Play@YSDC

Posted: **Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:22 pm**

Friday March 7th, 1930 9.35am.
Baton Rouge Train Station, 100 South River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

As Oscar alighted from the train, there was a huff of steam and the train jerked forward. Inside, the four men shuffled forward, finding themselves following the guard through a well-appointed saloon car and into the sleeping car beyond.

Wordlessly, he indicated two of the two-bunk wood-panelled compartments with a Jack-and-Jill washroom in between. The number ‘1’ displayed prominently on the windows indicated this was first class, though in truth, this was the only sleeping compartment on the train.

Both compartments were set up for daytime use, with the upper bunk folded away and the lower bunk fashioned as a couch, with suitcases stowed beneath. The guard pointed out the menu, which indicated that dinner would be served at 7.00pm, and then trudged out of the compartment and back in the direction of the saloon.

Posted: **Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:10 am**

"Dinner?" says William. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'd like to eat lunch first, but not yet. I had breakfast in the hospital not that long ago. I'll feel a little better once we're out of Louisiana, but let's not let our guard down. I'm not so worried the authorities will try to detain us. Those snake worshipers aren't going to be too happy with us either, and they're not about to let a little thing like a state line stop them."

Posted: **Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:07 am**

Howard slumps into a seat, exhausted by events.

Posted: **Wed Apr 01, 2020 5:42 am**

"Honestly, I can hardly believe any of this happened. Whole thing's just insane, I tell you." Lawrence said, slouching into his seat to recollect the past events and plan for the future.

Posted: **Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:59 am**

Having had a disturbed night in hospital, and with recent events and the soporific rocking of the carriage, the four men soon dozed off. It was only when the door of a neighbouring compartment banged shut that they were jolted awake. A moment’s confusion gave way to recollection as they realised where they were.

Outside, the bright spring sunshine shone upon sharecroppers working in the fields alongside the moving train.

Posted: **Wed Apr 01, 2020 12:57 pm**

Howard is too tired and drowsy to care about the scenery. He tries to go back to sleep.

Posted: **Wed Apr 01, 2020 7:30 pm**

William notices something.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2020 6:50 am**

Spoiler:

Whatever it may have been, Lawrence certainly didn't notice it.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:12 am**

The train continued to roll through the countryside, with just the occasional ranch house breaking up the views of open fields bathed in the spring sunshine. Further up the sleeping carriage, another door could be heard, although quieter this time. A glance at a watch showed it to be approaching 11.45am.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:37 pm**

"Did anyone else see that?" whispers William. "There was movement near the door, but it's gone now. I think that might be what woke me up."

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2020 12:07 am**

Thomas shook his head. He hadn’t seen anything.

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2020 1:20 am**

Howard grunts and shakes his head.

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2020 9:44 am**

"Haven't seen a thing." Lawrence states, awakening from his well-deserved rest.
"Do you reckon it could have been a person?"

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2020 10:06 am**

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2020 3:36 pm**

"No," says William. "I didn't hear the door closing, either, and I would have if it had. I hope it wasn't a snake."

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2020 4:16 pm**

Posted: **Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:09 pm**

"No, not a snake," says William, shaking his head. "It wasn't a physical being. It was about as high as the door handle. I guess whatever it was could have gone through the door while it was closed."

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2020 6:04 am**

"You don't think it coulda been some kind of ghost or something, do you?" Lawrence concernedly questioned, standing up from his seat to go have a look at the door. "Well, either that or you're just seeing things."

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:02 am**

Howard opens his eyes.

"What did it look like?" he asks.

Posted: **Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:27 am**

The door itself was nothing out of the ordinary, just a standard wood-panelled carriage door except for a small brass plaque with a leering gargoyle’s face.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:35 am**

"That's all I saw," says William. "Maybe it was a ghost. I don't know, I've never seen one before."

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2020 7:24 am**

Howard closes his eyes again.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:30 am**

Finding little of importance, Lawrence returns to his seat, keeping a thorough watch on the area around the door.
"Well, then I'd suppose we'd best keep our eyes peeled."

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:00 am**

Half an hour passed but there was no sign of anything moving by the door. Outside, the sun shone on the fields and the carriage started to heat up.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:23 pm**

William remains alert for any other unusual occurrences.

Posted: **Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:45 pm**

Another half-hour passed without incident until there was a sudden grumbling noise. Thomas put his hand to his stomach and looked embarrassed. ”Is there any chance we could go and find something to eat? The breakfast served at the hospital won’t keep me going all day.” he said.

