The Carpenter’s Miracle Chapter 11
The lead officer, a Man around fifty with a grave face and piercing eyes, ignored Tom Completely.
He walked straight toward the kiln.
His gaze traveled from the foundation to the walls, finally settling on the freshly sealed roof and the chimney emitting white steam.
Extending a hand, he touched the kiln wall.
Warmth and solidity met his touch.
A flicker of barely concealed surprise sparked in his eyes.
Felix leaned heavily on his cane, tottering forward to greet him, “Sir, hello. I am Felix Graves, the Mayor of Cedarville.”
The officer glanced at him and gave a curt nod. “I am Cole Harding, an inspector from the Regional Construction and Environment Agency.”
His voice, low and resonant, carried undeniable authority.
“I received a report claiming there is a large–scale illegal structure here, posing fire hazards and
environmental risks due to unauthorized commercial lumber drying.”
TOM piped up from the side, pouring fuel on the fire, “Exactly, Mr. Harding. It’s him!”
Hejabbed a finger in my direction. “This outsider of unknown origin has brainwashed the whole town to chop down the forest and build this monster.
“Just look at that chimney. It’s spewing toxic gases! It will destroy the Northland forests.”
Glaring, the townsfolk held back, unwilling to cause a scene while Cole was present.
Cole frowned, seemingly annoyed by Tom’s hysterical outburst.
Instead of looking at me, he continued questioning
Felix, “Mr. Graves, is what he saying the truth?”
Taking a deep breath, Felix straightened his posture. “Mr. Harding, indeed, we didn’t apply for a permit from your agency to build this kiln.
“Because we didn’t have time. However, this is
absolutely not for commercial use, nor will it pollute
the environment.
“This is a lifesaving kiln for our town of over five hundred people.”
“A lifesaving kiln?” Skepticism laced Cole’s tone.
Felix pointed to the pile of soaked, rotting wood in Mark’s yard. “Please, take a look at that firewood.
“That is the state of every single log our town has for heating this winter.”
He then pointed an accusing finger at Tom. “And that wood was bought from this very Tom Woods.”
Cole’s gaze shifted toward TOM.
His face twitched in anxiety as he tried to defend himself, “Nonsense. It’s good wood. We just had too Much rain this year.”
Ignoring him, Cole walked over to the woodpile.
He pulled out a log, weighed it in his hand, and tested it with his thumbnail.
Having dealt with construction lumber for years, he spotted the problem instantly.
His expression darkened. “This is waterlogged spruce rot. The wood is loose and spongy.
“It’s lost its value as firewood. You definitely can’t survive the winter with this kind of wood.”
Cold sweat beaded on TOM’s forehead.
Turning around, Cole fixed his eyes on me.
It was the first time he had truly looked at me. “Did you design this kiln?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m a carpenter,” I replied.
“Foreigner?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said.
His gaze lingered on me for a few seconds.
It felt like an X–ray, as if he could see right through everything.
“Come with Me.”
With those words, he turned and walked into the kiln.
I followed him inside.
Mark and Felix tried to enter as well, but another
official guarding the door stopped them.
Inside the Massive kiln, the air was as warm as spring.
Flames danced happily in the furnace.
Heat carrying the scent of pine circulated through the space.
On the racks, Moisture was rapidly evaporating from the surface of the wet logs.
Cole walked a full circle inside, examining every
structure with Meticulous care.
The bricklaying technique of the walls, the Mortise and tenon joints of the beams, the design of the ventilation ducts–he looked slowly and carefully.
The longer he looked, the deeper the surprise in his eyes became.
“Is this a design from your country?” he asked.
“Yes. It borrows principles from drying rooms in My country’s northern regions,” I replied.
He said, genuine admiration in his tone, “That’s really impressive. The structure is rock solid. The heat efficiency is incredible, and there are almost no safety hazards.”
He pointed toward the chimney exit. “What’s coming out is just water vapor and a negligible amount of particulate matter. The environmental impact is Minimal.”
Silence followed his statement.
He paced back and forth before the Massive furnace, seemingly wrestling with a difficult decision.
Outside, everyone waited anxiously.
A SMUG SMile returned to Tom’s face.
To him, no matter how well the building was designed,
it couldn’t change the fact that it was an “illegal
structure.”
Illegal structures had to be demolished.
That was the law in Northland.
After a long while, Cole finally emerged.
All eyes locked onto him.
He looked at Felix, then at the townspeople with their expectant faces.
Finally, his gaze landed on TOM. “Mr. Woods.”
“Yes, sir!” Tom replied, trying to sound confident.
Cole’s voice was ice–cold. “You are under investigation for commercial fraud and endangering public safety. Now, you and your men, come with me for questioning.”
The smile froze instantly on Tom’s face.