Crucible Plain

The carriage reached the Teucher Iron & Steel basin shortly before ten that evening.

Ernest knew they were close long before the sprawling site came into view. The northern horizon glowed with a dull, bruised-orange haze that hung over the dark countryside, broken by scattered white points from temporary electric lamps and the occasional sudden flare of a foundry chimney.

The road crested a low ridge, and the entire plain opened up below.

Six thousand acres of organized industrial chaos stretched across the river basin. Temporary supply roads cut through the site in a rough grid. Storage sheds and fireproof warehouses stood beside towering mounds of refractory brick, fluxing limestone, structural iron, timber, and heavy machinery castings. Tall wooden crane derricks rose above deep concrete foundation pits, while portable steam engines powered pumps and winches throughout the works.