by Ely Page
“I am looking at the tracks down there.” Greg pointed to a pair of railroad tracks that paralleled the interstate.
Dylan didn’t understand. “Why?”
Greg looked at Dylan briefly. “A train,” he said condescendingly.
The tribe walked another mile, then Greg shouted, “We got a ride!” He jumped off the shoulder and ran down the slope toward the track.
When everybody went over to the edge of the road to see what Greg was so excited about, they saw him running at full speed, almost jumping the chain-link fence in a single bound, toward a steam locomotive with several passenger cars.
After several minutes, Frank finally caught up with Greg at the front of the giant locomotive. He had to grab Greg by the arm to get his attention. “I take it that you know how to operate one of these?” he said.
Greg was dirty and short of breath after crawling all over the steam engine. “I sure do,” he said, giddy like a child. “This was my biggest dream when I was a kid, to drive a steam locomotive. I know everything about these.”
Frank had a follow-up. “Is there enough fuel on board?”
Greg pointed to the car directly behind the locomotive. “That car is completely full of coal. We can go two days on what is in there.” Frank was glad to hear that. Greg continued with childlike glee in his voice, “The only problem is getting the coal hot enough to boil the water and turn it into steam to have enough power to move.”
“How long will it take?” Frank asked with growing concern.
“Huh?” Greg wasn’t aware Frank was still near him after he went back to looking at the locomotive.
“I asked, how long will it take?” Frank wasn’t too surprised that Greg didn’t hear him; he was acting like a kid who’d just had his first taste of candy.
“It will be pushing dark,” Greg said with some concern of his own as he looked at the rest of the tribe standing close by. “Get on it!”
Frank didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Porter and Andy and told them to help Greg with whatever he needed.
Everyone could fit comfortably in one car, so after he started the fire in the boiler, Greg detached the two other passenger cars to save fuel. After a few hours, the coal was burning hot enough to create the steam needed to get the train moving.
“All aboard!” Greg shouted. He then turned to Frank, who was standing next to him. “I always wanted to say that.”
Everyone in the passenger car had chosen a seat. Leah sat next to Dylan. She was trying to talk to him, but with the noise of the others talking and the fact Dylan had grown more distant as the day went on, it was hard for her. Greg came on to the platform of the car; everybody stopped talking to look up at him when he did.
“I need a volunteer to help shovel coal tonight.”
Dylan stood up before Greg even finished speaking. “I’ll do it. I will help.” He walked around Leah without acknowledging her.
“Great,” Greg said as he turned to walk down the steps. “Let’s roll.”
The train was moving along nicely, going about forty miles per hour. Everyone in the passenger car had fallen asleep, everyone except Frank. He was in deep prayer, looking for answers about what happened to Alice and guidance for what was to come.
Dylan and Greg were in the locomotive having a long conversation about the train. Greg told Dylan everything he knew about trains. Greg was as excited as a little boy getting a brand-new bike. Dylan was fascinated to hear all that Greg told him. When that topic died, down Dylan brought up a new one. “How do we know where to stop?”
Greg raised his sleepy eyebrows upon hearing that question. “I talked to Frank before we started out; I asked him that very question. All he said was to head west and that I’d know when we were home. I said ‘OK’ and that was that.”
Dylan looked out the window after Greg finished talking. He knew those creatures were out there somewhere, watching their every move. It was a creepy feeling knowing that the things that murdered Alice wanted more death, as if the billons of people already dead weren’t enough.
“Where do you think this new city is?” Dylan broke the silence but continued to look out the window.
Greg grabbed a shovel and threw some coal into the furnace. “I have thought about that constantly,” he said. Greg put the shovel up against the side of the locomotive and sat back down on his chair. He turned to look out the window next to him. “I have no idea where it is. What about you, kid? Do you know? Has Frank told you?”
Dylan looked at Greg before answering. He thought briefly of the dream he’d had about Frank roaming a desert. “I don’t know either.”
The sky was getting brighter; the night was over. Dylan had fallen asleep just a few hours before, but was starting to stir. Greg needed him to wake up so he could get some sleep. “You awake?” Greg asked.
Dylan opened his eyes and lifted his head up off the ledge where it had rested. He wiped the drool from his mouth, turned to face Greg, and nodded his head.
“Do you remember how to run this thing so I can get some sleep?” Greg felt like he was going to pass out from exhaustion.
Dylan got up from his seat and stretched. “I remember everything you said. Get some sleep. I will wake you if I need you.”
With that, Greg leaned back in his chair and was asleep before his eyes closed.
In the passenger car, Leah, Hanna, and Jenny were serving up breakfast. Everyone seemed in better spirits after having a good night’s sleep.
Leah was concerned about Frank, though; he looked rough. “Would you like some more coffee?” She gave him the biggest smile she could while trying to show her concern and her feeling for the man who had become like a father to her.
“No, I think I might try to take a little nap before that first cup of caffeine hits me. I didn’t sleep much last night. Thank you, though.” Frank seemed to brighten up right in front of Leah; she was amazed at how much his appearance changed in just a moment.
