RUSH STREET CHAPTER 15 The stranger stood watching the locomotive slowly pull the silver cars roll out of the terminal, and past the clutter of the platform. He watched the boy carefully, and scanned the windows of the coaches as they slowly passed, wondering if he could hop aboard any of the doors that remained open.. On board the next car, the mailman settled into his window seat and adjusted his window shade to half, as he scanned the passing platform with the assortment of remaining folks, some still waving, others continuing to exit the departing trains.. Suddenly, he noticed a man standing on the platform, as the stranger from confrontation with the boy back in the terminal. He appeared to be cautiously calculating the speed of the movement, and moving closer to the train with his arm outstretched, attempting to snatch a handle of the passenger door of the still slow moving coach car. A startled look came over his face, and he bent closer to the window in a failed attempt to watch the stranger’s progress.. He sat still facing forward, as he assessed the reason for such a maneuver. Why would this man be watching this train, could the boy be on this train, if so, is he still in danger? The mailman paused for an instant, then bolted up and rushed down the isle of the car in the direction of the next coach down the line.. Meanwhile, back in the cabin, the boy’s face was pressed against the window watching the stranger as the train progressed down the track, when he caught the stranger’s move toward the moving cars. He couldn’t see if he succeeded, as his view was obstructed. Without knowing the results, he sat wondering what his next move should be, until he knew for sure.. The next few minutes pasted in slow motion, as the boy listened with apprehension, for any and all sounds in the passageway outside the door. There was plenty to hear as the train had yet to settle into a comfort zone. Passengers and railroad personnel, shuffled throughout the train, from dining car to lounge, and observation, double-deckers, and sleeper cars. Not only could he hear voices, but the smells of coffee, liquor, and pungent pipes, cigars, and cigarettes, even the perfumes, colognes, and aftershaves told him whether it was men or women passing through. The boy stood by the door, placing his ear against it, he heard the approach of 2 men talking about a locked door, which he assumed was his.. He stood back starring at the door and held his breath as the handle rattled once again. He listened as one of the voices argued with the other, “Of course there is someone in there, its clearly locked from the inside. I’m not going to open the door, because these folks paid good money to have some privacy, and they may be sleeping, I’m sorry. You can check back with me in about 30 minutes, when I’ll have the manifest. Where are you seated, if I learn anything more, I’ll let you know. The voice that came back, although muffled, sounded familiar, but the boy couldn’t quite place it, “I’m in the next coach. Thanks, please do that..”
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 03:13:45 +0000