Grantville Gazette.Volume XVI

by Eric Flint

  Walt took a moment to digest the news. His conversation with Dr. Adams when the call came in had been short and to the point. The hospital was full. If the patients could be transported to Jena safely then it was Walt's responsibility to make the call and get them there. This was a golden opportunity to start expanding medical care expectations to other sites. It looked like the parameters were a go for transporting to Jena unless something came up while they were enroute to Saalfeld. "Arlen, how long will the trip from Saalfeld to Jena take?"

  "A normal run would be Saalfeld, Rudolstadt, and then to Jena. With the regular trains, that would be almost three hours in clear conditions, four in the snow, if at all. If the Goose works as well as our plans say she should, we should be in Saalfeld in less than half an hour and in Jena by mid-afternoon. Say about two hours, including the time to load the patients," Arlen said.

  Frieda slipped in from the rail yard, "All the supplies are loaded. We're set. Are we ready to go?"

  The shop entrance door swung open again and a group of five track workers from the railroad congregated around the entrance.

  "Were you all raised in a barn?!" someone yelled from the shop. A chorus of good natured " ja 's!" came from the group, who were mostly down-timers. "Well, shut the door before you let all the hot air out!"

  " Jawohl, we wouldn't want Julius to wander out into the snow." The old joke drew a sharp elbow to the ribs of the joker from Martin.

  Julius quickly shot back, "At least they let me in the house now. You, they still keep in the barn." That drew another round of laughter from the track crew.

  "If you are all done with your jokes, let's get loaded. Two men are waiting on our arrival. We've got a long day ahead of us. Anybody have anything else they need?" Silence greeted Arlen's question. " Los gehts!" They all filed out into the swirling show in the shop's switching yard and started to board the Goose.

  Mike settled into the engineer's seat. Martin took the conductor's seat in front of the passenger area. Mike commented, "You know, without the steering wheel, there's a lot more space here than you would think."

  "I sure hope we're in time for those guys in Saalfeld," Arlen muttered.

  The only sound as they worked their way through the tracks in Grantville was the hum of the Ford's engine and the clickety-clack of the wheels on the rail joints. The Goose was a ghost through the snow as they approached the station. The Goose slowed and Mark O'Reilly got out and threw the harp switch to move the Goose to the main track. He signaled with his kerosene lantern to have the Goose move onto the station main track. The Goose moved slowly over the switch and picked up Mark as they went by. Arlen then had Mike stop and Martin went into the station to get the train orders for the first leg of the trip. Mr. Nisbet, the railroad's general manager, was waiting inside to personally deliver the train orders.

  "You're the only thing on the line today. We've cleared anything that might slow the run. You're authorized to run at whatever speed you feel is safe. Show me what the Goose can do and I'll decide how to present it to Mr. Lowe and to the board, but get those guys there safely. Remember," Mr. Nisbet added sternly, "the trip from Rudolstadt to Jena, it's all older strap rail. You'll have to watch the rail in case the weather has caused any problems." With that, he handed Martin his Form 19. Nisbet's fervor surprised Martin. The railroad manager was known as a cold fish, but maybe he had a heart after all. Martin turned and headed out the door into the blowing snow.

  When he reached the Goose, he looked up to check the sky. It was still snowing, and the sky was a uniform grey. The wind had started to blow the fallen snow into drifts in the yards around the station. Martin opened the door and got in quickly, shaking the snow off as he entered. "Here's the Train Order. We're the only one on the line. We need to watch the strap rail on the Jena line. They're not sure what this type of weather might do to it." He felt a little pompous repeating what the written orders said, but railroad regulations required that the engineer verbally acknowledge the orders from the conductor. Since he was acting as the conductor on this run, Martin wanted no questions that he had followed procedures.

  Mike acknowledged the orders. Grinning, he added, "At least we don't have to watch for snake-heads like the old-timers did. With the welding and the short sections of real rail at the joints, it's a big improvement over the old style strap rail." Mike then let off the brake and the Goose started trotting its way to Saalfeld.

