I was staring at the contractor, who was giving me a litany of excuses.
"We can't do the work until the backhoe is repaired, Mrs. Bedwen," Mr. Barris said. "And that will take a week. We've just ordered the parts, and it will take time for the main office to refill the order."
I cut him out, waving my hand horizontally.
"Enough," I said. "Can I see the part?"
He pointed at the backhoe.
I headed straight at it and kneeled.
"There," he said, following me. "You see that thing with many protruding tubes right there? That's the main valve. It's broken. The backhoe doesn't work without it."
He realized I was an alchemist, right?
I know what a control valve is.
I can draw you most valves in any projection in most perspectives — without having to look up the specs.
"So it's the JM-356,"
