Hungarian Rhapsody by Wendy Teller

Author:Wendy Teller [Teller, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781734075816
Publisher: Weyand Associates, Inc.
Published: 2019-12-06T18:30:00+00:00

The Ride to Budapest

Ella ran onto the platform. The train was huffing steam and the conductor, calling all aboard, looked up and down the platform for late comers. He gave her a hand as she climbed the stairs. Again he looked in both directions and then looked at her.

"Who is traveling with you, Miss?"

"I'm alone."

His eyes narrowed. "I see." He took her satchel. "Wench."

She inhaled sharply. She wasn't sure what that meant, but she didn't like his familiar tone, and she didn't know how to respond. She ignored him, walking quickly down the narrow corridor.

He followed. "This compartment," he said.

The compartment seated six, but there was no one else in it. The conductor started to put her satchel in an overhead cabinet.

"I'll keep that with me." She didn't want her things out of her sight.

He nodded, handed the bag to her, and closed the door as he departed.

She settled on the cushioned seat, covered in rich brocade. There were seats across from her. Above the seats, the walls bulged in curves. These hid bunks that could be opened up at night, but this train would be in Budapest by early afternoon.

The whistle blew and the train lurched forward.

The compartment provided her the privacy she had craved, the privacy to count her money. She drew out the bills and change, counting.

Counting like her mother.

The train ticket alone had been more than she had expected. She could not purchase a ticket to Vienna when she got to Budapest.

At least not a first class ticket.

But maybe a second class ticket?

She didn't know. She didn't even know how to find out. Were the prices posted? She had never paid for anything, except at the market.

Maybe it would be better to stay in Budapest, just for a day or two, to figure out what she would do next. If she did she would have to stay somewhere away from her aunt, who lived in the Buda hills. She would stay across the Danube in Pest.

She had always wanted to explore Pest. She had been there once, with her aunt, who had taken her to the city park, with its zoo and lake, and the display of castles. It had been fun when she was nine, but she was convinced there were more interesting places to go in Pest.

She got out her Huck and tried to read about his escape from Aunt Sally's. She hadn't used her bed linens, as he did. But one didn't do that kind of thing in Nagykanizsa. What if someone saw her climbing down from the third story, right onto Fő út, her satchel hanging from her arm, her skirts flying?

The thought made her laugh. She would get through this. She would conquer Budapest. That is, Vienna.

She looked out the window and caught a glimpse of Lake Balaton as the train sped by. Lake Balaton, with sail boats and beaches.

She remembered an excursion with Father and Miklos the summer when she was ten. Ede had come too. They swam in the lake and walked along the shore.

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