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The Nocturnal Express
Stephen could hardly open his eyes. Using almost every bit of energy left in him he opened them. A bright beam of light glided into the lonely platform, followed by a breathless chugging and a shrill whistle. A train at this time? The minute arm of the station clock reached twelve and a series of twelve gongs announced that it was midnight.
Stephen had been successful in securing himself a comfortable spot in the lonely station where he would have to spent the next five long hours until the train arrived at dawn, the next day. He had rested for merely half an hour when he saw a train moving into the snowy station. The dark and unusually large engine of the train would generally develop a feeling of suspicion and horror in the person who would be fortunate enough to see its grandeur in a snowy moonless night on a deserted station. Quite the contrary, Stephen was feeling rather happy. Perhaps his own mistake in predicting the timings of the next train filled him with joy. He didn't have to spend five hours at that lonely station all by himself. What could be more satisfying? he thought. It took a bit more than two minutes for him to pack his belongings into the trunk. Ready to board the train, he made a brisk walk towards the nearest door into the train. As he passed the engine, he made a quick stop to look at the name. He could see the glittering words on the side of the engine shining in the light from the station lamp. 'The Nocturnal Express' it read.
Even before he made an attempt to knock at the door, it opened and in the bright light of the compartment there stood a thin man, with wavy black hair and a short, shrewd smile on his face. Disregarding all the peculiarities that might have caught his attention, Stephen hurried into the compartment, the conductor at the gate helping him with his trunk. As Stephen made himself comfortable in his seat he heard a shrill whistle and with a spontaneous jerk, the train glided out of the station.
In some fifteen minutes, Stephen had made himself comfortable in one of the coupes. The train was now speeding violently through the moonless night, leaving behind nothing more than a trail of dark smoke. Although while boarding, Stephen had promised hours of rest on the train, he was unable to rest his eyes for even five minutes. It seemed that the peculiarities of the situation...
Stephen had been successful in securing himself a comfortable spot in the lonely station where he would have to spent the next five long hours until the train arrived at dawn, the next day. He had rested for merely half an hour when he saw a train moving into the snowy station. The dark and unusually large engine of the train would generally develop a feeling of suspicion and horror in the person who would be fortunate enough to see its grandeur in a snowy moonless night on a deserted station. Quite the contrary, Stephen was feeling rather happy. Perhaps his own mistake in predicting the timings of the next train filled him with joy. He didn't have to spend five hours at that lonely station all by himself. What could be more satisfying? he thought. It took a bit more than two minutes for him to pack his belongings into the trunk. Ready to board the train, he made a brisk walk towards the nearest door into the train. As he passed the engine, he made a quick stop to look at the name. He could see the glittering words on the side of the engine shining in the light from the station lamp. 'The Nocturnal Express' it read.
Even before he made an attempt to knock at the door, it opened and in the bright light of the compartment there stood a thin man, with wavy black hair and a short, shrewd smile on his face. Disregarding all the peculiarities that might have caught his attention, Stephen hurried into the compartment, the conductor at the gate helping him with his trunk. As Stephen made himself comfortable in his seat he heard a shrill whistle and with a spontaneous jerk, the train glided out of the station.
In some fifteen minutes, Stephen had made himself comfortable in one of the coupes. The train was now speeding violently through the moonless night, leaving behind nothing more than a trail of dark smoke. Although while boarding, Stephen had promised hours of rest on the train, he was unable to rest his eyes for even five minutes. It seemed that the peculiarities of the situation...