  The silver paint scheme on the Goose blended in well with the falling snow. Only the headlights and red markers on the rear highlighted its departure through the Grantville yard. As it hauntingly glided out of town, the chatter inside the passenger area slowly died down. Everyone knew this was a mercy mission and thoughts of what lay ahead weighed heavily on them.

  Mike asked, "What's the speed limit on this short section to Schwarza? The plow seemed to handle the snow in the yard pretty well."

  "Hold it down to twenty-five. The wye at Schwarza's not too far and we may have to pick up updated orders there. I'll be glad when the signaling is upgraded and we don't have to get orders at every station." Arlen was concentrating intently on the track and the sounds and movement of the Goose, so Mike just nodded and went back to watching the track for snowdrifts.

  Five minutes of waddling later, the small whistlestop station at Schwarza loomed up on their left. It was positioned inside the wye where the three tracks from Grantville, Saalfeld, and Rudolstadt joined together. Mike slowed down, but the station master was standing on the platform with a wooden hoop outstretched for Mike to grab. Mike rolled down the window, stuck his arm out and snagged the hoop. He handed it to Arlen and then rolled up the window. As he brushed off the snow that had come in, Arlen took off the flimsy paper and read it quickly. "Mike, there's a track crew located telegraph break just south of Mile Post 3. Top speed five miles per hour between Mile Posts 2 and 4. Watch for workers and new rail along track. Saalfeld is expecting us in twenty minutes."

  "You've got it, Arlen. If you see anything, let me know."

  Walt called out from the back, "Any new word on the patients?"

  Arlen yelled, "Nope, just slow orders for a crew fixing the telegraph. We should be in Saalfeld in fifteen or twenty minutes. Looks like the track's okay to there."

  The track crew was relieved. They hadn't looked forward to working in the snow, if they could help it. As cold and blustery as it was, hands would freeze to rails or tools in minutes if they weren't careful. The news that they would reach the patients in Saalfeld quickly lifted everyone's spirits. As they passed Mile Post 2, Mike slowed down. The spray from the plow subsided and the Goose's waddle dissipated.. Everyone got a good look at where a tree had taken out the telegraph line as they drifted past. There was a bundled up figure with a lantern that waved the Goose through. As they passed, the three telegraph workers gave a muffled cheer that could be heard inside the Goose.

  Arlen got up and walked back into the passenger area. "Walt, Frieda, we're about five minutes out. If there's anything you need to do before we arrive, now would be a good time to do it."

  Frieda nodded, "Your guys did a great job and got everything set before we left Grantville. We just need our patients now." Arlen accepted the praise quietly and turned back for the cab. He gave Martin a pat on the back. "We'll have to let the shop crew know what a good job they did when we get back. You've really gotten them working together as a team." Martin smiled. In the guild, only a master might ever be thanked for a job well done.

  ***

  The normal scene inside the foundry was like a vision from Dante's Inferno. Heat and smoke left everyone who wasn't acclimated gasping. The sparks and noise left visitors on edge.

  The morning had started out quietly enough. It was Saturday and they were working a light shift. The railroad's experimental casting work was the only major job scheduled. Susan Swisher had hoped to get caught up on paperwork when the scream of the steam whistle alerted him to an emergency. As she bolted out of her office she could see the work
ers starting to gather in the casting area. There were three groups, each gathered around an injured worker. Thadeus Zakrewicz, the shift EMT, came jogging out of his office, emergency gear in hand and yelled "What's happened?"

  "I don't know, but it looks like it's in the casting area."

  They got their first good view of the situation when they turned the corner between the open tool racks. Gustave Arndt was on the floor in the pour area with a small group gathered around his still body. It took Thad only a glance to tell that, if Gus wasn't already dead, he soon would be. He'd been burned severely over the top half of his body and his leather protective gear was covered with slowly cooling steel that still popped and sizzled. Susan did a quick pulse check, shook her head and they headed over to the other two burn victims.

  "Susan, take these keys and go back to my office. I'll need the full emergency kit and what morphine that's there. You know the drill. Anything else you might find that could help, bring it along." Knowing that there would be questions later about what had happened, Thad decided to ask while the events were still fresh in everyone's minds. "Anybody see what happened here?"