Posted: **Mon Apr 06, 2020 12:08 am**

"Yeah, I could do with a bite to eat," says William. "I'm not too fond of hospital food either."

Posted: **Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:07 am**

Howard yawns, but feels a little refreshed.

"Let's go then."

Posted: **Mon Apr 06, 2020 9:56 am**

Friday March 7th, 1930 12.45pm.
Baton Rouge to Boston Train

Heading out into the corridor, the four men could see the conductor sat away to their right, gazing at them disinterestedly. Turning left, they made their way through the carriage and the enclosed connector where the noise from rails can be heard, and into the salon car beyond.

The salon car was modern and well appointed, with plenty of seats and a bar. A few people were already there, at the far end a young man was dozing on a settee and a woman was sat talking to two young children. On their right as they came into the carriage, an older man sat reading a book. He looked up as they entered, then glanced at the clock on the wall. “If you’re wanting lunch, I suggest you get a move on,” he said. “The dining car will close at 1.00pm.”

Posted: **Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:51 pm**

"Thank you, sir," says William. He heads for the dining car.

Posted: **Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:22 pm**

William and Thomas crossed between the carriages into the dining car and made their way past what appeared to be storage cupboards and into the carriage proper.

The dining car was obviously of the same design as the rest of the train, well-appointed with plush seats. Ten tables - five to a side with four seats surrounding them - completed the first part of the dining car. There was a partition with a door partway down the carriage, designed to separate the smoking and non-smoking sections.

The carriage was empty except for two waiting staff, who looked on blankly. Both were tall, with slightly unkempt appearance. Their clothes were in good condition but both waiters looked gaunt with overly long, greasy hair.

As William stepped into the carriage, he felt a jolt as if the train had run over some points, although when he looked outside, it appeared as if the train was continuing on its unwavering route through the countryside. The nearest waiter spoke, slowly and haltingly, ”Can we help you, sirs? The dining room is about to close.”

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 1:17 am**

"Yes, I'd like to get some lunch before it does," says William.

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 1:51 am**

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:03 am**

"Say, what would you happen to be serving?" inquires Lawrence.

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 11:08 am**

The waiter who had spoken slowly turned his head to look at the clock on the wall and then to his fellow waiter further down the carriage. After a moment, he turned back and said, ”Dining commenced at 12.00. There is insufficient time for you to eat now. The next sitting is due in nine minutes.”

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 3:47 pm**

"You're going to reopen?" asks Howard, confused.

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 4:35 pm**

“We re-open to first class passengers at seven ‘o’ clock,” replied the waiter.

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:48 pm**

"Could we please get some food to take back to our compartments?" asks William.

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:19 pm**

The two waiters exchanged looks again, and the one furthest away said, ”If you return to the salon, then we will arrange for food to be brought to you.”

At that, the nearest waiter moved forward with arm outstretched, ushering the young men from the dining car.

Posted: **Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:45 pm**

"Thank you," says William. He returns to the salon.

Posted: **Thu Apr 09, 2020 7:31 am**

"Why is nearly everyone we meet so strange?" Howard mutters angrily to himself.

Posted: **Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:17 am**

Lawrence casts a suspicious glance over to the waiters before returning to the salon, still a bit on edge after the events of Louisiana.
"I'd reckon that was a little odd." Lawrence says rather apprehensively.

Posted: **Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:30 am**

“Too late, were you?” commented the older man, as the they re-entered the salon car. “They’re sticklers for time!” With an unlit pipe, he reached up and tapped a dinner menu that was in a menu holder on the wall above his head.

Posted: **Thu Apr 09, 2020 4:44 pm**

"Well, they probably think we're strange," says William. He examines the dinner menu.

Posted: **Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:55 pm**

The dinner menu was neatly typed on yellowed paper. It showed tonight’s menu as Roast Duck, Broiled Potatoes, Carrots and Peas, with an unspecified sweet to follow.

It listed first class passengers eating from 7.00pm until 8.00pm, with passengers in 2nd class eating at 6.00pm and 8.00pm, depending upon the number of their carriage.

Posted: **Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:59 pm**

"Dinner looks good," says William. "Let's not be late for that."

Posted: **Sun Apr 12, 2020 12:14 am**

Friday March 7th, 1930 14.05pm.
Baton Rouge to Boston Train

An hour had passed and the promised food had failed to materialise. To make matters worse, the steward in the salon car had disappeared, so no drinks had been served either.

