Chapter 14 - Train Tickets
Extinct were the slow dancing embers, once sharing the stage with my five star hotel bedroom, comfortably curated by Corbin. My torso aligned itself perpendicular to the horizon, eyes still groggy in search of the newly acquainted host. He was a kind stranger, deserving of a quick farewell before facing the climax of my morning.
Corbin stood off in the distance donning a fishing rod in his right hand, his silk line dipped in a puddle of water. Continuing my pose, I stood up to bid him goodbye.
ATMOS: You catch any fish in that drop of water?
CorbIn gently turned to face me.
CORBIN: Ah Laddy, ain’t no fish here. Practicin is all.
ATMOS: I see, thank you again for the accommodations. I must have at least a half day of daylight ahead of me, plenty to get back home.
CORBIN: Figured yee be off in a hurry, I could recognize those eyes from miles away. Love struck and hungry.
ATMOS: Pardon, Corbin?
CORBIN: Yer one in search of love, reckon ye’ll die searching fer it. Not my kind of game boy, riddle with exhaustion.
ATMOS: I suppose I never thought of it that way. For me Llove is this train, minutes after leaving the station. I can see it, but it’s not within grasp just yet. But in my head there is truly only one reality. Exhaustion, squeaky muscles, even going a little mad, they’re all background noise. In my mind I am certain, my soles will eventually be grounded on that for which I am in pursuit of. It is inevitable Corbin.
CORBIN: I suppose so Mester Atmos, I suppose it is. Take care of yerself, and take care of sweet little Bonnie while yer at it.
ATMOS: Until next time we meet Corbin.
I glanced back at the path shimmering in moon pendants, each carefully placed around the lucky evergreen that gave it shelter. They proved a pleasant introduction for my journey back to the place I had just called home.
The slow mobilization of rain droplets could be heard chanting in the distance. A wet sailor it would make me, arriving at Lee’s at long last. My hand steadied as I contemplated placing all of my chips into the pot for our next interaction, adding grazed lips to our chemistry.
It may have taken longer than expected but my reunion with Caroline set forth the first domino towards my return. A zigzag wake of crased water followed my attempt to skirt the incoming weather and the attention of any search and destroy parties for the Sunshine Dreamers. Time much it took, until the sweet beacon of Lee’s radio tower pierced the distant fog. All three of its inhabitants would surely be salivating at the crumb sized news I had to share. I had hoped to catch a moment alone with Lee, a few more minutes would decide the outcome of such a coin toss.
My eyes doubled as binoculars, searching the morning shore for familiarity. Spotting her after the last 24 frigid hours of my journey flashed relief for my tired hands, held bent on starting a fire. An eager smile consumed half of her face as she stood up from the spot she had sat waiting, gracefully walking towards the dock’s edge.
My hand instinctively reached out as if learning how to wave for the first time. Quickly windrawn, I placed hope that my words to come wouldn’t be so desperate.
LEE: Don’t go anywhere, I have to go get your welcome party.
ATMOS: Lee, it’s quite alright.
She scampered off, pausing quickly on her left foot and spinning back around to face me. Her hips waddled back to the edge of the dock as Caroline brushed against the weather post below.
LEE: Your welcome party has arrived!
Her smile hid the growing giggles to ensue.
ATMOS: The perfect welcome party I might add.
I stepped off Caroline and threw my arms around her.
ATMOS: Thanks for waiting.
LEE: Thanks for coming back. So did you find her. Did you find Carmine?
ATMOS: I did, Cameron should win an award for his cartography skills.
LEE: And?
She examined my somber face, different from the one that had left.
LEE: Oh. I guess I should have first asked how you are.
ATMOS: It’s quite alright, your upbeat antics are always welcome Lee.
LEE: Good. So spill it then, how did it go?
ATMOS: Well, she’ll be on a train tomorrow, and I don’t really know how we fit into the equation or what even we are supposed to do, but at least it’s something.
