The islanders of Castel had recently sensed that something in the atmosphere had changed.
Their lord had shut down half the olive oil mills and three-quarters of the soap production lines. At the same time, he had recruited a large number of workers, and construction had begun at multiple sites at once.
The islanders were surprised. They recognized most of the new construction sites—they were factories as well, only on a far grander scale.
Were new factories being built?
Meanwhile, the nighttime literacy classes had gained additional material. It was said that much of the advanced class curriculum had been introduced into the literacy classes, where the school had integrated it into a course called "General Knowledge." This portion of the curriculum was mandatory.
But the things taught in General Knowledge were rather outrageous. It claimed that there were enormous steel machines capable of making astonishingly loud noises. What were steel machines?
The advanced-class students told them those were steam engines, like millstones that could turn by themselves. All they needed was fuel and water.
Everyone had seen millstones before. People relied on them to grind olives and press out the oil. But a millstone that could turn on its own... that was rather inconceivable.
To their surprise, the next day, a machine nearly twice a person's height stood at the school entrance. The managers of the various factories organized workers to come and observe. Finally, beneath everyone's watchful eyes, a group of advanced-class students personally dismantled it into parts, then reassembled it.
Theus came to the site himself and explained it to everyone.
He picked up a rag, wiped the grease from his hands, and called out to the workers around him, "See that? This is a steam engine. Water is boiled in the boiler, driving the piston into