Everything else was as it was previously. The young man dozed on the settee, the woman was sat talking to her children, and the older man they had spoken to was sat studying his book, his unlit pipe twitching slightly as he read to himself.

Posted: **Sun Apr 12, 2020 12:54 am**

"I don't think the food's coming," says William. "Let's go back to the compartment."

Posted: **Sun Apr 12, 2020 2:37 am**

"That's just great." Lawrence annoyedly remarked, looking about the room. "And it looks like the steward up and left."

Posted: **Sun Apr 12, 2020 6:45 am**

Howard is less certain.

"There's something wrong here" he tells the others quietly. "Have those people been sitting here like this all this time?"

Posted: **Sun Apr 12, 2020 10:44 am**

Looking down the carriage, it appeared that their fellow passengers were still engaged in sleeping, talking and reading, as they had been when the men had walked through the carriage more than an hour before.

Posted: **Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:01 pm**

"The steward has to be somewhere," says William. "We're on a train, and I don't think there were any stops, so he couldn't have gotten off."

Posted: **Mon Apr 13, 2020 7:18 am**

"We may as well try and find him, or maybe another steward." Lawrence suggests, standing up and briefly looking around the room.

Posted: **Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:33 am**

There was no sign of the steward anywhere in the salon car.

Posted: **Tue Apr 14, 2020 1:57 am**

Posted: **Tue Apr 14, 2020 2:51 am**

"Let's check the sleeping car" says Howard.

Posted: **Tue Apr 14, 2020 1:46 pm**

With William in the lead, the four men made their way from the salon car, through the carriage connector and into the sleeping car. Passing the WC, they could see down the corridor, past the closed sleeping compartment doors, to the conductor’s fold-down seat at the end.

As they watched, it slowly creaked shut, as if vacated only moments before.

Posted: **Wed Apr 15, 2020 1:25 am**

"Did the rest of you see that this time?" asks William. "Something weird is going on."

Posted: **Wed Apr 15, 2020 7:39 am**

"I knew that already" says Howard nervously. "We should get off this train."

He looks out the window, hoping to see an urban area.

Posted: **Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:30 am**

"This is getting pretty odd." Lawrence suspiciously notes, walking over to examine the chair for nothing in particular.
"I don't know what's happening, but I don't think we're out of this mess yet."

Posted: **Wed Apr 15, 2020 1:21 pm**

Out of the window, sun-dappled wheat fields stretched as far as the horizon, a light breezing stirring the tips. Here and there, buildings broke up the fields, but none were really close enough to see properly.

Other than the sound of the rails, the carriage was quiet. Lawrence walked down to the conductor’s seat. Opposite it was a closed door with a “W.C.” sign, with another door leading further beyond.

Posted: **Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:42 am**

William knocks lightly on the door to the W.C. "Anyone in there?" he asks.

Posted: **Thu Apr 16, 2020 7:34 am**

Lawrence gently cracks open the other door and peeks inside.

Posted: **Thu Apr 16, 2020 9:31 am**

There was no answer to William’s knock.

Beyond the last door, Lawrence could see into the guard’s compartment at the rear of the train. Beside the door was another fold-down seat. Through the windows, he could see fields in every direction and the rails in a straight line as far as he could see.

Posted: **Fri Apr 17, 2020 3:50 am**

Hearing no response, William opens the door.

Posted: **Fri Apr 17, 2020 9:29 am**

The door opened into a small cloakroom, with a sink, toilet and a locked cabinet with mirrored front.

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:10 am**

With his quick look producing nothing of interest, Lawrence decides to take his search further and actually enter the guard compartment to get a better look inside.

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:10 am**

William takes a thorough look around.

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:19 am**

Howard follows Lawrence.

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:05 am**

As Thomas kept a look-out in the passage, Howard and Lawrence stepped into the guard compartment at the rear of the train. Sunshine streamed through the windows, making the room warm and stuffy. From below, the click-clack of of the wheels on the rails set up a even, steady cadence.

In the W.C., William caught a fleeting glimpse of the mirror as he turned to inspect the room. Looking back at him was the grizzled face of an older man, deeply tanned with bushy white eyebrows and a muttonchop moustache. A puzzled look crossed the face of the older man, then William blinked and he was gone.

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 3:33 pm**

"Did anyone else see that?" asks Wiliam. "There was an old man visible briefly in the mirror, but he disappeared, and there was nobody behind me. Is this train haunted?"