“Have a seat, Leah. I would like to talk to you for a moment, if you don’t mind,” he said.
Leah sat down next to Frank. “Change your mind on sleeping?” she asked.
Frank smiled then started to tell Leah about his prayers from the sleepless night and how he came to peace with the loss of Alice. He told Leah that Alice was with the Lord now, helping the cause of humanity from above.
“Tell me what is going on between you and Dylan,” he said.
Leah was floored by the change in subject; she didn’t know how to respond.
Frank knew what was going on and eased Leah into talking about it. “I know that the two of you would like more than just friendship.”
Leah still didn’t feel comfortable talking about her feelings, but she guessed it was OK to do so with Frank. “I wouldn’t say the two of us. I am interested, and he was, but not anymore. Something changed.”
Frank touched her hand. “Give him time. He doesn’t know what to do about you yet.” He gave Leah’s hand a slight squeeze. “He is more scared of disappointing you than he is of dying.”
Leah got up after Frank let go of her hand. She was feeling more confused now than she had before talking to Frank.
“Trust me. It will all work out in the end, just give it time.”
Leah looked back at Frank just as he spoke the last word, but he had fallen asleep in a split second. She shook her head and shook off the conversation, then walked around filling up more coffee cups.
Dylan was having fun running the locomotive, but he was growing more concerned. He’d thought he could tell the difference between the sky and the horizon earlier in the morning, but now everything was gray.
He opened the push-out window next to his station and looked straight down. He had no idea what he was looking at. Is it snow? he thought to himself. He figured they were in a farming area and that was why he didn’t see any trees, but he c
ouldn’t figure out why the soil looked so loose and gray.
Dylan slowed the train. Greg had been asleep for a couple of hours, and this was something that Dylan wanted to talk to him about before they went much further into the unknown.
“What is that?” Dylan asked a groggy Greg as he opened Greg’s push-out window. “I think that is volcanic ash. I’ve never seen it in person, but that is what it looks like on TV.”
Greg looked far out at the horizon, then he moved over to Dylan’s side. As soon as he popped his head out the window, he saw something moving up ahead along the track. He brought his head back inside and hit the brakes. It jolted the train and surely disrupted the passenger car.
“What are you doing?” Dylan asked, stunned, as he got off the floor after falling down when brakes were turned on.
“As soon as the train stops, run back to the passenger car and get Frank up here!” Greg said.
By the time Dylan grabbed his gun, the train had stopped. He hopped out of the locomotive.
Greg grabbed his gun and walked slowly outside toward the front of the train. He leaned up against the locomotive for stability, then used the scope on his rifle to get a better look at what was up ahead.
Dylan jumped up into the passenger car. “What was that? What’s going on?” Several people shouted as he stepped foot in the car, but Dylan ignored them as he ran past them on his way toward Frank in the back.
Leah caught the corner of Dylan’s eye as he went past her, but he didn’t even allow himself to acknowledge her, even though he felt in his heart that she was looking at him, looking for something from him, anything. His lone goal was to get Frank.
“Frank, Greg needs you outside right away.”
Frank woke with ease and didn’t seem the least bit surprised by what was going on. “Everyone, calm down, I am sure there is a good reason for the train being stopped. I will go see what it is so we can be on our way once again. Please clean up what has spilled due to the emergency braking, and I will be back shortly.”
The tribe accepted what Frank said, but they were not happy about it. Frank followed Dylan out of the car.
“Oh my,” Frank said when he stepped into the thick ash. “Volcanic ash, but the only volcano close by is Yellowstone. It must have reached this far.” Dylan figured Frank would have known what it was and where it came from. “Now let’s go find Greg and see what this is all about.”
The two men walked up behind Greg on the right side of the locomotive. Greg was looking through the scope of his rifle.
“What is it that got your attention, Greg?” Frank was curious but unalarmed.
“There are two people on the track, at least I think they are people, about three hundred yards and heading out. One appears to be a child.”
“I thought we weren’t supposed to come across any people until we reached the new city,” Dylan interjected. “Maybe it’s more of those creatures that attacked us the other night. We should kill whatever they are to be safe.”
Frank was appalled by Dylan’s words. “Certainly not! There will be no unnecessary killing of anything, especially not if there is a child.” It was the first time Frank had ever yelled at Dylan.
Frank put his hand on Greg’s shoulder. “You and I will go ahead and see who or what it is.” Frank turned to Dylan. “Dylan, stay here and get the engine ready to move again.”
Dylan nodded his head in understanding. Greg lead the way along the track, following the footprints in the ash left behind by the two beings they were going to meet. Frank followed close behind and slightly to the left, so he wasn’t directly behind Greg’s shooting arm.
What Frank didn’t mention to Dylan or Greg was that while asleep, he’d had a vision of meeting a lost child and someone special who protected her.
Dylan watched as the two men walked away. He hoped he hadn’t upset Frank, but he was stating what he felt. He hopped back up into the locomotive and added some coal to the furnace. When Dylan put the shovel down, a knock came from the side window on the right. He glanced up to see Ben looking back at him. “Come in,” he said.
Ben entered, and Andy came right behind him.