  "I did, Mr. Zakrewicz. They were all set up to try the test casting for the new turntable support ring. Gus was supervising the work and Michael and Friedrich were making sure the mold was secure. The crane operator called out to ask if they were set. It sounded like Gus said, 'Go,' gave a hand signal to start, and then he was lying across the mold. Michael and Friedrich tried to pull him back but all they got for their efforts were burns. Gus didn't make a sound at all."

  "Anybody else?"

  "Just like he said. I saw Gus wave his hand like Jaimie should start pouring. Gus had an odd expression on his face, took two steps forward, and seemed to be reaching for something in the pattern area. Then the pour started and Michael and Friedrich were trying to help him."

  There were other nods of agreement but no more comments. Thad was starting to get a suspicion about what had happened. The lack of response to the initial burn and the collapse were key indicators. "It sounds like Gus may have had a stroke or a heart attack."

  He was interrupted by the sound of someone getting violently sick across the room. The crane operator, Jaimie, was down on his hands and knees, trying to stop what were now dry heaves.

  "Jaimie, are you all right?" Thad asked. He knew he would probably need to send Jaimie to see a counselor after this was all over. Thankfully, someone had found a blanket to cover Gus.

  "It was my fault, Thad. I thought Gus signaled to start."

  "He probably did, Jaimie. It looks like he may have had a stroke and was gone before he even started to reach for the pattern box." The dazed look in his eyes lifted a bit. Jaimie was young and, with help, should recover. Thad turned back to his two surviving burn patients as Susan and Gunther returned with the needed supplies.

  "Michael, Friedrich, we're going to get you to a hospital as fast as this weather permits. Right now, you're not feeling much pain because you're in shock. I'm going to have to get your leather gear off so that I can assess the extent of your injuries. Before I do that, I'm going to give you some morphine and you'll be out like a light in a few minutes. You won't feel the pain when I start to work. Your families have been called." He looked at the crowd and got an affirmative nod from Jim Pierce, who had just arrived. "And they'll be here shortly," he continued. "Anything you want me to tell them when they arrive?"

  Michael whispered, "Tell my wife, I love her and to take care of herself. The safe box is…"

  Susan interrupted. "You can tell her that yourself tomorrow at the hospital. This looks bad and will hurt like hell for a while, but you definitely aren't going to die."

  An hour later, after the two men had been freed of their protective gear and the wounds cleaned as well as conditions allowed, Thad turned to Mr. Pierce, and asked, "What's the word on transportation? Can we get them to Grantville okay?"

  "I talked to Dr. Adams. He wants us to send the two burn cases to Jena if we can. The trauma folks with burn training are in Jena for a meeting on the new trauma center and he's worried that all the flu cases they've got right now could hurt their long term survival chances."

  Susan turned white and looked like she might faint. Jim Pierce hurried to add, "It's not as bad as it sounds, the railroad's been contacted and is sending a special train that will take them directly to Jena and should be here anytime. Grantville's sending their two EMT's with burn experience and a fresh supply of morphine. They think they can get everyone to Jena before nightfall. Can we move them to the station now?"

  Thad considered the situation for a moment. "We're set here. They're both stabilized and the morphine has them out. I'll need eight strong, steady carriers to get them transferred to stretchers and carried to the station. If we cover them with enough blankets, the five minute trek shouldn't be too hard on them."

  Mr. Pierce called out, "I need eight volunteers to move the injured!" Twenty hands shot up and in two minutes the two injured had been gently placed on stretchers and the carriers were ready for the trip to the station. Just then, a strange noise startled everyone. In the ensuing quiet, Mr. Pierce said softly, "I think your ride's here now!"

  ***

  On the outskirts of Saalfeld, Mike hit the button on the electric horn Arlen had installed. The loud blasts of " aahhOOOOOgah " startled the crew in back and announced their arrival to the whole town. As soon as Mike slowed down for the red approach signal, one of the track crew jumped off and slogged through the snow and tried to get throw the switch for the depot's turnaround wye. It wouldn't budge.