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 4:18 pm**

”Did you say something?” asked Thomas from the hallway. William looked around and realised he was the only one in there.

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:50 pm**

"Yeah," says William, explaining what he saw. "You didn't see anyone behind me?"

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 10:21 pm**

Thomas looked down the corridor then back to William. ”I didn’t see anyone,” he replied. “And I’m pretty much stood in the doorway, so I’d know if someone pushed by.”

Posted: **Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:53 am**

"Where is everyone?" Howard wonders aloud.

Posted: **Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:54 am**

"I didn't see a thing, since I was over in the guard compartment." Lawrence says as he returns to the hallway. "I hate to sound like a lunatic, William, but I think you're right; something real odd is afoot on this train."

Posted: **Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:27 pm**

"I already sound like a lunatic," says William, "so at least I'm in good company. Did you see anything in the guard compartment?"

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:58 am**

"A whole lot of nothing. It was practically empty, save for a little folding seat." Lawrence responds.

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:37 pm**

”So where does that leave us?” asked Thomas. “What do we do now?”

Posted: **Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:09 am**

"I'm not sure what we can do," says William. "Maybe we should just go back to the compartment."

Posted: **Thu Apr 23, 2020 6:01 am**

"Seems to be the only option, unless one of you want to volunteer first to go search this entire train from front to back." Lawrence decides.

Posted: **Thu Apr 23, 2020 8:51 am**

"Let's just wait in the compartment" says Howard. "I'm getting off at the first station we come to. I suggest you join me."

Posted: **Thu Apr 23, 2020 10:03 am**

Another hour or so passed, with no sign of the conductor or any fellow passengers, even though Thomas had left the compartment doors open, so no one could have passed unnoticed. Outside, the bright spring sunshine shone upon sharecroppers working in the fields alongside the moving train.

As the clock approached 3.00pm, the train whistle sounded and the train began to slow. A minute or so later, it came to a halt next to a sun-bleached provincial station. There was no one on the platform and nothing around, save for fields and one road, leading away to the horizon.

Posted: **Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:41 am**

"Maybe we won't be getting off, after all" says Howard in dismay. "This is a station?"

Posted: **Fri Apr 24, 2020 2:49 am**

"I wouldn't call it that,' says William. "Let's not get off here. Who knows when the next train will come by?"

Posted: **Fri Apr 24, 2020 4:21 pm**

Howard sinks back in his seat.

Posted: **Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:05 pm**

There was a whistle from an unseen source on the platform, a ‘huff’ of steam and the carriage shunted forward, which caused everyone to shuffle forwards on their seats. The train slowly gathered pace as it left the station behind and was soon travelling steadily though the fields again.

There was a low, grumbling noise from Thomas’ direction. He looked embarrassed and said, ”Can we try the salon car again? I’m starving!”

Posted: **Sat Apr 25, 2020 12:31 am**

"May as well, seeing as we won't be seeing another station for a while." Lawrence sighs, none too keen on the oddities of the present situation.

Posted: **Sat Apr 25, 2020 4:14 am**

"It's worth a try," says William. "We've got nothing better to do anyway."

Posted: **Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:50 am**

Friday March 7th, 1930 15.10pm.
Baton Rouge to Boston Train

The four men made their way back to the salon car, where everything was as they had left it. The young man dozed on the settee, the woman was sat talking to her children, and the older man they had spoken to was sat studying his book, his unlit pipe twitching slightly as he read to himself.

The Steward stood behind the bar like a mannequin, tall and dark haired, with unwashed flecks curling out from underneath his cap. He slowly turned to look at them as they approached, tracking them until they stood in front him. ”Can I help you?” he said haltingly.

Posted: **Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:42 pm**

"Yes, thank you," says William. "We never got any lunch, and we were hoping we could get something to eat now that it's not so busy."

Posted: **Sun Apr 26, 2020 12:42 am**

”The dining car will open at 7.00pm for first class passengers,” the Steward replied robotically, with a slightly puzzled look upon his face as if he didn’t quite understand the question.

Posted: **Sun Apr 26, 2020 1:06 am**

"Can't we get a small snack now to tide us over?" asks William. "We'd be willing to pay extra."

Posted: **Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:47 am**

"What harm could it do? It can't be that much of a hassle to get us something." Lawrence advocated to the steward.

Posted: **Sun Apr 26, 2020 1:18 pm**

The Steward looked at them for a moment then, without breaking eye contact, reached below the counter and pulled out four packets of salted nuts. ”No charge,” he croaked.

