The Train of Small Mercies by David Rowell

Author:David Rowell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781101547946
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-09-08T10:00:00+00:00

New York

The laggard speed of the train allowed the faces of the mourners to come through distinctly, and many of them waved when they saw anyone from the cars looking out.

“Sure are a lot of people out there,” Big Brass said. “And all of them hot. ’Course, we’re in a train that’s already lost its air condition.”

Buster Hayes made his way through the crowded car, and even before he could reach his crew members his expression had indicated grim news.

“Let me tell you what I know,” he said when he got to Big Brass, and he spoke into the man’s ear. Lionel could see that he should focus on the bar. A few passengers had taken notice of Buster Hayes when he came through, and the room grew quieter.

“We don’t want to excite anyone,” Hayes said. “But that train that just blew by, the Admiral, ran straight over some folks back in Elizabeth. The crowd didn’t know other trains were running—I didn’t know that, either—so they were all over the tracks. Conductor’s just trying to get a sense of how bad it is.”

“Good God Almighty,” Big Brass said. Buster Hayes agreed, then said, “Two of them just got pulled right under, they say. And listen to this: one of them was a woman holding a little girl at the time. But the report I got said the girl got thrown into the air and landed in the crowd, if you can believe it.”

Big Brass was not yet ready to.

“So we’re slowed indefinitely until they can work this mess out,” Buster Hayes said, and he became aware that half of the car’s passengers had trained their eyes on the two men. “Kennedy family about to have a fit.”

“With good reason,” Big Brass said. “Lord, Lord.”

“Anyway, I need to check in with the others, and I’ll let you know more when I get an update. They’re radioing back and forth like crazy, trying to make sure all the other trains get held as we pass.”

“Well, that’s the first thing I thought when that train just went by us. I knew that wasn’t right.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Buster Hayes said. “It’s a major fuckup is what it is. Conductor was pulling the emergency brake, apparently, but it didn’t slow him down enough.”

“No,” Big Brass said. “Mercy.”

Buster Hayes pulled away from Big Brass then and clapped Lionel on the shoulder. “You all right, young buck?”

“Yes, sir,” Lionel said. He had heard everything, but he tried to hold himself as if he was surprised that Buster Hayes was still in the car.

“Mr. Trent will fill you in on what’s happening. But let him do the talking with passengers. This is a situation, right here. And we want everyone to be as calm as can be, considering.”

“Yes, sir,” Lionel said. Buster Hayes moved carefully through to the next car, and after the passengers watched him go, they turned to Lionel and Big Brass.

“This is something else,” Big Brass whispered.

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