Page 43 of The Do-Over

‘Not on my own,’ George clarifies. ‘It’s a group project. The idea is that we’ll take it to shows and stuff once it’s done.’

A picture of George on the platform of a massive traction engine, sweat glistening on his strong arms as he shovels coal, forms in my mind. Dear God, I’m going to need to lie down if this continues for much longer. Seven months without Alasdair to keep my libido under control and I’m in danger of turning into some kind of sex pest. Thankfully, Rebecca and Ben choose this moment to appear and save me from total meltdown.

‘This is Rebecca, my friend and business partner,’ I tell Ernest and George. ‘And this is Ben, who lives at the end of the drive and has been helping us out.’ I spot Rebecca sizing George up, and a niggle of irritation forms in the pit of my stomach.Leave him alone, I silently project at her.You’ve already got Ben, don’t be greedy.

‘The kettle’s just boiled if you and Ben want a cuppa,’ I tell her instead.

‘I’d love one, I’m parched,’ Ben says, thankfully diverting Rebecca’s attention back onto him. A look passes between them, and I wonder if she’s plucked up the courage to ask him out. An awkward silence descends while we watch her getting mugs out of the cupboard and fiddling about with the teabags.

‘George was just telling us about a traction engine he’s restoring,’ I tell Ben, keen to get the conversation flowing again.

‘Really?’ Ben’s interest is clearly piqued, as I’d hoped it would be. ‘That’s a big old thing, where are you keeping it?’

While the three of them chat about the intricacies of traction engine restoration, I take the opportunity to sidle over to Rebecca.

‘Did you have a conversation with Ben?’ I enquire gently.

‘Have I asked him out, do you mean?’ She smiles. ‘We’re going to the pub on Saturday evening, as it happens. Are you sure you don’t mind looking after Rollo?’

‘Of course not. I’m pleased for you,’ I say, suppressing a sigh of relief. ‘George is a bit of a surprise, isn’t he?’

‘Hmm. Definite gay vibe there, if you ask me.’

‘Do you think?’ I hadn’t considered that, and it’s definitely an unwelcome thought.

‘He’s too beautiful to be straight,’ she says simply.

Before I can think of a suitable comeback, Ernest sets his mug down on the side with a thump.

‘Right then,’ he says. ‘Shall we take a look at this mill of yours?’

20

‘Overshot, nice,’ Ernest comments as we walk around the side of the mill and the external components come into view.

‘I’m sorry?’ I say.

‘He’s talking about the flow of the water,’ George explains. ‘It flows in from above the water wheel, see? It’s the most efficient way to drive a wheel because you’re using the weight of the water to turn it. Undershot wheels are the opposite; they have paddles that dip into water flowing beneath them, a bit like a paddle steamer in reverse. They’re nowhere near as efficient though.’

‘Why aren’t they all overshot then?’

‘You need a good drop from the pond to the tail race to drive an overshot wheel.’

‘Sorry, you’ve lost me again. What’s a tail race?’

‘OK, let’s start at the top and work our way down. To drive a watermill you need water, right?’

‘Which comes from the pond.’

‘Yes, but if we’re looking at the whole picture, you need something to refill the pond, otherwise you’d run it once, empty the pond, and that would be it.’

‘I hadn’t thought about that.’

‘So what usually happens is you have a river nearby, and part or all of the flow from the river is diverted into your mill pond. River levels are unpredictable and mills like this one work best with fairly constant water flow, so think of the mill pond as a kind of battery. When you run the mill, you’re depleting the battery, and the stream or river recharges it.’

‘But if you have a stream or river constantly flowing into your pond and you don’t run the mill, wouldn’t it flood?’

‘It would, but that’s where the spillway comes in.’

---