Posted: **Sun Apr 26, 2020 4:38 pm**

"Thank you," says Wiliam, distributing the nuts. "Could we please trouble you for some water as well?"

Posted: **Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:11 pm**

Wordlessly, the Steward produced four glasses from behind the bar, along with ice cubes and water, so that they could help themselves.

Posted: **Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:25 pm**

"Thank you again," says Wiliam. He pours the water and gives out the glasses to his friends before helping himself.

Posted: **Mon Apr 27, 2020 7:17 am**

Lawrence has a sip of water and eats a few nuts, looking about the room; it seemed that the occupants were still doing the same thing as they had several hours ago, which Lawrence was beginning to find a little odd.

Posted: **Mon Apr 27, 2020 12:08 pm**

”That guy’s been asleep since we got on the train,” said Thomas quietly, indicating the young man sleeping next to the bar. As he spoke, the man’s eyes flicked open and he stared at them in horror! He fell from the bench seat and scrambled in the direction of the sleeping car, his hand over his mouth as if trying not to be sick...

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 12:54 am**

"Why did he react like that?" asks William. "It can't be my burns, the bandages cover them."

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 7:47 am**

Howard decides to find a washroom. He wants to look in a mirror.

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 9:27 am**

Howard pushed open the door from the salon to the vestibule. To his right, the door to the WC was ajar and retching sounds could be heard. As he looked on, the young man lifted his head from the toilet bowl and wiped his mouth. He glanced up and saw Howard watching him. Wide-eyed, he stammered, ”W-Where have you come from?!”

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 10:10 am**

"I don't know, William; he could have just been sick, but this whole thing's been real strange." Lawrence suspiciously notes, finishing off his nuts.
"I think we ought to check on him."

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:41 pm**

Howard ignores the question and goes to look in the mirror.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:30 am**

William nods and goes to check on the man.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:33 am**

Lawrence follows William, eyeing the other passengers as he leaves.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 4:30 pm**

The Steward watched them blankly as they left but none of the other passengers appeared to have noticed the disturbance.

As the young man scrabbled to push himself as far away as possible from Howard, his hands held up as if to ward off a blow, the young student studied his reflection in the mirror...

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:38 am**

Howard peers closely into the miror.

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 2:29 am**

"I wonder if he saw what I did," says William, hurrying to catch up to the others.

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 5:41 am**

"I suppose we'll have to see." Lawrence replies as they near the washroom.

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:59 am**

The vision that greeted Howard was of a man, probably no more than a decade older than himself, but whose eyes spoke of a life lived hard, with deep wrinkles and brown hair already showing grey. Behind him wasn’t the washroom wall, but an open boxcar, with more people in ragged and wretched clothes, lying around a makeshift brazier.

The man in the mirror looked startled and reached out a hand. Unthinkingly, Howard did the same but when his fingers met the cold glass of the mirror, the apparition instantly disappeared and he found himself looking at his own reflection, with the washroom wall behind him once again... ...

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 12:41 am**

Howard staggers back, confused.

He turns to the man on the floor.

"What do you see when you look at me?" he asks.

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 2:58 am**

"You look the same to me," says Wiiliam. "What did you see in the mirror?"

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 5:59 am**

"Let me have a look in the mirror." Lawrence says, nothing short of puzzled.

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 10:10 am**

”W-What?! What you look like?!” He blinked a few times and said, ”Y-You look like a student. Dark hair and glasses! What do you think you look like?!”

Lawrence pushed his way into the increasingly crowded room and looked in the mirror.

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 6:13 am**

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 10:48 am**

Lawrence sees nothing out of the ordinary in the mirror, just his own reflection and the wall behind.

Posted: **Tue May 05, 2020 8:20 am**

"I'm not sure what Howard saw, but I sure didn't see it." Lawrence remarks before turning to face the frightened young man. "What did you see back there that scared you so much?"

Posted: **Tue May 05, 2020 10:20 am**

”I’ve been on this train for what seems like weeks!” the man replied, grabbing at Lawrence’s hand and holding on with a vice-like grip. ”The same thing happens every day. I just get fried and sleep - it’s the only way I can get through it. You’re the first new people I’ve seen in a while! They come and they go and I never see them again!”

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 1:10 am**

"This is our first day on the train," says William, "but I've seen enough strange things to believe you. Have you ever tried to get off of the train? What happened when you did?"

