude.

Turning the steering bar pulled metal rods attached to the wheel mounts, forcing the front wheels to rotate gradually left or right.

Testing it immediately caused problems.

The first steering attempt turned the front wheels far too sharply and nearly flipped the entire vehicle sideways before it even moved under its own power.

Finn stared at the tilted machine in horror.

"...That almost crushed me."

"You were standing under it."

"Because I trusted your engineering."

"That was your first mistake."

After stabilizing the steering assembly, I shifted attention toward braking.

Stopping several tons of moving steel turned out to be significantly more important than originally expected.

The first design used a simple friction brake system. Pulling a large lever beside the driver’s position forced wooden brake blocks directly against the rear wheels.

Primitive.

But functional.

At least in theory.

The first brake test snapped part of the lever mechanism entirely and launched Finn backward into a crate of pipes.

He slowly stood back up while holding the broken handle.

"...I think your machine is trying to assassinate me."

I took the damaged lever from him.

"That support joint was weak."

"You say that after every near-death experience."

Over the next several days the final components slowly came together.

The water tank connected directly into the boiler feed system.

Coal storage compartments were mounted near the rear section of the frame.

Pressure valves were reinforced repeatedly after one nearly detached during testing.

The flywheel assembly received additional weight to stabilize rotational momentum better between piston cycles.

By the end of it all, the machine barely resembled a carriage anymore.

It looked industrial.

Aggressive even.

Pipes crossed the frame beside riveted steel plating while the large boiler dominated the center of the structure. The exposed piston rods and rotating crankshaft gave the entire vehicle a constantly mechanical appearance even while stationary.

Finn slowly circled around it.

"...This thing looks evil."

"It looks efficient."

"It looks like something a villain drives."

I ignored him before crouching beside the engine one final time.

Every fitting got checked again.

Pressure valves.

Piston seals.

Steam lines.

Axle lubrication.

Then finally—

I stood back up.

"It’s ready."

Finn immediately stepped backward.

"I suddenly feel unsafe."

"That’s dramatic."

I climbed into the driver’s position carefully before opening the furnace hatch beneath the boiler system.

Coal went in first.

Then fire.

For several long moments—

Nothing happened.

The workshop remained quiet except for the crackling fire beneath the boiler.

Then gradually—

A faint hissing sound emerged.

Steam pressure.

I watched the pressure gauge carefully while heat spread through the pipe systems.

The boiler groaned softly.

Steam leaked faintly from one side before I tightened the fitting further.

The leak stopped.

Good.

Pressure continued rising.

The piston assembly twitched suddenly.

CLANK.

Finn physically flinched.

The piston moved again.

Then again.

Steam surged through the valve system while the heavy piston rod began thrusting back and forth rhythmically.

The crankshaft rotated.

Slowly at first.

Then faster.

The flywheel spun.

The entire vehicle trembled as the engine came alive.

Steam hissed from the pressure vents while metal clanked throughout the frame.

It sounded violent.

Unnatural.

Alive.

My grin widened.

"It works."

Finn stared blankly at the moving machine.

"...It actually works."

I carefully pulled the drive engagement lever.

The rear axle locked into the crankshaft assembly.

Then—

The vehicle lurched forward violently.

Both Finn and I nearly died instantly.

The steam car smashed directly through a workbench before I yanked the brake lever hard enough to stop the machine several feet later.

Silence filled the workshop.

Smoke drifted slowly through the air.

Part of the wall now had a hole in it.

Finn stared at the destruction.

Then slowly turned toward me.

"...I hate you."

I coughed awkwardly.

"...The acceleration was stronger than expected."

"That machine just attempted murder."

"But now we know the engine output works."

"That is not the important part!"

Several hours later, after repairs and significantly more cautious testing, the steam car finally rolled out of the shack properly.

Workers from nearby forest routes had already gathered nearby after hearing the noise.

And the moment the machine emerged from the trees—

People froze.

The steam car rolled forward slowly while thick wheels crushed dirt beneath their weight. Steam hissed periodically from the pressure vents while the exposed piston rods pumped rhythmically beside the engine assembly.

No horses pulled it.

No magic moved it.

The machine drove itself.

Several workers stepped backward instinctively.

One older man made the sign of protection toward the vehicle like it was cursed.

Finn leaned slightly toward me while sitting beside the driver’s position.

"I think they’re afraid of it."

"They should be."

"That is not reassuring."

I carefully adjusted the steam regulator slightly.

The engine responded immediately.

The piston strokes accelerated.

The crankshaft spun faster.

Then the steam car began moving properly.

Dirt sprayed beneath the wheels while the heavy machine rolled down the forest path with increasing speed.

Wind hit my face.

The entire frame rattled violently over uneven ground while steam hissed from the engine continuously.

And despite all the shaking—

It worked.

Finn grabbed onto the side rail tightly while staring ahead with wide eyes.

"...We are moving too fast."

"We are barely moving."

"THE TREES ARE BLURRING."

I laughed.

Actually laughed.

For the first time in a long while, the stress, war, pressure, and exhaustion faded slightly beneath the excitement.

Because this—

This was real.

The machine kept moving.

No horses.

No magic.

Just pressure.

Steel.

Movement.

The future.

The forest path eventually opened toward a hill overlooking part of the distant territory.

I slowly pulled the brake lever.

The steam car groaned before gradually slowing to a stop near the hilltop.

Steam drifted upward into the air while the engine continued clanking rhythmically behind us.

Finn slowly climbed out while looking back at the vehicle.

"...Leon."

"What?"

"...You realize nothing is ever going to stay the same after this right?"

I looked toward the machine silently.

Then toward the distant smoke far beyond the forests where war still consumed the borders.

Armies still fought with cavalry charges and steel swords.

But standing behind me was a machine that didn’t need horses to move.

And I already knew this was only the beginning.