“Kei kei, Eli. Children.” Pria greeted them, then saw their faces. “Good heavens, what’s wrong?”
Eli heard feet marching down the hall outside, then stop at the door across from their compartment. Sela. They’d come for Sela.
“They’re looking for us,” she blurted out. She wasn’t supposed to tell them—she wasn’t supposed to trust anyone. But she couldn’t do it alone. She didn’t know how. “They’re trying to take us away. I don’t know what to do. We’re supposed to hide.”
Nassan and Pria exchanged startled glances.
“Did you do something wrong?” gasped Pria.
“No, not anything! At least, not us. But they think we did. I’m not sure.” Her voice squeaked helplessly and she had to stop talking. She didn’t want Willin and Rinatta to catch her panic.
“You must have done something to upset them. This is serious, Eli. Breaking Train rules—” began Pria.
“Of course she didn’t.”
Eli was surprised to hear Nassan speak on her behalf. He shook his head. “It is impossible. I have seen her. She does right by these children.”
“Well—” Pria frowned, hesitating.
They could hear raised voices coming from the compartment opposite theirs.
“Oh, please,” gasped Eli. “They’ll look here next, I’m sure of it.”
“Stand back,” ordered Nassan, ushering Eli and the children closer to the window. He cracked the door and peered out into the aisle.
“Sir! Stay in your compartment, sir! This is a matter of Train security,” snapped a man’s voice.
Was Sela putting up a fight? Maybe she was trying to create a distraction or delay the conductors so Eli could get farther away. Too bad we’re trapped right next door. All they have to do is look inside and they’ll find us. I’ve failed already.
Nassan shut the door. He stroked his beard, then raised one finger. “Very well, hide here until they move on.”
Glumly, Eli looked around at the six seats. A few children’s toys and blankets were tossed about, as well as some rolls of parchment that Pria had been reading. The chairs were built into the wall, with not enough room underneath to hide in, and the ceiling space was taken up by their luggage racks. There were no hidden corners or nooks.
Eli took a deep breath. She could hear the rush of The Train, feel its steady, constant flow under her feet as it rolled down the tracks. For some reason, its now-familiar rhythm, the sound of the tracks, helped clear her wits.
Darting forward, she scrambled on top of the cushiony seat. She took a firm hold of the luggage rack, testing the sturdiness of the brass frame. Yes. It had to be strong, to hold all those heavy bags. People were expected to travel with their entire lives here.
She tugged at their bags, trying to get them down, to make some room.
Nassan rushed to help her. He was stronger and taller and quickly cleared some space. Then he moved to the other side, clearing out his own belongings, as well as the Ahns’.
Eli knelt next to Rinatta. “You know how we sometimes play the Quiet Game?” The little girl nodded. “This is going to be like that. Some men will come and look in here, and you can’t let them see you up there. Can you do that?”
Rinatta gave her a haughty look. “ ’Course. It’ll be easy. I’m not a baby.”
I wish I were that confident.
Eli hoisted Rinatta up onto the first rack. The girl inched her way to the back and lay down.
“Willin and I will be right on the other side. Don’t look for us. Just stay as quiet as you can.”
Rinatta gave her a determined nod. “I can do it.”
Eli and Nassan packed some of the bags back in around Rinatta until she was completely hidden.
Nassan had to give Eli a boost to get her up onto the other rack. It didn’t even creak under her weight, which was reassuring. Tucking in her legs, she lay down across the bars. They were set close together, but there were still awkward gaps between them. The cold metal pressed hard against her. Nassan lifted Willin up and she pulled him close to lie flat against her body. The boy whimpered, scared and confused.
Moving with surprising speed, Nassan arranged the suitcases around her. Some of them jutted off the edge of the rack now. Eli hoped no one would notice they weren’t placed back as far as they should be.
“I can still see Eli’s feet,” warned Pria.
“Cover them with a blanket,” came a muffled voice from the other rack.
“Excellent idea, Rinatta,” Nassan praised her.