  "Damn blue ice's frozen the switch!" Somebody else jumped out with a sledgehammer and broom and between the two of them, they had the switch cleared in less than a minute. Mike brought the Goose up and they reboarded on the fly. They repeated the process at the next leg of the wye and then backed down the track to the depot. They were greeted by a procession from the foundry. A figure broke out of the crowd and stumbled through the snow to the Goose. When she got closer, Walt and Frieda both recognized Susan Swisher. Even with all her winter gear on, nobody else in Saalfeld was that short with long red hair.

  "Walt, Frieda, you have superb timing. We were just bringing the two patients to the depot to wait for you. Are you ready to board them now?" Susan asked.

  'We're all set," answered Walt, "We've got four sets of seats set up to be temporary berths. We can just set the stretchers across and not have to transfer them at all. Are there just the two?"

  Susan nodded. "Yeah, we lost Gus before the accident. Thad says it looks like he may have had a stroke and was dead before Michael and Friedrich tried to save him."

  The next minutes were spent in organized chaos trying to get the stretchers in without jarring the patients. Once in, they secured them to the improvised berths with rope.

  Mr. Pierce approached the railbus. "I don't know what this thing is but it's the prettiest thing I've seen since my wife had our last kid. Who's in charge?" Arlen pointed at Mike, Mike at Arlen, and then they both looked at Martin.

  After a short, pregnant pause, Arlen said, "I designed it, Mike's running it, and Martin built it."

  "Well, thank you. All of you. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you, but please, get these guys safely to Jena. They've both got families that are depending on them. Will you have room to carry five other passengers? Susan promised them she'd try to have the families there at the hospital when they woke up. I'd also like to send Thad and Susan along to help care for the injured. Can the-what did you call it-the Goose handle that big a load?"

  "No problem. I know Walt was a little concerned that he and Frieda might be hard pressed to handle two serious burn cases by themselves."

  "How soon can you get them to Jena?"

  "If all goes well, we should be there in less than two hours." Arlen was confident. "The Goose is running well and we've brought along tools and help in case we run into any unexpected problems."

  "Under two hours to Jen
a in this weather? I didn't know the railroad had anything like this. Where's Hugh been hiding it?"

  "This is her shake down trial. We finished with the plow this morning after your call came in."

  "Just keep up the miracles, and again, thanks." After shaking their hands, he turned and started to clear the crowd back from the tracks.

  Since he'd been appointed as the conductor for this trip, Martin went into the station. There were orders waiting for them as far as Rudolstadt. All they said was, "Track now clear, proceed at best safe speed to Rudolstadt. Pick up new orders there. Signed, Nisbet." When he got back to the Goose, the crowd had grown, but Mr. Pierce was keeping them back at a safe distance. Martin boarded, gave Mike the orders and checked with the medical team.

  "Are you and your patients set?"

  Walt and Thad answered together, "All secure. Ready for you."

  "Mike, signal the crowd and let's go." The Goose let out with a raucous aahhOOOOgah and started waddling down the track. A couple of kids in the crowd imitated the horn and started flapping their arms as the Goose left the station, with the gathered people waving and cheering. As they left the well wishers behind, Thad asked, "Where did you get that horn, Arlen?"

  "On the bottom of a shelf over at the old auto parts store. They had a dozen of them and I bought all of them. If the Goose is successful, I wanted all the railbuses to have a distinctive warning horn."

  "I don't think anyone here will ever forget it," chimed in Susan. "I jumped three inches when you announced your arrival with it."

  Everyone settled down for the ride to Rudolstadt. In ten minutes, they were passing the Schwarza station again and the signal was green for the track to Rudolstadt. Mike hit the horn to announce their arrival but the stationmaster just waved them through. As the Goose waddled through the switches for the wye, Friedrich tried to roll over and moaned when the blankets restraining him rubbed his arms. Thad checked the dressings and drip bags. "I think we better break out the morphine you brought, Frieda. These doses are starting to wear off. They're both in better shape than we originally thought." After a bit more morphine, Friedrich settled into a light sleep.