The steam car drove for half an hour, twisting and turning down unfamiliar streets until it gradually reached the deserted suburbs.
By now, the sky outside had gone completely dark. Aside from the illumination of the car's headlamps, there wasn't a speck of light to be seen. Even the headlamps couldn't penetrate far before their beams were swallowed by the thick, inky blackness.
The surroundings were utterly silent. Apart from the roar of the steam engine, not another sound could be heard. It was as if the entire world had shrunk to the small space within the car.
Lloyd tried to peer into the distance, but could only make out a dark, undulating silhouette—perhaps a mountain range cloaked in night, or a colossal beast lying dormant in the shadows.
The two girls in the back seat also sensed the change in atmosphere. Evelor pulled back, shrinking into her seat, and asked in a tiny voice:
"Where are we?"
Miss Desda, who had arranged the outing, was also growing restless. She asked:
