The Night Train: Pioneer

Published by Don Fern at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Don Fern

Table of Contents

TheAfternoon

TheEvening

TheNight

TheArtifact

Trapped in theBarn

Also by DonFern

The Afternoon

It was an October afternoon, the passenger train,Pioneer, was boarding passengers in Memphis to begin its overnightroute to Washington DC. Matt and Kim were near the end of the lineto board the second coach car behind the engine. They watched thefront of the line, as Wanda boarded the coach car. On the platformbeside Matt and Kim, Amy and her luggage were being driven besidethe train. She was being taken to her sleeping room which wastowards 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, ifshe didn't mind having a person join her. She said it was ok andKim sat in the aisle seat. Matt sat in the aisle seat across fromKim's.

Outside the window which Wanda was sitting next to,Donald walked past. Donald went to the fourth coach car and found aseat.

Then a bit later Delores walked by. Delores went tothe 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 whenthey disconnect the electricity from the station and connect theelectricity 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 toMapleville from Kentucky.

Wanda continued, "I've rode this train a couple oftimes since I moved to Mapleville."

Kim motioned to Matt, "Neither of us have been onthis train before. Is Mapleville in Tennessee?"

Wanda replied, "It's in West Virginia. It's a smalltown. But they have a growing economy. I started my own psychicbusiness there. In Kentucky there weren't enough customers to keepit going. There are several psychic businesses in Mapleville. It aplace where the psychic energy is strong."

Kin didn't know what to reply after Wanda mentionpsychic energy. So she said nothing.

Over the speaker the conductor announced, "Welcome tothe Pioneer. We left Memphis on schedule at 3:35 and are scheduledto arrive in Washington at 9: 32 am tomorrow morning. We will bestopping at Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Charleston, and allintermediary points. There is a quiet time on this train it is from10 pm to 6 am. At that time the lights will be turned down in thiscar. If you like to be up during that time you should go to thecafé or lounge car

The lounge car is the third car behind this one. Thecafé car is the car behind that one. And the dining car is behindthe café car. The restrooms are located below each coach car. Therewill be two smoking stops the first is at Nashville at 6:15 pm andthe second is at Cincinnati at 12:15 am. These stops are for anyonewho would like to leave the train while other passenger areboarding.

This train has been sold out. This means all seatswill be taken part of the time. Passengers will be boarding anddeboarding during the trip. So your carryon baggage should be aboveyour head and any large luggage should be in the luggage areabelow, where you entered the train. There is an area at the end ofeach car, where luggage can be placed. If you want to put yourluggage there a conductor will assist you in doing that.

This route follows the route of the original Pioneertrain, which was discontinued in the late 50s. So welcome to theresurrected Pioneer."

In the fourth coach car, Delores walked down theaisle, passed Donald, and went down the steps to the restroom area.Donald got out of his seat and went down the stairs to the restroomarea.

In the corridor, outside the restrooms, Delores saidto Donald, "Can't wait to get off this train in Washingtontomorrow. 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 themup, and said, "With these and her signature. I will have itall."

Donald, "How is she supposed to sign them? She notgoing 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 tohappen. Connie is in Mapleville. Not on this train. This is juststupid."

Delores glared at Donald. Donald's expression ofcomprehension, changed, to the expression of puzzlement.

Delores, "Nothing I say is stupid. You rememberthat."

Delores stopped talking, stared into the abyss, andsaid, "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 forthree days."

Delores, "I know that. You just be around in case Ineed you. You can have your money and leave after that, as far as Icare. Lets get back to are seats and stay away from each otheruntil tonight."

In the second coach car Kim watched, the seat infront of Matt, where one person was setting in the window seat. Hewas somewhat rugged, skinny looking, and was wearing a bandana onhis head. His appearance reminds Kim of the pirate characters shehas seen in movies. And Kim knew the cargo from the islands of theCaribbean crossed the gulf and continued up the Mississippi toMemphis and the North. Kim found it both interesting and difficultto understand the cultures of the world. So she watched him.

The pirate had two opened cans sitting on the folddown tray in front of him. The lids, still attached, were beingused to place each can in just the right position. Using the spoonin his hand, the pirate quickly put a spoonful from one can intohis mouth and then two spoonfuls from the other can into his mouththen he relaxed while he properly chewed the food. After swallowingthe food he repeated the process of quickly putting food into hismouth and the properly chewing of it until both of the cans wereempty. He then folded the lids of both cans, placed them and thespoon into a brown sack. Then he slid the sack into a black bag onthe floor at his feet. Then he laid back in his seat and watchedthe woods go by outside of the train window.

The conductor came through the car, scanned theirtickets and put a tag above their heads. The tags showed Wanda wasgoing to Mapleville. And Matt and Kim were going to Washington.

After this Wanda said to Kim, "The café car will beopening soon. I think I'll go back there. Would you two like tocome 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 gotsodas. Wanda got a soda and a cheese stick. Wanda picked up acouple of napkins from the counter. The three went to a table andsat. Wanda sat on one side. Matt and Kim sat on the other. Wandabroke the end of the cheese stick off and placed the remainder ofthe cheese stick on one napkin and placed the other napkin on thetable beside the cheese stick. Then she ate the portion of thecheese stick, opened her soda, and drank from the can. Matt and Kimeach opened their soft drinks and took a sip. The napkin, besidethe cheese stick, rose up from the table and stopped in the airabout six inches above the table. Matt and Kim were stunned andspeechless.

Wanda said, "There is psychic energy on thistrain."

The napkin drifted to the table top. Matt and Kimcould not believe what they had just seen. Kim just didn't knowwhat to say or do. She found herself looking at the remainingpiece, of the cheese stick on the other napkin. She watched as thecheese stick changed into a curved round shaped piece of cheese.She looked at Matt. He was looking at the cheese.