“What is going on?” Dylan asked as he wiped his hands on a rag.
“Everyone in the back wants to know why we stopped and what the matter is,” Andy said as Ben checked out the inside of the locomotive.
“People are scared that another attack might happen if we don’t get moving soon,” Ben added.
Dylan put his head down for a moment to decide if he should tell the truth or just say it was a mechanical issue. He chose the truth. “Greg and Frank are walking ahead on the track; Greg saw some movement, so they went to check it out.”
Ben had another question. “What is all the gray dust on the ground?”
“Volcanic ash from Yellowstone Park.” Dylan had an “I don’t believe what I’m saying” look on his face. Andy and Ben looked at each other.
“I didn’t know there was a volcano at Yellowstone,” Ben said.
“I went there when I was younger. I think a tour guide said something about that, but I didn’t pay much attention,” Andy added.
Greg approached the moving creatures slowly. He could tell one was definitely a child; the other must be its mother. “Hold it!” he shouted, and they stopped. “Turn around slowly!” Greg raised his gun, ready to fire.
The bigger of the two turned around first, moving slowly with hands out where they could be seen. The person had a black hood covering their head.
“Lift your hood up and show your face!” Greg reaffirmed his grip on his rifle.
A vision flashed in Frank’s mind; it was only for a second and it wasn’t clear to Frank what he saw in the vision, but it made him uneasy.
The figure lifted both their hands and pulled back their hood. In seeing her face, Greg felt two very strong emotions at the same time. The left side of her face was beautiful, maybe the most beautiful face Greg had ever seen. The right side of her face was hideous; it almost looked like the creatures from the other night.
“What the . . . ,” Greg said under his breath but loud enough for Frank to hear.
The child turned around. It was a little girl Greg thought to be no more than ten years old. Her face seemed normal.
Frank closed his eyes as if in prayer, then he took a big breath, opened his eyes, and reached out to put down Greg’s rifle.
“What are you doing, Frank?” Greg was stunned by what had just happened, but instead of answering Greg, Frank started walking toward the woman and child.
“Stay here,” Frank said out of the side of his mouth.
Greg was nervous as he watched Frank approach the woman and child. Frank started talking, but Greg could not hear what was said. Only a few short moments later, Frank started to walk back toward Greg with the scared woman and small child.
“Greg, I would like you to meet Anahel,” Frank said, introducing the scared woman. “And this little sweetheart is Emily. Emily lost both her parents, and Anahel found her and was helping her to the new city.” Frank paused to gauge Greg’s reaction; he was clearly in shock. “They will be riding on the train with us,” Frank concluded.
“Um, Frank, can I have a word with you for a second?” Greg walked off the track and Frank followed.
“Yes, what is it, Greg?”
“Look, Frank, I don’t ever question you and what you are doing.” Greg looked back at the woman and child. “But are you crazy? We don’t know where these people came from or if they really are people and not some sort of trick being played on us.”
Frank was stone-faced. “I didn’t know who you were or where you came from, but I let you in my house, did I not?”
Greg had nothing to say to that, so Frank walked back to the two girls and led them to the passenger car.
Dylan, Ben, and Andy saw Frank walk by the loc
omotive. When they saw who followed him, they were all in shock.
“What is going on here?” Andy said.
“He’s not going to let them on the passenger car, is he?” Ben asked the rhetorical question.
Dylan remained silent, not wanting to second-guess Frank again.
“Attention, everyone,” Frank shouted as he stepped up into the passenger car. All on board stopped what they were doing and looked at Frank. You could have heard a pin drop on soft carpet. “We have encountered two young women walking along the track.” Sounds of shock and disbelief erupted.
“I thought you said we wouldn’t see anybody else until we got to the new place!” shouted Reggie, sounding very angry. “You lied to us!”
Frank shot Reggie a look that let him know not to speak another word, and he wasn’t the only one, as a couple of other men grabbed Reggie by the arms and moved him to the back of the car.
“Anyway,” Frank continued. “Their names are Anahel and Emily. Anahel found and saved Emily from a fire in Des Moines. They headed straight south until they got to this very track, and then they started due west, just like we are doing.” Frank raised his right hand in a wave. “Leah, Hanna, could you come here, please?”
Leah and Hanna moved their way from the middle of the pack to Frank’s side. “Could you please look after them? Hanna, could you please look at Anahel’s burn and see if you can treat it?”
“You must be cold and hungry. Why don’t you come with me and I will get you a blanket and some hot soup,” Leah said to Emily. Leah reached out her hand and Emily took it.
“Come with me so I can get a better look at that wound,” Hanna said to Anahel.
Frank called Porter to his side. “You are in charge of the car,” he said. Porter nodded his head, accepting the responsibility. Frank continued, “Keep an eye on Reggie. Make sure he stays away from Anahel and Emily. Where are Andy and Ben?” Frank noticed the two young men were not in the car.
“They went to the engine to talk to Dylan,” Porter said.
“OK, I will send them back here. They need to watch Reggie too. I will ride in the locomotive until the next stop. Get ready to start rolling as soon as the boys get back here.”