The Engineer's Apprentice: Sneak Peek

By J. R. Martin

This alternate-history steampunk western contains action, adventure, magic, and a mystery that will change the Western Native Lands forever.

In 1860s Dallas, Texas, Annie Sakdavong has just graduated top of her class from college as a steam engineer but must still do an apprenticeship with a master steam enginee

• Language: English
• Publisher: Underdog Press, LLC
• Release date: Sep 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798869008008

J. R. Martin

This biography by J.R. Martin is a true account of a woman's life so filled with heartache and emotion; it captures the real core of human behavior in a spellbinding way. Because of the delicate story, fictitious names are used to protect those of individuals concerned.

Book preview

66A4C08C-0E62-42AE-9CC7-BA0E202E74DB

Copyright © year J.R. Martin

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 979-8-9869489-1-1

Thank you to my family for giving me books and encouraging me to read. Thank you for listening to the stories I told from elementary to today, despite how rough they were. Thank you, the reader who reads this story and comes along on the journey with me. A special thanks to my father who I promised, Although I can’t paint with a brush like you, I’ll use my words to paint pictures, create worlds, and write stories that are as moving as the art you make.

Please Enjoy.

CHAPTER 1

As we work together to make you a licensed engineer, Ms. Sakdavong, I’d like to know what motivates you. Why do you want to be my apprentice and become an engineer?

I sat in Issa Obasi’s study as his maid, Mrs. Miller, filled cups with an aromatic tea. If he’d asked me the question yesterday, the answer would have been simpler. I would have confidently said I wanted to become a steam engineer to satisfy my curious nature, better understand star metal, or be the first woman to build a humanoid automaton. Understanding star metal’s impact on industry would be reason enough. Each option sounded good, but they were all lies. Professor Cross had prepared me for this line of questioning but the formulaic answers sounded hollow to me now. I decided to go with a story that seemed the most honest.

Well, it’s hard to know where to start. I’ve been working on designs for a humanoid automaton. They’re in the tube I handed you earlier. There are many reasons…

Ms. Sakdavong, let me make it clear, automatons don’t interest me. What interests me is the situation we find ourselves in now.

Mrs. Miller returned from the kitchen with a cup and sipped it as she sat down in the chair beside Issa. I glanced between the two wondering about their relationship as she sat casually in on an interview with her employer. For that matter, I wondered how a mature white woman had come to be employed by a young black man in the first place.

I don’t think I understand your meaning, Master Obasi. What situation do we find ourselves in?

Mrs. Miller placed her cup on the table. Annie, dear, I’m sure you’ve noticed, Issa is a black man and you’re a woman.

She patted my knee, and I didn’t know whether she was patronizing me or really thought me stupid. Either way I felt heat in my stomach and I gritted teeth.

Yes, I believe that’s obvious. I stared at the woman hard, wondering If she’d be a problem when I moved in and started my apprenticeship.

Look, neither of you know a thing about me. Are you accepting me as your apprentice or not? If not, I can find somewhere else to go. I’m smart and should have been valedictorian at the university. There are a dozen other master engineers that would take me on. I stood, reaching for a sword hilt I’d abandoned long ago as my voice grew louder.

No, you don’t, Issa said.

Mrs. Miller pointed to my reaching hand and raised an eyebrow. I straightened trying to force myself to be calm. Issa nodded and stared at me while sipping tea. I paced back and forth, frustrated.

I glared at them. You both seem to know a lot about me already. How about you tell me why I want to be an engineer.

Strangely enough, I did ask Mrs. Miller to look into that. She didn’t find much.

I’ve never done much work for the Asian community, I’m afraid. Fewer contacts.

I frowned. Contacts? Aren’t you a maid?

Yes, dear, and a damned good one. She sipped her tea.

How about you sit down and tell us what’s really going on, Issa said.

I clenched my fist then grunted before plopping back in my chair. The two stared at me as I shifted my gaze between them.

Issa sighed. Let’s restate the obvious. First, there are no female engineers; therefore, we’ll leave the idea of an unwed woman moving in with her teacher out of the equation, for now.

Where are you going wit… I began.

Issa held up two fingers. Second, you are one of Jacob Cross’s students. If you’re as good as you say, why didn’t he take you on.

I shrugged. "He told me a major