By this time, Princess Nell's eyes had adjusted to the dimness, and she 
could see something else behind the throne: a tremendous Shaft, as thick as the 
mainmast of a dromond, made of the trunk of a great tree bound and reinforced 
with brass plates and bands. The Shaft turned steadily, and Princess Nell 
realized that it must be transmitting the power of the giant windmill far above 
them. Enormous gears, black and sticky with grease, were attached to the Shaft 
and transferred its power to other, smaller shafts that ran off horizontally in 
every direction and disappeared through holes in the walls. The turning and 
grinding of all these shafts and gears made the omnipresent noise she had noted 
earlier.