LEE: Leave those details for the boys, I want to know the gory details about how it felt. Does she, does she still love you Atmos?
ATMOS: I don’t know if she ever loved me Lee.
LEE: But…. it sounds like such an easy thing for one to do, to love.
ATMOS: Carmine was always different. It felt at times the more of myself I gave, the farther away she seemed. I suppose I blame youth but I don’t fully understand the devotion she beckoned in me.
LEE: Well it takes time for understanding to make sense. Maybe you’re close.
ATMOS: What if I don’t care.
LEE: Don’t care? I suppose Alastor and Cameron would be more upset if you abandoned ship than I would be.
ATMOS: I meant. What if I don’t care about Carmine. What if I found some warm campfire to sit and stay for a while.
A few seconds passed as our grims competed for composure.
LEE: Then I’d hope you’d throw some twigs in the flame, let it grow a bit.
ATMOS: Are twigs still a thing?
She bent over laughing at the response, shortly lived, aching herself back to its romantic stance. I grabbed her hips and brought her closer to my cold torso. Her wide eyes looked up at me, glittering with the stars of our potential future. Slowly my mouth approached hers, freezing the atmosphere around us as time paused with envy. Our lips explored a range of poses and positions as the fire consumed us both. The moment ended with a deep squeeze of each other’s warm bodies.
My eyes glazed in the distance to notice Alastor, standing by the entry to our sleeping quarters, a faint smile mirage on his face. Our eyes met as he re-entered the building, leaving the moment intact.
ATMOS: Lee I have one more thing to tell you about my outing.
LEE: More to tell you say, I’m all ears.
ATMOS: I met someone else out there in the Glenn. A kind old man, one who told me that you used to go by the name Bonnie.
Her arms ejected from their home around me.
BONNIE: That is true. Who on earth told you this?
ATMOS: He went by the name Corbin, said he knew your dad.
BONNIE: That gossiper told you that, to a stranger! I haven’t seen him in a decade or so since he moved from his cabin not too far from here. The next time I do see him, he’ll catch something fierce!
ATMOS: What would you like me to call you, now that I know your real name?
Bonnie pursed her lips, thinking hard on the prompt I had given.
BONNIE: I want to go by Lee, I really do. For so many reasons, it just. It never felt like the name was truly mine is all.
ATMOS: How about we change that.
BONNIE: And just what does that mean Atmos.
ATMOS: It means Lee, that from here on out. I’ll call you Leigh.
She scratched her head.
BONNIE: Did you fall down or something.
I laughed and grabbed a pad of paper and pen out of my pocket. I wrote the new spelling and caught the ignition of freedom inside of Leigh.
LEIGH: Leigh then. I like it. I like it alot Atmos.
ATMOS: Me too Leigh, shall we go tell the others I’m back now that your identity has been solved?
LEIGH: Case closed as they say. You’re probably right though, let’s head in.
ATMOS: Of course Leigh, lead the way. I’ll follow, don't you worry.
Leigh looked down, grabbing my hand in the motion.
LEIGH: I won’t Atmos.
The doors to the guest quarters revealed an eager air, joined by Alastor and Cameron.
ALASTOR: Please produce good spoils for a good morning Atmos.
Alastor deserved grace after the uninterrupted moment, I had to wager he held back from dismantling.
ATMOS: I made contact Alastor.
Cameron stood up out of his chair.
CAMERON: You finally saw her?!
ATMOS: I saw what she became Cameron.
ALASTOR: Tigerman, please refrain from anymore interruption, Atmos what the deil did you find out?
ATMOS: She is still stubborn and doesn’t want our help, but she’ll be on a train tomorrow and it seems to hold some significance.
ALASTOR: What train? Damnit Atmos that’s it? I thought this was your ex lover we were discussing.
I shared Alastor’s disappointment in the moment.
ATMOS: The morning train leaving NightLight’s headquarters, the designated last stop, heading back to the shoreline.
