While the World Is Still Asleep (The Century Trilogy Book 1) by Petra Durst-Benning Page B

is there, the supply will increase. And the bicycle makers will adjust their prices downward. Besides, it’s not as though everyone can afford a horse, either.” He crossed his arms and said, “But how is it that a young woman like you has such a deep interest in a novelty like this?”
    Josephine shrugged. “I . . . In the Black Forest, where I went to convalesce recently, there was also a bicycle. The pedals were on the front wheel and it looked much different from this one. I was very taken by it. And when I discovered that you were also the proud owner of such a marvel, I simply had to see it.” She ran her hand reverently over the handlebars once more.
    Isabelle’s father nodded benevolently. “You have rightly recognized that this is, in fact, a particularly advanced model.” He dropped into a crouch, just as Josephine had done earlier, and gestured toward it.
    “This bicycle is what they call a Rover, the latest and best bicycle available on the market. It’s driven by the rear wheel. The pedals are connected to the rear wheel by the chain, as you can see here. This allows riders to choose the gear ratio that suits them best, which you never used to be able to do.”
    “Gear ratio . . . What does that mean, exactly?”
    Moritz Herrenhus smiled. “Until now, bicycles have had a very large front wheel to which the pedals were attached directly. The size of the front wheel determined the distance traveled for each turn of the pedals. With the Rover, the size of the drive wheel no longer makes any difference, which is why the front and rear wheels are the same size. Instead, the two cogs—here at the pedals and here at the rear wheel—determine how far each rotation of the pedals propels you forward. Depending on their size, a rider can increase or decrease the distance per revolution. We can thank the Englishman Harry Lawson for this invention. With the support of his friend, an industrialist by the name of J. K. Starley, he created the first so-called ‘safety bicycle.’ This one is called the Rover Safety because it is far safer than any high-wheel bicycles, which are highly prone to accidents.”
    Moritz Herrenhus pulled off his jacket. Then he put his cuff links aside, rolled up his sleeves, and said, “I’ll give you a little demonstration, if you like.” He pushed the bicycle out of the shed and rode several laps around the yard.
    Josephine watched, enraptured. This bicycle was so fast, so nimble! The crunching of the rubber tires on the gravel sounded like the most beautiful music. Her toes began to tingle, and a restlessness spread through her entire body. She would have given anything to be able to ride a lap on the bicycle herself.
    With a final turn, Isabelle’s father pulled up in front of the trio of girls. His fine vest was stretched tight across his back, his sleeves were crumpled, and his calf’s-leather shoes were covered in dust, but he didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. With a gesture more appropriate to a young man than to a reputable businessman, he swept a lock of hair out of his face and said, “Pretty impressive, eh?”
    Isabelle pressed her lips together and held her tongue.
    “Your Rover is so maneuverable,” said Josephine. Rover Safety. The name tasted sweeter in her mouth than caramel. “You’re an excellent cycler,” she added, when she saw Mr. Herrenhus’s expectant face.
    “You rode a bicycle? You must be mad,” Clara whispered to Josephine. Then, aloud and with a trace of reproach, she said, “I think it looks awfully dangerous.”
    Moritz Herrenhus dismounted stiffly just as the honey-colored sun was disappearing behind the white walls surrounding the yard. All of a sudden, the air felt cooler.
    “Dangerous? Well, it depends. Cycling—once you’ve mastered it—is actually quite harmless. It only becomes dangerous on a busy street. Just yesterday, I was nearly run down by a carriage, and I was as far to the right as I could possibly be. The