The Train Journey

He was seated behind the driver

This brought all the passengers into his vision

Moving down the carriage, the man with the large paper

One hundred miles to go, ninety till they went through the tunnel

Seven tables down from him, the nervous woman

Ninety miles to go, eighty till they went through the tunnel

The old woman, six tables to the right

Noticed the nervous woman, went over to speak to her

Eighty miles to go, seventy till they went through the tunnel

The man with the large paper left the carriage

Seventy miles to go, sixty till they went through the tunnel

The man with the large paper came back with a coffee

He glanced at the nervous woman

Sixty miles to go, fifty till they went through the tunnel

The old woman went back to her seat

The nervous woman thanked her

Fifty miles to go, forty till they went through the tunnel

The man with the large paper was a professional, blank eyes

The nervous woman glanced at him

Forty miles to go, thirty till they went through the tunnel

The old woman left the carriage

Thirty miles to go, twenty till they went through the tunnel

The nervous woman seemed more relaxed now

Twenty miles to go, ten till they went through the tunnel

The old lady didn’t come back

The man with the large paper was folding it towards him

The nervous woman moved slightly to the left, cold eyes betraying her

The train entered the tunnel.