Chapter 132

"It's a good idea, Renko-san," Captain Minoru said. The three sat in the cockpit of Shota's boat, going over the plans.

"It could be made, I think," he said. "In steam boats, the fire boils the water and the steam provides pressure that is transferred by gears to the propeller, here." He indicated the place with a worn and ragged finger. "The propeller turns and that moves the boat through the water."

"We think we can use gears to drive power to the pedals," Renko said. "Instead of using feet to power them."

The captain examined the drawings closely, and then looked up. "That ought to work. You don't have to worry about containing a fire on a boat, or about running a shaft through a hull. But you still have to worry about fabricating the metal parts."

"Do you know where we can get that done, Sencho-sama?"

Captain Minoru leaned back. He took out his long, thin pipe, filled it, and struck a safety match, a new and recent import, to light it. He puffed for a minute, considering.