“That’s how I always beat Willin at hide-and-seek,” returned the girl. “If part of you sticks out, you have to cover it up.”
“I see,” said Nassan. “Now, it must be like you are no longer here.” There was a rustle of papers as he arranged himself on the seat.
Silence.
Willin whimpered again. “Shhhh,” Eli hugged him close to her, pressing a finger over his lips to try to squelch any sounds. He was struggling not to cry. Unlike his sister, he wasn’t following what was going on. Too many adults saying too many things.
Voices outside.
Someone rapped at the door and opened it.
“The girl who looks after the children. Have you seen them?” demanded a man. Eli had no trouble recognizing the rat-faced man’s voice.
“They were here a few minutes ago,” answered Pria, innocently. “She said she was taking them to the dining car.”
Eli held her breath. There was a stretch of silence. Would he search the room? What if he decided to confiscate all their belongings?
“Very well,” said the conductor at last. “If they return, report it right away to a conductor. They are no longer allowed to travel on The Train.”
The door opened again—he was leaving!
Willin sneezed.
Eli clapped her hand over his face, trying to muffle any other sounds that the boy might make. He squirmed uncomfortably.
The door creaked again and held; he wasn’t leaving. Eli’s heart sank. She could hear the soft sound of his feet as he turned around.
“Ahhhhh, are you hungry my pet?” exclaimed Nassan, out of nowhere. “Yes, I can see. You are ready for snacks. Come, I have fresh banana.” He started looking for the fruit jar to feed his lizard. Eli guessed he was making extra noise to cover up any more sounds from the children.
The conductor lingered a moment longer. Finally, Eli heard the wonderful sound of the door closing.
They waited a few minutes. Eli’s ears strained for footsteps outside, trying to make sure he was actually walking away. Willin trembled against her. She stroked his arm. It was an awkward motion, but his body relaxed against her touch.
“He has gone. Do you wish to stay hidden or come down?” Nassan’s quiet voice drifted up to them.
“Ugh. Down, please,” said Eli. They needed to get out before that conductor came back.
Nassan cleared away the bags and helped them get out. Rinatta sprang down into his arms. “We won!”
“Yes! We did it!” Eli congratulated them, as if they had really been playing a game. “We have to get ready to go now.” She figured that, since the conductor had just left, she might have a few minutes until he decided to check back. She opened the children’s luggage and began stuffing extra clothes and nappies into her rucksack, along with the supplies Sela had given her.
Pria was frowning uncertainly. “Are you sure this is wise, Eli? You are breaking the law. Perhaps there has been some mistake and it just needs to be cleared up. You should go to them and explain.”
“I suppose.” Eli hesitated, thinking. “The conductor, he arrested the Baroness, the children’s mother. But he called the wrong name. He said she was someone called Anya Vashani. But she didn’t deny it, so it must be true. I can’t risk it. I’m supposed to keep the children safe.”
Pria’s eyes widened. “Vashani?”
“I think so, yes. Why?” Eli looked up to see the other woman’s face turned pale as bone. “Do you know that name?�
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Pria and Nassan exchanged a worried glance.
“I’m afraid so,” Pria said. “The Vashani House is one of the oldest Railroad Baronies. Not one of the Founding Families, who laid the first tracks, but they joined The Train soon after that. Powerful magic users long ago, but there weren’t many Vashanis left. Just a small clan. They had lost much of their wealth, you see. They were still respected, that is, until—”
Pria broke off, frowning uncertainly.
“Go on,” Eli prompted.
“It was a few years ago. I still remember it well, it was talked over, all over The Train. First class, third class, everyone heard about it. The remaining members of the Vashani clan were sent into Exile.”
“Exile where?” asked Eli.
“To—to the Bad Lands. Where you came from. Where nothing is good.” She lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry. It must be true. It is a great crime to return after Exile from The Train.”
“But what happened? Why were they sent away?”
