He believed the boiler safe as his factory chiefs said. True, it had rusted; it leaked. His friend said they paid the inspectors not to notice. But that big, old machine powers this plant, he thought confidently. It must be working right. Then today he found the boiler’s side bulging, the tank burning up. Without help nearby, he started turning dials and pushing buttons, hoping the trouble would stop. Mustn’t it? he thought, hands hurrying everywhere. Then the overheated boiler cracked, and a rumble barreled from its great innards. He realized the unfathomable horror coming. He saw now it had to.
Ouff… I love how the ending leads back to the title. Awesome cautionary tale.
None Stop action from beginning to end. Great story. Short and Sweet.
Great story. Sometimes people’s tempers act the same way.
Eek!! A well written tale of foreboding; the penultimate sentence a confirmation of his worst fears.