Even was driving his train through the beautiful countryside. He liked being a train engineer. The meditative tranquillity of the train following its tracks, the calm attention of keeping his eyes on the way and make sure the speed was as it should be.
-A bit more steam! He had shout to be heard over the noise. The fireman threw more coal in the fire.
Even laid back, watching the smoke from the chimney. This was the life.
The train stopped on the Droftville station. Fine people went on and off, beautiful, elegant men and women. Among them was Jessica Babbit. Her life in the spotlight had made her quite a fortune.
She sat down on the seat, looking out of the window. Touched the blue little tumour on her belly, the little lump she hadn’t told anyone about, that seemed to grow when she was nervous.
An old lady was sitting by her side.
-So, where are you going?
-I’m going into town. Paperwork, you know.
-Isn’t this beautiful? The old lady lent over Jessica, looking out through the window.
The train chooed on between tall hills and green forests.
Even looked ahead. There was a cow on the track. He pulled the chain. The whistle sounded through the valley, the cow looked apathetically up toward the train further up.
It didn’t move.
There was still a long way down, and Even stepped on the brakes.
-What the… They didn’t work. -Hmm. That’s odd, Even pulled the emergency break. The lever came off.
With the lever in his hand Even looked in terror at the cow on the tracks. It was big enough to throw the locomotive into the field.
The little lump tingled a bit, as it usually did when Jessica was annoyed. The old lady kept chatting on about grandchildren and cake and how horrible things were these days. It tingled so hard it hurt. She touched it. It had spread, grown… (more)