That night, the atmosphere in the workshop was completely different from the previous days.
For more than a week, everyone had worked with enthusiasm, imagining the new sawmill running, the machines turning, production increasing.
But now…
There was only frustration.
A simple problem.
And apparently impossible to solve.
The steam engine.
Without it, the entire project was useless.
One by one, they began leaving the workshop.
Matheus left first, his hands in his pockets.
Teresa helped Rafael put away some tools before leaving as well.
Finally, Luis extinguished the last lantern and left in silence.
The bitter taste of that defeat followed him all the way back to the main house.
During dinner, Luis spoke very little.
Normally he participated in the family's conversations, asked questions, or even started small discussions about politics or business.
But that night he simply moved his food around absentmindedly.
Augusto noticed.
Helena noticed too.
At one moment, Augusto leaned slightly toward his wife.
"Go talk to him later."
Helena nodded discreetly.
After dinner ended, she found Luis on the house's veranda, sitting on one of the wooden benches.
He was looking at the garden.
Thoughtful.
Helena sat beside him.
"Something is bothering you."
Luis sighed.
"A little."
Helena placed a hand on her son's arm.
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
Luis hesitated for a moment.
But then he decided to explain.
He told her about the sawmill.
About the project.
About the days of work.
And finally about the problem with the steam engine.
Helena listened carefully.
When he finished, she remained silent for a few seconds.
"So…" she said calmly. "You already have the whole machine planned."
Luis nodded.
"Yes."
"But you can't obtain the main component."
"Exactly."
Helena smiled gently.
"That sounds frustrating."
Luis let out a tired little laugh.
"Very."
Helena spent a few minutes talking with him.
Trying to encourage him.
Telling small stories from her youth.
Talking about how important projects sometimes face unexpected obstacles.
Luis was genuinely happy with his mother's presence.
It was something he deeply valued.
But even so…
The feeling of helplessness remained there.
Heavy.
Persistent.
Until, at one moment, Helena said something almost without thinking.
"It would be wonderful if someone could simply build the machine you need, wouldn't it?"
Luis froze.
He slowly turned his head.
"What?"
Helena blinked, slightly surprised.
"I said it would be wonderful if someone could build exactly the machine you need."
Luis remained silent.
Thinking.
Thinking very quickly.
Then something simply clicked in his mind.
Of course.
Why was he stuck on the idea of buying a steam engine?
Why not…
Build one?
Luis suddenly stood up.
Helena was startled.
"Luis?"
He quickly hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you, Mother!"
Helena blinked.
"For what?"
But Luis was already walking away.
"I need to think!"
And he disappeared into the house.
Luis spent the entire night awake.
Papers.
Charcoal.
Drawings.
Calculations.
He thought about every model of steam engine he knew.
Stationary engines.
Piston systems.
Boilers.
Valves.
Regulators.
He did not need to invent a steam engine from scratch.
The technology already existed.
What he needed to do was adapt it.
A small machine.
Stable.
And efficient.
Perfect for that sawmill.
When the sun began to rise…
Luis was still working.
With red eyes.
And large dark circles under them.
But also with a spark of excitement in his gaze.
Waking Rafael
As soon as the first morning light appeared, Luis left the house.
He crossed the property quickly.
His destination was the small house where Rafael lived with his family.
Without hesitation, he knocked on the door.
Hard.
Very hard.
Inside the house there was movement.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Rafael appeared, clearly still half asleep.
"Young master…?"
Luis answered immediately:
"I had an idea."
Rafael blinked.
Behind him, his wife had also woken up.
Two small children peeked curiously.
Rafael tried to say something.
But he didn't have time.
Luis grabbed his arm.
"Come with me."
"I haven't even had breakfast yet—"
"We don't have time!"
And a few minutes later…
Rafael was practically being dragged toward the workshop.
When they arrived, Luis immediately began spreading papers across the table.
"Look at this."
Rafael still looked confused.
"What is this?"
Luis answered enthusiastically:
"The solution."
Rafael looked at the drawings.
Complex lines.
Cylinders.
Pistons.
Valves.
A boiler.
Then slowly his eyes widened.
"This is…"
Luis finished the sentence for him.
"A steam engine."
Rafael looked up.
"Young master…"
Luis crossed his arms.
"If we can't buy one…"
He smiled.
"We'll build one."
Rafael remained silent for several seconds.
Absorbing the idea.
First came the shock.
Then disbelief.
And finally…
A smile.
He slowly shook his head.
"We're already building an entirely new sawmill…"
He pointed to the drawings.
"So why not build the steam engine as well?"
Rafael raised his gaze.
"Yes."
He smiled.
"Let's do it."