Read on for a sneak peak at the next Hammertown story.
IT NEVER RAINS IN HAMMERTOWN
It never rains in Hammertown. I thought to myself, as water dripped off the brim of my fedora. Me being human, I had seen rain before, but Hammertown was a dwarven city. That meant it was built underground. So you can understand my surprise as I stepped out of my office building to find myself in a sudden downpour of water. Dwarves and gnomes that were caught out in the open were taking cover under whatever shelter they could find. Cars, built for indoor use, which meant without tops, slowed to a crawl and drifted over to the edge of the road, venting the steam they had been using to push the drive train. I stepped back inside the lobby and stood there watching in disbelief.
“What’s going on?” Gregory Vern, the dwarven Lobby Manager exclaimed. “Is it time for another cleanin’ already, Mr. Locke?”
“Excuse me?” I said, unsure of what he was asking.
“Surely not. They would’ve had somethin’ about it in the paper.” He pulled out this morning’s copy of The Hammertown Herald. “Not only that, but it twouldn’t be a happenin’ all over the place. Just sections…”
“I’m not sure I follow you, Mr. Vern.”
“A cleanin’, boy! A cleanin’!” He waved the paper at the front window. About the only thing I could think of was that all of the citizens of Hammertown were getting the first shower some of them had seen in months, but I didn’t think that was what Mr. Vern was referring to. Apparently he could tell from the blank expression I had on my face, too. “Every few hundred years the City Maintenance Department shuts down the CR System Grid in order to clean and service it. But they never shut the whole system down at one time. And they always print it weeks in advance, to allow us common folk to plan around the disruption.”
“What is this CR System?” I asked, genuinely curious now. I had never heard of this process. Of course, if they only did it every hundred years or so, I could have lived my whole life out in Hammertown and never even gotten to see it. Dwarves live a lot longer than humans.
Mr. Vern rolled his eyes and started to explain, in a voice I’m sure he reserved for the lecturing of his children.
“The CR System. The Condensate Removal System. You see, when the heat from all of our modern day gadgets and thingies travel upwards toward the ceiling of Hammertown, it is gathered in a series of vents set in the rock above, where it is caught and cooled, returning it to it’s original form…water. There it tiz collected in tanks and fed back into the city’s water system. Which, in turn supplies everything from the water in your sink, to the water that powers your car.”
“Wow. I never even thought about that. So this is normal, then?”
“No. No. No…” Mr. Vern replied “That’s what I’m trying ta tell you! This one is an unscheduled shutdown. I wonder what’s wrong.”
“Maybe there’s something about it on the radio.” I suggested.
“Good idea.” Mr. Vern spun around, rushed over to his desk and turned on the beat up ol’ Nixon sitting there.
“…no cause for alarm, folks. The small explosion locked the CR System louvers in the open position. No one was hurt, but we’re gonna have a little bit o’ weather for the next few days until the CMD can get crews into place to fix the problem. So if ya dig out your ol’ Compartment Hoods and screw the Windshield Cleaners on your cars, this shouldn’t be a problem at all. As a matter of fact, it might even be enjoyable. Once again; there has been a small explosion in the CR System due to a faulty steam canister, there is no cause for alarm…”
“Well, now.” Mr. Vern said as the radio broadcasted the same message again. “Look et that. You were right, Mr. Locke. No cause for alarm atall.”
I grunted and nodded. Something just didn’t feel right about the story on the radio. I’m not exactly sure why, but my gut was screaming cover story.
WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR
When Imagicopter asked for submission for a steampunk anthology, I pretty much ignored it. I didn’t write steam, I write science fiction. But when the second call came, I decided to move out of my comfort zone and try something new. Little did I know that my short “Survival” in “Clockwork Spells & Magical Bells” would launch the world that Sebastion Locke lives in. The world simply took root and began to grow. I hope you enjoyed this short introduction to Hammertown. I have a few more in the works, and they will all tie into a bigger story a little later on. I hope you will take the time to offer a review, or drop by my Facebook page and give me a little encouragement. I would love to hear from you.
And for a little science- fiction:
If you like Science Fiction with a Christian Worldview checkout my Heavy Metal Cowboy Book Series at www.heavymetalcowboy.com or look it up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dorningbooks.
There Shouldn't Be Elves In Hammertown Page 5
