The lower gauge skipped every seventh beat of Kegaku's heart.
Palla felt the missing stroke through the iron collar. Her damaged palm jumped against the hinge bolt, and the needle dropped on the same count. Above them, the funeral engine made another circuit of Switch Nine yard, dragging both pump returns past the building while Kegaku's heart worked beneath the wheels.
Six beats reached the pipe. The seventh fell through the black seam below.
The speaking tube carried Toman's voice from Gate Three.
"The inner wheel just kicked backward and broke another man's thumb."
Denna took the tube from him. Blood had dried across her lower lip.
"Clear every worker above the blue stair and leave the wheel tied."
"The lower ward loses drainage if I abandon this station."
"Your station is draining into a place buried outside Sadle. Clear them now."
