Six hours. That would mean a shorter day than planned. But they had work to do on the brakes. And there were sure to be other problems as people settled down. Get the brakes fixed, get around the collapsed bit of Road, and press on in the morning. Everyone could use a night’s sleep.
The Road had dropped down from the mountain slopes to the coastal plain, and as it fell the landscape had changed completely. Gone were the rocky slopes and the occasional bush with a precarious roothold in the scree. It was jungle now, high, thick jungle that cut out all sight of the ocean and only permitted a narrow view of the sky. There was plenty of evidence here that the jungle was trying to retake the Road. Burned trees and vegetation were on both sides now, where they had been bulldozed aside by the tanks that had gone on ahead. There was animal life, too, dark forms glimpsed briefly in the shadows beside the Road. At one point a line of green flying creatures had floated slowly out of the jungle and across the Road. Two of them had smashed into the engine’s windshield, to slowly slide away leaving blue smears of blood behind. Jan washed away the traces with the touch of a button. The engine was back on autopilot and there was little to do except watch the tunnel of the Road open up ahead.
“Tired, Otakar?” he asked.
“A little. A night’s sleep will help.”
“But tomorrow will be a long day, and every day after that. Even if we spell each other at the wheel, it’s going to be hard because we won’t be able to rest, not just changing places between driver and co-driver.” Jan had the beginnings of an idea and he worked at it. “What we need are more co-drivers. For this engine and all the others. That way we could have an experienced driver at the wheel all the time and the one off duty can get his eyes shut.”
“There aren’t any other drivers.”
“I know that, but we could train some as we go.”
Otakar grunted and shook his head. “No way. Every man with a trace of technical ability is already on a job. Or like your ex-mechanic Decio, who is back on the farm where he belongs. I don’t want any farmers in the driving compartment.”
“You’re right — but only half right. What about training some women as drivers?” Jan smiled as Otakar’s jaw dropped.
“But… women don’t drive. Women are just women.”
“Only in this outpost of hell, my boy. Even on Earth the exams are strictly competitive and workers rise as high as their ability allows, irrespective of their sex. It makes sound economic sense. I see no reason why the same thing can t be done here. Find the girls with ability and train them for the job.”
“The Hradil is not going to like this, or any of the Family Heads.”
“Of course not — and what difference does it make? This is an emergency and we need emergency measures.” Mention of The Hradil brought a sweeter name to mind from the same family. He smiled at the thought. “Have you ever noticed the embroidery that Alzbeta Mahrova does?”
“I have a piece, traded it from the family.”
“Well that takes patience, skill, concentration—”
“All the traits of a successful driver!” Otakar was smiling now too. “This mad idea may work. It will sure make life a bit brighter during the drive.”
I’m for that,” Ryzo’s voice called out from the speaker; he had been listening on the intercom to the conversation. “Wouldn’t like to have me train a radio operator or two?”
“You might very well. Later. Right now we want to put together a list of women we know who might have ability in this direction. But don’t say a word outside of this compartment. I want to hit the Elders with this later, when they are tired and off-balance.”
Night fell before they reached the break in the Road. They were climbing again and the rock wall rose up on their right, while to the left the Road ended only in blackness. Jan slowed the speed of the trains gradually as a blip appeared on the nose radar. When he caught a glimpse of metal ahead on the Road he cut the high beams of his lights and sent out the stop signal.
“Begin braking now.
As his own train slowed he knew that, stretching far back into the night, the long column of trains was also reducing speed continually. As they slowed to a complete stop Otakar entered the time in his log, then began shutting down the engine for standby. Jan rose and stretched. He was tired-but knew the night’s work was just beginning.
“Nine hundred and eighty-seven kilometers today,” Otakar said, entering the figure in the log.
“That’s fine.” Jan massaged the tired muscles in his legs. “That leaves us only something like twenty-six thousand more to go.
“The longest journey begins with but a single turn of the wheel,” Emo said, popping up from the engine room hatch.
“You can just keep your folk philosophy to yourself. Shut down the engine, put all systems on standby and start pulling that brake valve from car seven. By the time you get it out I’ll bring you a replacement. And check the filter as well.”
Jan cracked the exit door and a wave of hot, moist air washed over him. The engines and the cars were completely air conditioned, and he had forgotten how much further south they were. He could feel the sweat already dampening his skin as he climbed down the rungs. Very soon now they would have to use the coldsuits when they went outside the trains. He walked the hundred meters toward the ragged cliff that marked the end of the road. Bright lights illuminated the work area, and the roar and grind of the tanks echoed from the rocky wall, punctuated by the continuous explosions of the fusion guns. The flaming mouths of the tank-mounted units had already carved a niche into the sheer rock wall to span the gap of missing Road. Now they were working to deepen and widen it to permit the trains to pass. Jan didn’t interfere, they were doing fine without him. And he had business with the Family Elders.
They met in the lead car of the Taekeng family, the largest available compartment. This family, the most conservative and inbred, still kept many of its customs from distant Earth. There were silk hangings on the walls, scenes of water and birds and other strange animals, as well as sentences in an alphabet none of them could read. They were also the most group-social family, so they did not have their living cars broken up into the many small compartments the others preferred. The normal occupants of the room had been dispossessed for the moment, but they did not seem to mind. They were gathered in the Road outside the car, calling excitedly to each other about the work ahead, the stars overhead, the strange smells from the jungle below. Children ran about and were called back with great excitement when they ventured too near the precipice. A baby wailed in the darkness, then smacked contentedly as it was put to the breast. Jan picked his way through the people and entered the car.
Though he had called the meeting they had started without him. That was obvious. Hem Ritterspach stood before the Family Heads, but he stopped talking as Jan entered. He gave one look of intense hatred before he turned his back, holding the cast on his arm before him like a shield. Jan took one look at the circle of stony faces and knew perfectly well what Hem was trying to do. But it wouldn’t work. He went slowly to an empty chair and dropped into it.
“As soon as Ritterspach leaves, this meeting can begin,” he said.
“No,” Chun Taekeng broke in. “He has some grave charges that must be heard. He has said—”
“I don’t care what he said. If you wish to hold a meeting of Family Heads to listen to him, you may do it any time you choose. Tonight if you wish. After our business is finished. I have called this meeting as Trainmaster and we have urgent matters to discuss.”
“You can’t throw me out!” Hem shouted. “As Proctor Captain I have a right to attend.”
Jan sprang to his feet and put his face close to the other’s ruddy one. “You have the right to leave, nothing else, that is an order.”