Once two of the guards had boarded and called out in Turkish, the tram slowly set off.
It was a gentle ride.
Francis thought Gustav had been exaggerating, but then the tram began to climb uphill, and holding on became more necessary.
Once they broke through the tree canopy, the view of the strait below glittering in the sunshine and the western port laid out before them was truly spectacular.
“Outstanding!” Archie declared. “You can see everything!”
“Everything on one side,” Christian said, sketching furiously.
A gentle breeze blew through the tram, offering a pleasant relief from the heat.
“This is so nice,” Maddie said. “Is it steam powered? I see no engine, nor steam.”
“Solar powered, ma’am!” Gustav called back. “There’s a bank of it on top of this hill.”
“Solar?” Maddie said in disbelief.
“From the sun, dear,” Archie teased.
“Yes, thank you, Archie,” Maddie said. “I know solar means sun. But I wonder how it works?”
“That’s what we’re all wondering,” Christian said.
“Gustav, is this the only tram?” Francis asked.
“This is one of the royal trams, sir,” Gustav replied. “And there are public trams down in the city for both passengers and the transport of goods. All free for anyone to use.”
“How extraordinary,” Francis said. He would’ve liked to discuss this more, but Gustav clearly had other matters on his mind.
“Sir?” he said, looking pained. “There’s something I must tell you…”
“What?” Francis asked, sensing something was amiss. “Don’t tell me we’re late for the party. I knew we should’ve set off a day earlier.”
“Er, it’s not that, sir. It’s…Well…” Gustav trailed off.
“Well, spit it out, man,” Archie commanded.
“Yes, what’s wrong?” Maddie asked.
“Well,” Gustav said, “that is, your royal highness, that’s the thing. I may have…made an error in reporting that it was a party.”
“Error?” Francis repeated.
“What the devil do you mean?” Archie said.
Everyone waited for Gustav to speak, as the tram crested the highest hill.
“It was an unfortunate misunderstanding in translation,” Gustav explained. “It’s not a party, exactly…more of a…”
“Ball?” Maddie guessed.
Gustav shook his head.
“Dinner?” Archie said.
“No, but I think those elements are all incorporated,” Gustav said. “And the main function of this event is…a tournament.”
