Plant Number 2 Part 1

Hollen stared at the clean sheet of paper for five long seconds.

Across the top, the block letters stood out in black ink:

TEUCHER MOTOR WORKS — PLANT NO. 2

Hollen pointed a blunt finger at the sheet. "No."

Ernest didn't stop drafting. "You said that five minutes ago."

"And you ignored me."

"Because we need another factory."

"You always need another factory, lad," Hollen muttered, leaning against the edge of the mahogany table. "First it was the blast furnaces. Then the machine works. Then the rolling mills. Then the railway plant. Then Works Number Three for the motorcar. And now another one."

Ernest paused, his compass hovering. "Every single one of those was necessary."