He opened it and removed some metal pliers and wrenches.
‘Help me get those wheels off their stands,’ he said.
‘Why?’
‘I’ll explain while we work.’ He looked around. ‘Kemren would have done better
to have set human guards here. But I suppose he thought that no one would ever
get this far. Or, if they did, they’d not have the slightest idea what the
wheels are for.’
He told her what she was to do with the wheels, and they waded into the pool.
The water only came to their ankles; a wide drain in the centre ensured against
overflow.
Masha didn’t like being drenched, but she was sure that it would be worthwhile.
‘These boxes contain devices which convert the mechanical power of the water
driven wheels to magical power,’ he said. ‘There are said to be some in the
temple ofWeda Krizhtawn, but I was too lowly to be allowed near them. However, I
heard the high priests talking about them. They sometimes got careless in the
presence of us lowly ones. Anyway, we were bound by vows to keep silent.
‘I don’t know exactly what these particular wheels are for. But they must be
providing energy for whatever magic he’s using. Part of the energy, anyway.’
She didn’t really understand what he was talking about, though she had an
inkling. She worked steadily, ignoring the wetting and removed a wheel. Then she
turned it around and reattached it.
The wheel bore symbols on each of the paddles set along its rims. There were
also symbols painted on its side.
Each wheel seemed to have the same symbols but in a different sequence.