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 11:14 am**

”We pull up at a station every so often and some new people get on. I tried getting off, once. It was a run-down station - holes in the roof and everything. It was in a city, but nothing like I’ve ever seen before! Huge buildings! Bigger even than that new Chrysler building in the Big Apple!”

“Strange thing was, there was no-one around... I walked for what seemed like hours and didn’t see a soul. There were stores but they were boarded up and all the benches and parks had some sorta ribbon on them, telling people to keep out - to go home and stay safe! Eventually, I saw some people - at least I think they were people. They were wearing these weird yellow suits and had like... like a gas mask for a face? My daddy brought one back from France, so I knows what one looks like....”

“They saw me and shouted for me to stop but I was scared so I ran. I ran and ran and ran till I got back to the station. It was empty when I got back and I was sure those people were going to get me, but then I heard the train coming so I jumped on as quick as I could. We couldn’t get outta there quick enough!”

The young man paused and rubbed at his face. ”I don’t know what’s going on - I just want to get home and get off this goddamned train!”

Posted: **Thu May 07, 2020 12:40 am**

"Maybe the train somehow stops in other times," says William. "We're going to have to find out what's happening in order to get back home, and chances are the engineer will know, or at least have some idea. I think we're going to have to gain access to the locomotive."

Posted: **Thu May 07, 2020 8:47 am**

Lawrence paused for quite a while, still processing the young man's wild story. "I knew something was wrong with those stewards!" he finally spoke, with a surge of anger, "I don't know what's going on here, but I'm sure as hell not gonna let it keep happening."

Posted: **Thu May 07, 2020 10:40 am**

The young man grabbed ahold of Howard again. ”If you’re getting off, you got to take me with you! Don’t leave me with the Stewards!” he cried, almost sobbing in fear.

He sniffled for a while, before he composed himself, pulled himself to his feet and went to the sink to splash water on his face. His eyes were red and he was still jittery but he looked more together. ”The engine is further forward from the dining car. They keep that locked when it’s not in use. I’ve not been past there.”

Posted: **Thu May 07, 2020 4:21 pm**

Howard pulls the man to his feet.

"Come with us" he tells him firmly. "Don't take this lying down. Let's get control of this train!"

Howard feels a fight coming on.

Posted: **Thu May 07, 2020 5:02 pm**

”What are you planning to do?” asked the young man.

Posted: **Fri May 08, 2020 3:05 am**

"We should try talking to the engineer first," says William. "That's the best way to find out what's going on here. We don't for sure that he's hostile, and he may be just as trapped as we are, but we have to be ready in case he turns on us."

Posted: **Fri May 08, 2020 8:56 am**

"If the engineer doesn't comply with us, then I'll knock out his teeth. I know that those stewards aren't going to be real friendly; they had an odd look about 'em." Lawrence announces, still quite irate.

Posted: **Sat May 09, 2020 12:19 am**

From outside in the corridor, there was the noise of a door closing.

In the doorway, Thomas said quietly, ”We’ve got company! The guard is back!”

Posted: **Sat May 09, 2020 3:23 am**

"Let's duck back into the compartment until he passes," whispers William.

Posted: **Sat May 09, 2020 9:28 am**

With some awkward shuffling and no regard for personal comfort, the five men managed to cram inside the compartment and squeeze the door shut. Above the noise of the train, they could just about hear the slow footsteps of the approaching guard. It seemed as if he paused outside their door and long moments passed before he moved on again.

After a couple of minutes of anxious waiting, Thomas said quietly, ”How are we going to get past them and to the engineer?”

Posted: **Sat May 09, 2020 8:15 pm**

"If we can find uniforms like they're wearing," says William, "maybe we can just put them on and walk past them. They don't seem like they pay much attention. There have to be spare uniforms on board somewhere. Maybe in that locked cabinet in the toilet."

Posted: **Sun May 10, 2020 2:39 am**

"We could try and brute-force our way through, but that'd cause an awful ruckus." utters Lawrence, none too comfortable with being crammed into such a packed space."If we don't find any uniforms, we could knock out a guard and steal one."

Posted: **Sun May 10, 2020 3:12 pm**

"Let's go have a look at this cabinet" says Howard.

Posted: **Sun May 10, 2020 8:31 pm**

William nods and goes with him.

Posted: **Sun May 10, 2020 11:09 pm**

Posted: **Mon May 11, 2020 12:13 am**

Posted: **Mon May 11, 2020 8:28 pm**

With Thomas keeping watch, Howard, Lawrence and William made their way to the WC. Squeezed inside, they could see the cabinet was locked, with some sort of deadbolt that required a key. Of such a key, there was none to be seen.

