The Brass Giant (25 page)

Authors: Brooke Johnson

BOOK: The Brass Giant

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Emmerich

Then she slipped the letter into her pocket, next to her mother's journal, and carefully nudged the tiny metal object. At her touch, the delicate machine split in half, the triangle transforming into a slender body between two intricately designed wings. Antennae curled out from one end of its body and its wings fluttered. With utmost care, she placed the brass butterfly in her palm and ran her finger along its back, winding the minute gear between its wings.

A brassy ticking sang within, and the tiny, mechanical insect flapped its delicate wings and took to the air, circling Petra in a flicker of ticking brass parts before perching again on her outstretched hand. She felt her heart lift, the beauty of the machine embodying everything Emmerich had wished to create. Despite everything, she couldn't help but smile. He had finally managed to build something more beautiful than its living counterpartâÂand he had made it for her.

Glossary of Terms

Watch and Mechanical Terms

Arbor:
Axle or spindle on which something revolves.

Balance wheel:
Part of a mechanical watch movement that oscillates, regulating timekeeping.

Barrel:
Drum that contains the mainspring of a watch.

Bearings:
Machine part that reduces friction between rotating and stationary parts.

Cam:
Disk or cylinder with an irregular, curved surface, mounted on a rotating shaft, used to transform rotary motion into linear motion.

Case:
Metal housing for the parts of a watch.

Gear train:
In clockwork, the system of gears that transmit power from the mainspring to the rest of the watch. In machinery, a mechanical system formed by mounting gears on a frame so the teeth of the gears engage, designed to ensure that the gears roll on each other without slipping, providing a smooth transmission of rotation from one gear to the next.

Linkage:
Assembly of rods for transmitting motion, usually in the same plane or in parallel planes.

Mainspring:
Coiled spring that provides the power to drive a mechanical movement.

Mechanical movement:
Movement based on a mainspring wound by hand; when wound, it slowly unwinds the spring in an even motion.

Movement:
Inner mechanism of a watch that keeps time and moves the watch's hand.

Pawl:
Device used to prevent a toothed wheel (ratchet) from rotating backward, or a device that stops, locks, or releases a mechanism.

Pinion:
Small gear or spindle engaging with a large gear.

Ratchet wheel:
Mechanical device used to permit motion in one direction only.
Spindles:
Rod or pin serving as an axis that revolves or on which something revolves.

Winding Stem:
Mechanism on the side or top of the watch case used to wind the mainspring; a winding crown.

Other Terms

Automaton:
Moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being.

Blowlamp:
(British) Fuel-Âburning tool used for applying heat and flame, usually for metalworking; a blowtorch.

Electromagnetics:
Also known as classical electrodynamics, the branch of physics that deals with the interactions of electric, magnetic, and mechanical phenomena.

Hydraulic:
Operated by, moved by, or employing water or other liquids in motion. The science that deals with the laws governing water or other liquids in motion and their applications in engineering.

Paraffin:
(British) Colorless, flammable, oily liquid used as fuel; kerosene.

Phonograph:
Early sound-Âreproducing machine that used cylinders to record as well as reproduce sound.

Schematics:
Diagram, plan, or drawing.

Spanner:
(British) A wrench.

Telegraphy:
System of telecommunications involving any process providing reproduction at a distance of written, printed, or pictorial matter, without the physical exchange of an object bearing the message.

Acknowledgments

T
HIS NOVEL COULD
not exist if not for the encouragement and support of so many wonderful Âpeople, so a round of thanks is in order.

First, to Darby Karchut, for encouraging me to dive headfirst into a world that was much bigger than I ever imagined, and for giving me the confidence to keep writing Petra's story, despite all my fears and doubts. You are the reason I dared to write this book in the first place. Petra owes her life to you, though she may not realize it. Thank you.

A massive thank you to everyone who supported me and my writing in one way or another. To those of you who bought and read the book. To my original beta readers: Marcus, Kristina, Shandi, Marieke, Anassa, and Jay. To my friends, family, and teachers who believed in me and didn't let me give up. To the Âpeople I have met along the way. To the readers and fans who have become my closest friends because of the words I wrote. To Gabriel, Daniel, Rachel, Anthony, and Eric. Your enthusiasm knows no bounds.

To my editor Kelly, and the rest of the team at Harper Voyager, for taking a chance.

To Jaime, for always being there for me when I needed you.

And finally, to my husband, who knew I was a writer and married me anyway.

About the Author

BROOKE JOHNSON
is a stay-Âat-Âhome mom and tea-Âloving writer. As the jack-Âof-Âall-Âtrades bard of the family, she journeys through life with her husband, daughter, and dog. She currently resides in northwest Arkansas but hopes to one day live somewhere more mountainous. Follow her on Twitter @brookenomicon.

www.brooke-Âjohnson.com

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

THE BRASS GIANT
. Copyright Â© 2015 by Brooke Johnson. All rights reserved under International and Pan-ÂAmerican Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-Âbook on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-Âengineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperÂCollins e-Âbooks.

EPub Edition MAY 2015 ISBN: 9780062387165

Print Edition ISBN: 9780062387172

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