What about the sixth, the base?

"Now you're thinking, Jason," he chortled to himself, and knelt down
to examine it. A wide flange, apparently of cast iron, projected all
around, and was penetrated by four large bolt holes. The protective
casing seemed to be soldered to the base, but there must be stronger
concealed attachments because it would not move even after he
carefully scratched away some of the solder at the base. Therefore the
answer simply had to be on the sixth side.

"Over here, Mikah," he called, and the man detached himself
reluctantly from the warmth of the stove and shuffled up. "Come close
and look at this medieval motive-power while we talk, as if we are
discussing business. Are you going to co-operate with me?"

"I do not want to, Jason. I am afraid that you will soil me with your
touch, as you have others."

"Well you're not so clean now--"

"I do not mean physically."

"Well I do. You could certainly do with a bath and a deep shampoo. I'm
not worried about the state of your soul, you can battle that out on
your own time. But if you work with me I'll find a way to get us out
of this place and to the city that made this engine, because if there
is a way off this planet we'll find it only in the city."

"I know that, yet I still hesitate--"

"Small sacrifices now for the greater good later. Isn't the entire
purpose of this trip to get me back to justice? You're not going to
accomplish that by rotting out the rest of your life as a slave."

"You are the devil's advocate the way you twist my conscience--yet
what you say is true. I will help you here so that we can escape."

"Fine. Now get to work. Take Narsisi and have him round up at least
three good-sized poles, the kind we were chained to in the pumping
gang. Bring them back here along with a couple of shovels."

* * * * *

Slaves carried the poles only as far as the outside of the skin walls,
since Edipon would not admit them inside, and it was up to Jason and
Mikah to drag them laboriously to the site. The D'zertanoj, who never
did physical labor, thought it was very funny when Jason suggested
that they help. Once in position by the engine, Jason dug channels
beneath it and forced the bars under. When this was done he took turns
with Mikah in digging out the sand beneath until the engine stood over
a pit supported only by the bars. Jason let himself down and examined
the bottom of the machine. It was smo