Posted: **Tue May 12, 2020 1:50 am**

"Can anyone pick the lock?" asks William. "If not, maybe we can force it."

Posted: **Tue May 12, 2020 3:30 am**

"Forcing it's gonna be too loud; I think we could maybe find some way to take the door off the hinges." Lawrence suggests.

Posted: **Tue May 12, 2020 7:54 am**

Posted: **Tue May 12, 2020 4:35 pm**

"That's better than using force," says William. "Or maybe a key can be fashioned to remove the deadbolt."

Posted: **Wed May 13, 2020 5:47 am**

"We could make ourselves a key, but from what?" questions Lawrence.

Posted: **Wed May 13, 2020 12:50 pm**

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 6:54 am**

Lawrence looks about the WC for anything that could be fashioned into a key, such as a wire or any other sort of thin metal object.

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 8:27 am**

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 2:51 am**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 3:04 am**

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 11:17 am**

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 4:24 pm**

Howard

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 5:17 pm**

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 6:01 am**

Lawrence

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 9:15 am**

From behind a lift-off panel in the wall, the cistern provided a straight wire, which Lawrence wrapped in a torn-off piece of hand towel. Trying the improvised tool in the deadlock, it took a few turns before the towelling fibres snagged on the teeth and the door popped open. Inside, a blue uniform hung on a coat hanger, similar to the one worn by the stewards on the train...

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 10:08 pm**

"Which one of us should wear it?" asks William, examining it to see who it would best fit.

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2020 3:10 am**

"Someone who's good with words, preferably; that way, they could talk their way out of any trouble that arises." Lawrence suggests, pocketing his improvised lockpick in case he needed it later.

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2020 8:10 am**

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2020 8:37 am**

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2020 9:16 am**

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 12:52 am**

"I can make a good oral argument," says William, "but I'm a little short for a steward."

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 3:36 am**

"I've got quite the opposite problem; I'm a little tall for a steward, and the uniform may not even fit." Lawrence responds.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 9:35 am**

Both William and Lawrence tried on the uniform. Lawrence was proved right, he was too big and couldn’t fasten the jacket across his chest. It was big on William but at least he could get it on.

As he fastened the last button on the jacket, Thomas gasped. William appeared to flicker like a misaligned film at the picture house, and in his place stood one of the stewards!

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2020 2:38 am**

"What?" asks William. Then he looks in the mirror. "Oh. That's unexpected, but not unappreciated. Should I try to gain access to the engine alone, or should I try escorting you there and see if I can get away with it?"

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2020 11:05 am**

Lawrence was quite taken aback by the suit's bizarre effects, though it at least seemed to at least be to the group's benefit.
"The latter is worth a try, though it's got a lot more risk than just going alone." deliberates Lawrence, hand upon his chin.

Posted: **Fri May 22, 2020 4:18 am**

"Well, going alone would have a lot more risk for me," says William. "I'll try escorting you and see how far we can get."

Posted: **Fri May 22, 2020 5:08 am**

"If things go bad, we'll just have to start knocking teeth out. I'm going home, and that bunch of greasy devils isn't going to stop me." Lawrence aggressively states. "While you're at it, I'm gonna need something to tell you apart from the other stewards if things get confusing."

Posted: **Fri May 22, 2020 6:55 am**

All of the stewards were of a similar appearance - quite tall, thin, with sallow-looking skin and slightly long, greasy hair, though Lawrence thought that William looked a bit shorter than the others. Whatever was causing the change in his appearance had some limitations and he could only hope it wasn’tenough to draw attention to themselves.

”We’ll go and wait in the salon,” said Thomas. ”If you need help, holler loudly and pray we can hear you!” He lead Howard and the young salesman out of the carriage, leaving Lawrence and William to decide what to do next.

Posted: **Fri May 22, 2020 9:24 am**

"No!" says Howard. "Let's all go together. If they want a fight, let's give them one."

Posted: **Fri May 22, 2020 10:01 am**

Posted: **Fri May 22, 2020 4:52 pm**

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2020 3:21 am**

"If they won't let the rest of you forward with me, I'd like to try going alone first," says William. "In this uniform, I should have access to the whole train. If I don't come back after a while, or if you hear something go wrong, then you can come after me. But hopefully they'll let you past if you're with me."