ALASTOR: Morning train you say? Superbly significant. And by chance of the stars, it is indeed the end of the month as well. Tigerman, confirm my rationale, the Thursday morning train has one primary directive.
Cameron reacted on queue to the conductor’s prompt.
CAMERON: Cargo. Something must be leaving the research facility for transport, something Carmine is risking a public sighting for.
Alastor slowly grew a smile.
ALASTOR: Precisely, something of high value will undoubtedly be aboard. And the timing further alludes that the train will be a full one, clever girl. Atmos, you’ve provided us with traction, the proper kudos are to be awarded.
Leigh included herself in the puzzle.
LEIGH: She must be trying to steal something that’s being transported and if so, she’ll need the finest getaway driver in all of Forest City.
The logic fit like the last piece being placed on the table.
LEIGH: I don’t think there is anyone more suited for the job than yours truly.
Alastor stood up and pointed at Leigh.
ALASTOR: Would you happen to have that old boat of your fathers, I believe he was quoted as saying that no ship could ever catch such a speed demon.
A stormcloud appeared in Leigh’s eyes, she knew exactly the boat he was talking about.
LEIGH: I haven’t been on that boat since I had to clean it. He. He made a mess dying that day.
A data point that Alastor had not expected, yet he was resilient, back on his feet for the better of the group.
ALASTOR: A test it will be for you indeed, but may I equip you with a new perspective before it greets you?
LEIGH: Stop speaking in riddles Alastor! It should still run, I just need some time to process.
ALASTOR: Well. As I have the utmost confidence that you are aware of, most ‘outfits’ such as the Sunshine Dreamers, all have codenames for each other. Such deception helps with radio communications, but also evokes a pride in each member. Perhaps it is time you are given such a characteristic.
Leigh produced a microscopic smile, giving a sliver of ground back to Alastor.
LEIGH: I could be known as Cool Girl, or Heart Throb, or maybe Boots!
ALASTOR: Hmm, perhaps something more precise. A codename such as Bon Bon.
Leigh lost the battle of tug of war with Alastor and examined the floor.
LEIGH: The name my dad used to call me….
ALASTOR: Precisely! A phoenix risen a new. Bon Bon, suiting it is. Bon Bon.
LEIGH: The new and improved Bon Bon.
Alastor sealed the deal.
ALASTOR: The one and only Bon Bon.”
LEIGH: Hey, wait what is your codename or Atmos. It’s just me and the tiger guy?
ALASTOR: Of course I have one. Mine ushered in the era of codenames. Yet alas, I yearn for a change of scenario also.
Alastor turned to face Cameron.
ALASTOR: Tigerman, care if I change my calling card on you?
CAMERON: Dream big Alastor, you only get one chance at a redraw.
Alastor snickered.
ALASTOR: At times you are as intolerant as Atmos. Well, I’ve heard you buffoons name calling me this all week, and I must say I quite like it. My codename shall be WDM, Well Dressed Man.
ATMOS: Suiting Alastor, suiting.
I neglected to bring up the missed part of the conversation that was my codename, it was Leigh’s moment to have. Perhaps much like Alastor, one day I would get to choose such a trait.
CAMERON: Enough name calling guys, let’s get back to the plan shall we?
Cameron exuded an impatience I hadn’t seen from him.
ALASTOR: Cameron, you and Atmos must board the train and find Carmine. Bon Bon and I will be waiting at the next stop ready to flee. If we do not catch sight of you exiting the train, we will keep in pursuit and await your escape at the next stop. Be mindful that there are only seven stops on that train, it would be foolish to get off just prior to the shoreline. The closer we get to the shoreline, the further the pursuit back here.
ATMOS: Right. Any details about this daily route that either of you care to share from your days employed?
Alastor snickered once more.
ALASTOR: Yes, Atmos. There is one. It would do you good to perform your best impersonation of me. The Thursday morning commute is fulled with executives. Please look the part and dress in your sunday best.