Nassan spoke: “I don’t know the details. The Railroad Barons—there are many great Houses. They keep the Railroad going. They appoint officials and workers, and see to the tracks. There are matters of policy. And payments. Some Houses are strong, others not so strong. Some are old, like the Vashanis; that counts too. There is a, a delicate balance of power between the Houses. It’s business to them. They deal in business with each other, yes, but also in life. There are marriages between the families, making the Houses greater and bigger. Other times there are great wars.”
“Did the Vashani clan lose a war, then?” Eli asked.
Pria nodded. “A business war. The director of the Vashani clan tried to take over House Rassa. An unwanted move by the other Houses. Since the Vashanis acted without the other Barons’ approval, they were cast out. They may no longer travel the Railroad, or live near towns where The Train stops.”
“I guess that explains why they came to Ugara.” Eli sighed. “That’s so far from any station, sometimes it even feels like Exile to the people who live there.”
“I wonder what would make your Baroness want to come back?” said Nassan. “So dangerous, it could cost her life or her children’s.”
Eli shrugged. “I don’t know if she’d even think about something like that. At least Sela cares. At least she knows that children don’t have anything to do with Train Houses and Railroad laws.”
Pria did not agree. “Oh, Eli, out here, it doesn’t work that way. They share the same blood. Bloodlines are very important to The Train families. They are meticulous about things like that.”
“It’s not fair,” muttered Eli.
Nassan chuckled and gestured to Rinatta and Willin, who were sitting quietly, staring at the grown ups. “You sound more like one of them.”
“Well, someone has to be on their side!” Eli sprang up. “Come on, kids, let’s go!”
“Here.” Nassan handed her his jar of fruit. “It’s not much.”
“Thanks.” Eli smiled at him.
Pria’s hands fluttered, a little nervous movement, like candle flame. “I am sorry, Eli. I don’t know what I can do. We, that is, Uma and I, we saved everything to have this chance, to come to The Train. We can’t—I can’t—”
“I get it,” said Eli, smoothing over the woman’s fears. “You won’t have to lie for us again. We’ll stay away.”
She couldn’t be angry with Pria for being afraid to help fugitives. Instead, she hugged the woman good-bye. After Nassan had checked the hall to make sure it was empty, they took off.
Eli led the children down to one of the second-class cars.
There were three open seats on one side of the aisle. It was hard to be sure if they were free, perhaps their riders were using the lavatory car. Eli put Willin in her lap and sank into an empty spot.
Was everyone looking at them? Did people remember her from earlier walks through The Train? Had she taken someone’s seat?
No. To her relief, the other passengers barely glanced at her. They kept sitting, staring at the chairs in front of them. They hardly bothered to look out the window.
A baby started crying a few rows back.
“I’m hungry,” Willin said. “We didn’t have lunch, Eli.”
Fortunately, second-class was the favorite territory for the snack-sellers, with their baskets and carts. Eli bought bowls of fried noodles and vegetables, which the children gobbled up enthusiastically. She choked down some of hers. The bowl came with a cardboard lid she could fold over the top to prevent spills—and to save the rest for later.
The children relaxed once they’d eaten. They spent the afternoon playing in their new seats.
“We must look for spies,” insisted Rinatta, crouching low.
“Yeah, no bad guys,” agreed Willin. “I’ll shoot ’em. Bang!” He curled his fingers into the shape of a gun and blasted his sister.
“Willin shooted me!” she squawked. “You shoot bad guys.”
Eli rolled her eyes. She’d never been a big fan of shooting games, but they came so naturally, she couldn’t squash them out. At least this one made the children feel powerful. She didn’t want to take that away right now.
Instead, she played along. “All right, troopers. Our new mission is to stay low so the bad guys can’t track our location. Any conductors may be collaborating with the enemy, so we need to stay away until we reach our rendezvous point.” She sounded ridiculous, but they loved it.
“I wish we had spyglasses, like for monkey-spotting,” sighed Rinatta, poking her head out to scan up and down the aisle.