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2020 6:46 am**

"While you're out searching the train, I say that me and the rest of us speak with some of the other passengers." Lawrence suggests, "I think that we can enlist some help."

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2020 10:51 am**

Friday March 7th, 1930 16.20pm.
Baton Rouge to Boston Train

They made their way back to the salon car, where everything appeared as it had before. The young man dozed on the settee, the woman was sat talking to her children, and the older man they had spoken to was sat studying his book, his unlit pipe twitching slightly as he read to himself.

The Steward behind the bar watched them pass. He focused on William with a puzzled gaze but said nothing until they approached the door that lead through to the dining car. ”The dining car will open at 7.00pm for first class passengers,” he said, sonorously.

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2020 4:52 pm**

"Remain here," says William to his friends, hoping to avoid arousing suspicion. Then he proceeds to the dining car by himself.

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2020 11:07 pm**

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2020 11:13 pm**

William returns and subtly motions for the others to follow him until they are out of earshot of the steward. "I need that makeshift key you used to open the cabinet," he whispers once they're alone. "The door to the next car is locked the same way, and I need the key to open it."

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2020 11:25 pm**

"I've still got it." Lawrence whispers back in reply, surreptitiously slipping the makeshift key to William.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2020 12:11 am**

"Thanks," William whispers back. Once he has the key, he turns around and heads back for the dining car, peeking through the blinds before he even thinks about unlocking the door.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2020 7:46 pm**

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2020 9:21 pm**

William unlocks the door. Then, keeping the key out of sight, he proceeds into the dining car.

Posted: **Mon May 25, 2020 7:39 am**

With key handed off, Lawrence has a seat in the Salon car, perplexedly watching the other inhabitants; that young man had known about the train's odd state, but these other people seemed unaware or uncaring, assuming they were people at all.

Posted: **Tue May 26, 2020 11:42 pm**

Posted: **Wed May 27, 2020 2:16 am**

William manages to maintain his composure and meets the old man's gaze. "Can I help you, sir?" he asks.

Posted: **Wed May 27, 2020 9:35 am**

"This is insane," Lawrence mutters to himself, "Look at them, Howard; they're repeating themselves over and over like a scratched record. Maybe they're in sort of stupor, and we could raise a bit of a ruckus to wake them up; then again, that might not work at all."

Posted: **Wed May 27, 2020 3:36 pm**

"Yes, it's like they're stuck, somehow" says Howard. "But why are they like that, but we're free to act as we see fit? They're like a background in a painting."

Howard interprets the surroundings through how he sees the world.

"It's like they're there to support the flow of the main narrative. They're superfluous to the reality which is being created. The only actors which matter are the stewards. They shape events here. But I just don't understand - why are we not like these others?"

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 5:09 am**

"I think I may have understood that. If your idea is right, and the stewards are the ones in control, then all these people would disappear if that steward over there wasn't able to make them exist." Lawrence speculates."Then, I suppose, these people won't be helping us any time soon."

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 7:20 am**

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 1:55 am**

"Very good, sir," says William. He continues down the car toward the door at the end.

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 8:50 am**

"Maybe. If a record is stuck repeating itself, sometimes you just have to bump the phonograph. That's just part of the metaphor, so I don't actually know if it will work."
Answers Lawrence, who got up and wandered over to the harpsichord.
"But it never hurts to try."
He then proceeded to make a godawful racket, pounding his fingers down on the keys to cause as much noise as possible.

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 8:56 am**

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:32 pm**

William can't put his finger on what's wrong. He doesn't hear anything.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 5:21 am**

"I'm sorry, but I have to get my practice in!" Lawrence calls back over the din of his horrendous "symphony", with not a clue if his idea was working or not.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 1:16 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 3:44 pm**

"Maybe you can stop now, Lawrence" says Howard, wincing. "You've succeeded in your experiment."

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:34 am**

William cracks open the door and peeks inside.

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 4:22 am**

"Now that I have your attention, Lawrence states, finally ceasing his racket, "Who here can recall how long they've been on this train?"

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:58 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:04 am**

William closes the door and continues on to the next car.

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:23 am**

"I don't know what's wrong with this train, exactly, but is sure as hell ain't normal." Lawrence informs the other passengers, his tone grim. "I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but if we don't do anything, then we're liable to be stuck on this train for god-knows-how-long."

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2020 3:55 pm**

Howard meets the Steward's eye.

"You got something to add, bud?" he asks, coldly.

Play@YSDC

Ch. 10. Black Train Blues

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