Made It

The glowing rail rested across the iron supports of the cooling bed, its bright orange hue slowly darkening to a deep maroon, and finally to a dark, gunmetal gray.

Ernest, Hollen, and Arthur stood near the safety rail, watching the metal cool. Arthur had arrived from his office halfway through the trial, holding a thick ledger.

"Did I miss the primary rolling?" Arthur asked, peering through the gloom.

"You missed the roughing passes," Hollen said. "You were busy counting riels."

"A vital public service," Arthur replied crisply. He looked toward the long piece of metal resting on the bed. "Is that it?"

"That is a heavy steel rail, Arthur," Ernest said.

"It looks... like a very long bar of iron."

"That is generally what we aim for," Ernest remarked dryly.

As the steel cooled, however, something unexpected began to happen. Ernest's eyes narrowed. "Hollen. Look at the center section."

Hollen leaned over the railing. "What is it?"