The Day's Work

Findlayson, a seasoned civil engineer with the Public Works Department, has spent three grueling years coaxing the massive Kashi Bridge into shape across the mighty Ganges. From his trolley he surveys the sprawling camp of five thousand laborers, the half‑finished piers, and the rugged landscape that his team has reshaped. As the bridge nears completion, the promise of a grand opening by the Viceroy looms, and he feels a mix of pride and relief that his lifelong work may finally stand as a permanent landmark.

His youthful assistant, Hitchcock, rides the line on a sturdy Kabuli pony, learning the hard lessons of responsibility, weather, and the multicultural crew that includes lascars, local foremen, and a wandering sea‑priest. Together they navigate daily hazards—floods, disease, and the sheer logistics of assembling a structure that will carry soldiers and rail alike. Listeners will be drawn into the bustling world of colonial engineering, the camaraderie and tensions among the workers, and the anticipation of the bridge’s inaugural crossing.