They didn’t seem bothered by their mother’s absence: it was nothing unusual. Even though Rinatta had followed that the Baroness was taken away by the conductors, she didn’t seem upset. Willin was easily distracted, but remained on the fussy side. Eli knew he was anxious, not sure what was going on.
They passed an uncomfortable night. The second-class lavatory car had a long wait. Willin and Rinatta wanted to go back to their beds, and were grumpy about having to sleep in the chairs.
Eli sang her soothe-song, but the charm hardly seemed to have an effect here. We’re passing through the smart lands, Eli remembered. It’s just a lullaby here. I wonder what will happen if I sing where magic is strong?
She rocked Willin to settle him and he fell asleep in her lap. She figured out the buttons to make her chair recline and positioned him more comfortably. Rinatta sprawled out horizontally, draping her feet onto the armrest of Willin’s chair.
Eli didn’t dare sleep. She mustn’t. What if a conductor came by, on patrol, and spotted them? Or came to check their tickets and realized they were in the wrong car? They could be grabbed for slinking first, and then their connection to the Baroness would come out.
At some point, she must have drifted off. When she woke up, the early dawn glow filled The Train. Unlike the curtained bed of the sleeper car, the second-class windows only had thin blinds that you could pull up and down, and the sunlight behind them was white and warm.
Letting Willin sleep on top of her was a terrible idea. She was sore and his weight had made all her limbs go numb. She managed to sit up and roll him into the chair next to her. He snuffled thickly, but didn’t even open his eyes.
Now that she was awake, she felt the fear again. How long would they be safe here? Should they move again?
Trying to shake the tingling feeling from her arms and feet, she lifted the blinds and peered out.
The sun shone clear and bright against a sky streaked with violet and gray clouds. Instead, it was the ground—no, the water—that reflected blue. Waves crested and broke like falling stars in the water below the tracks. The shoreless horizon looked cold and lonely. Eli shivered. She had never seen the ocean before.
Yet The Train glided over the sea. She couldn’t tell how much of the Railroad they crossed and how much fell away behind them. The bridge went on and on.
Slowly, in a manner to which they were accustomed, the other passengers in the car bega
n to rise for the day. Many of them paused to look out the window, nodding in appreciation: at last they had come to the sea.
And so they rode, all morning, until a voice over a speaker blared out, “Liho! Next stop is Liho! Train stops here to reload.”
The Train slowed and began to approach its next station, an island rising suddenly out of the deep. Clouds hung like tarnished silver above the platform, and soon a light drizzle of rain began. Still, most of the passengers went out to stretch their legs.
This seemed like the perfect chance to look for a new hiding spot.
“Let’s check on third-class,” suggested Eli. “We’ve never been there before. It won’t be so crowded with everyone getting off.” And we can pretend we’re new passengers who just got on. Less chance of being recognized.
But when they went back there, Eli wasn’t so sure it was a good plan after all. Instead of individual seats, there were only hard, wooden benches for the passengers to sit on. Many travelers had left their possessions on board, marking their spots with baskets of toiletries or a pillow to sit on. Rinatta and Willin scampered up and down, eagerly exploring.
“Which seat numbers are for us?” asked Rinatta.
“I’m not sure. I think we have to wait until the other passengers come back. We’ll see what’s free after they all sit down.” Eli planned out loud.
“What if they’re all full? Or what if there’s not room for us to be together?”
Eli hadn’t thought of that. “Well, we’ll sit as close as we can, then. Or Willin can sit on my lap again.”
“Ugh, it’ll be worse than the carriage ride,” the girl complained.
The windows were lowered partway here, and a cool, salt breeze whipped through the car. Someone was coming up the stairs on the platform.
A conductor entered. He noticed them right away, and looked surprised. “Can I help you, Miss?”
Eli tried to keep her face calm. “Uh, no. We’re fine, thanks.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t want to take your—” He paused and took a closer look at Eli and Rinatta’s faces, trying to guess their ages. “—sister and brother out to the station. They’d enjoy it.”
On the Train Page 15
