Chapter 943 (2/2)
“Surprised?” Master Orrow saw Hao Ren’s expression from the rear mirror. The old scholar laughed giddly. “Only those who had studied in the Spire of Knowledge for more than six years are granted the right to learn and pilot the Steelbeasts. There are only three of this in Hearthfire, and if not for the emergency royal summons, the viceroy would not have let this out. Lets cut the chatter, hop on!”
Hao Ren swallowed everything that he wanted to say back with all his willpower before dragging Lily onboard. As they got into the carriage they realised that it did not have anything resembling a seat. The carriage was basically a wooden crate tied together with metal wires. The locals probably had no idea on how to make a seat, and how to fix them to the floorboard of the carriage. Willy pulled out a couple of stools from the back of the carriage and placed it before them. “Have a seat.”
After confirming that all have gotten onboard, Master Orrow called for everyone to seat tight. With a pat to fix his robes, the old scholar sat up straight on the wooden chair and slammed the throttle.
Lily looked at the stools that Willy had pushed over, quipping. “More than ten odd years when I hitch a ride on a tincan carriage I too had sat on one of these folding sto…. OH MY WOOF!”
As the old scholar slammed the throttles, the combined-tractor-like vehicle lurched forward and onto the pothole riddled road. The violent jolt threw Lily flat on her face. Hao Ren quickly helped the lass up before noticing everyone else was bouncing and shaking about in the carriage. That proved that installing a seat in the carriage was practically pointless. The entire vehicle followed the Brownian motion as soon as it started moving. The passengers had to rely on their wits and strength to stay in place. While it may look like everyone was sitting on a stool, in practice all of them were squatting down and followed the carriage’s motion with a slow trot…
Willy, who was usually cowardly was instead rather calm. As a local, he was probably used to this…
“Can this really run?” Hao Ren spoke at the top of his voice towards Willy as he squatted. “There’s a proper road out there?”
He still remembered the horrible state of the road when they passed by the Path of Abundance, and the usualy pathways of the sanctuary had already so broken it was no different than the Gobi Desert. Hao Ren started worrying how far the artistic contraption he’s on will actually take him. After experiencing the jolts and tumbles of the carriage, he felt that going straight or sideways was no different…
Willy shouted back. “No worries! The main road is well maintained!”
Hao Ren looked out an noticed that they were indeed on a wider road that is better maintaned. While there were cracks on the cement surface, all of the potholes had been filled up. That brought some measure of relief to him.
But as Master Orrow slamed the throttle again to get the vehicle onto the road, Hao Ren realised something. The road condition be damned!
It was the vehicle’s condition that was god awful. It did not even have any suspension to boot! Heck, the wheels are not completely round either. No one an intelligent scholar in that whatever tower they hail from needed six years to learn how to operate a tractor. This was clearly not a driving class, it is an extreme sports class!
Hao Ren was worried that parts of the carriage might came off as the vehicle trudged along the road. At the same time, he looked through the carriage window towards the old scholar, Master Orrow who was driving the thing. The old man was seated on a chair before the engine that was only held in place by wire and rope. The scholar’s robe and hair fluttered in midair as they went. It was an understatement to say that Hao Ren was worried that the old man would fall off the chair…
“My impression of the scholar had just turned upside down.” Nangong Sanba said to his sister. “Even guys sixty years younger than him would not have gone this crazy.”
Hao Ren muttered to himself as the carriage shook. If this thing was to be thrown back to Earth, forget about anyone driving it. Recognising it as a vehicle itself would have been an achievement. Just by leaving it by the roadside, no one will know better if you did not drive it yourself.