The Night Train: Pioneer
Published by Don Fern at Smashwords
Copyright 2014 Don Fern
Table of Contents
The Afternoon
The Evening
The Night
The Artifact
Trapped in the Barn
Also by Don Fern
The Afternoon
It was an October afternoon, the passenger train, Pioneer, was boarding passengers in Memphis to begin its overnight route to Washington DC. Matt and Kim were near the end of the line to board the second coach car behind the engine. They watched the front of the line, as Wanda boarded the coach car. On the platform beside Matt and Kim, Amy and her luggage were being driven beside the train. She was being taken to her sleeping room which was towards the rear of the train.
Matt and Kim, were among the last to board the car, so the conductor asked Wanda, who was sitting in a window seat, if she didn't mind having a person join her. She said it was ok and Kim sat in the aisle seat. Matt sat in the aisle seat across from Kim's.
Outside the window which Wanda was sitting next to, Donald walked past. Donald went to the fourth coach car and found a seat.
Then a bit later Delores walked by. Delores went to the third coach car and found a seat.
The Pioneer's lights went off.
Matt and Kim, both thought something was wrong.
And Kim asked Wanda, "Why did the lights go out?"
Wanda answered, "They always do that. That's when they disconnect the electricity from the station and connect the electricity supplied from the train."
The lights switched back on.
Kim asked, "Have you took this train before."
Wanda replied, "A couple of time since I moved to Mapleville from Kentucky.
Wanda continued, "I've rode this train a couple of times since I moved to Mapleville."
Kim motioned to Matt, "Neither of us have been on this train before. Is Mapleville in Tennessee?"
Wanda replied, "It's in West Virginia. It's a small town. But they have a growing economy. I started my own psychic business there. In Kentucky there weren't enough customers to keep it going. There are several psychic businesses in Mapleville. It a place where the psychic energy is strong."
Kin didn't know what to reply after Wanda mention psychic energy. So she said nothing.
Over the speaker the conductor announced, "Welcome to the Pioneer. We left Memphis on schedule at 3:35 and are scheduled to arrive in Washington at 9: 32 am tomorrow morning. We will be stopping at Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Charleston, and all intermediary points. There is a quiet time on this train it is from 10 pm to 6 am. At that time the lights will be turned down in this car. If you like to be up during that time you should go to the café or lounge car
The lounge car is the third car behind this one. The café car is the car behind that one. And the dining car is behind the café car. The restrooms are located below each coach car. There will be two smoking stops the first is at Nashville at 6:15 pm and the second is at Cincinnati at 12:15 am. These stops are for anyone who would like to leave the train while other passenger are boarding.
This train has been sold out. This means all seats will be taken part of the time. Passengers will be boarding and deboarding during the trip. So your carryon baggage should be above your head and any large luggage should be in the luggage area below, where you entered the train. There is an area at the end of each car, where luggage can be placed. If you want to put your luggage there a conductor will assist you in doing that.
This route follows the route of the original Pioneer train, which was discontinued in the late 50s. So welcome to the resurrected Pioneer."
In the fourth coach car, Delores walked down the aisle, passed Donald, and went down the steps to the restroom area. Donald got out of his seat and went down the stairs to the restroom area.
In the corridor, outside the restrooms, Delores said to Donald, "Can't wait to get off this train in Washington tomorrow. It'll be all over then. Then I'll have what I deserve. That Connie is getting nothing."
Delores pulled a group of stapled papers, held them up, and said, "With these and her signature. I will have it all."
Donald, "How is she supposed to sign them? She not going to sign them. She's signing nothing you have."
Delores, "She will sign for Connie."
Donald, "You keep saying that, but it's not going to happen. Connie is in Mapleville. Not on this train. This is just stupid."
Delores glared at Donald. Donald's expression of comprehension, changed, to the expression of puzzlement.
Delores, "Nothing I say is stupid. You remember that."
Delores stopped talking, stared into the abyss, and said, "We've been following her around Memphis for three days. That's how we know what to do, idiot."
Donald, "We been following Amy around Memphis for three days."
Delores, "I know that. You just be around in case I need you. You can have your money and leave after that, as far as I care. Lets get back to are seats and stay away from each other until tonight."
In the second coach car Kim watched, the seat in front of Matt, where one person was setting in the window seat. He was somewhat rugged, skinny looking, and was wearing a bandana on his head. His appearance reminds Kim of the pirate characters she has seen in movies. And Kim knew the cargo from the islands of the Caribbean crossed the gulf and continued up the Mississippi to Memphis and the North. Kim found it both interesting and difficult to understand the cultures of the world. So she watched him.
The pirate had two opened cans sitting on the fold down tray in front of him. The lids, still attached, were being used to place each can in just the right position. Using the spoon in his hand, the pirate quickly put a spoonful from one can into his mouth and then two spoonfuls from the other can into his mouth then he relaxed while he properly chewed the food. After swallowing the food he repeated the process of quickly putting food into his mouth and the properly chewing of it until both of the cans were empty. He then folded the lids of both cans, placed them and the spoon into a brown sack. Then he slid the sack into a black bag on the floor at his feet. Then he laid back in his seat and watched the woods go by outside of the train window.
The conductor came through the car, scanned their tickets and put a tag above their heads. The tags showed Wanda was going to Mapleville. And Matt and Kim were going to Washington.
After this Wanda said to Kim, "The café car will be opening soon. I think I'll go back there. Would you two like to come along."
Kim looked at Matt and answered for both of them, "Sure. We'll go along."
They walked to the café car. Matt and Kim both got sodas. Wanda got a soda and a cheese stick. Wanda picked up a couple of napkins from the counter. The three went to a table and sat. Wanda sat on one side. Matt and Kim sat on the other. Wanda broke the end of the cheese stick off and placed the remainder of the cheese stick on one napkin and placed the other napkin on the table beside the cheese stick. Then she ate the portion of the cheese stick, opened her soda, and drank from the can. Matt and Kim each opened their soft drinks and took a sip. The napkin, beside the cheese stick, rose up from the table and stopped in the air about six inches above the table. Matt and Kim were stunned and speechless.