The Night Train: Pioneer Read online

predict the future trends and entered the conversation, "People can see the future and make money from it. But I don't see people making any money predicting the future business trends and getting money that way. I have had a psychic business for seven years now and just because of the interest people have in the psychic area, I've managed to make a living. That's why I'm on the train. I have moved to Mapleville and had an increase in business."

  "You live in Mapleville now?" Amy replied, "I've been living there for forty two years now. That's where my daughter was born. She lives in Mapleville also. The psychic businesses only started about three years ago. At first many people were against it. But I figure new people in town with their own business would help the town. It really has helped. There are more stores and shops there now which helps everybody. And leads to staying the weekends. Which starts the tourist type of businesses, which we didn't have before. So I'm glad to see the new people."

  Wanda, "I'm not actually a new person. But from the towns point of view I can see how I am. What I'm concerned about is the group that, to me, rip of people and have no real interest in the psychic connection itself. For me there is a real connection. I guess that's why it bothers me to see these con-artists. Which is really what they are."

  Amy, "I can agree with that. I've seen a few con-artists myself over the years. Inside the family there are rumors of psychic abilities. I try to keep a history of the family. I have several times run into ancestors that supposedly had these psychic abilities. The same as I see people either have or think they have in Mapleville. I have found no proof that anyone in the family has had any real psychic abilities."

  Wanda, "Everybody has the abilities in them. They just don't come out for whatever reason."

  Amy, "I don't what to argue with you, But I don't think that's true. It seems to me somehow, now and then, someone could have the so called psychic ability, but that is just someone that randomly has them and there is no known reason why."

  Wanda, "You know I've had heard that may times from many people. But for me I still think it's a thing everyone has."

  Then Amy got a message. She pulls a computer out of her bag and replied to the message. Chatted a very short time, then said goodbye.

  Amy continued the conversation, "That's funny, I just got a message from my daughter, Connie, she's in Mapleville right now. Said she had a séance from one of the psychics there. But it didn't work out."

  Wanda was interested in this and though maybe it was a family thing and it was not her business, but she just had to ask, "Why, did she have a séance?"

  To her surprise Amy answered without hesitation, "She's concerned about her cousin Delores. Delores is one of those in the family that we wonder about. We both think that Delores thinks she has psychic powers. Delores is one of the black sheep in the family. In our history there are several. But Connie and Delores are of the same generation. Connie is sensible about being born into money. Delores is not. Connie think that Delores can somehow use her so called psychic powers to get more then her share of the family money. One of the psychic in Mapleville convinced Connie that she could have a séance and contact my great-grandfather and he would help her figure out what Delores is up to, Of course it never worked. She just had to tell me about it."

  Wanda, "Hum. Interesting. This is one of the things that has kept me interested in the psychic. I keep hearing stories just like this one. I really don't know what to think about them. But they keep my interest. Maybe it’s the reason I have been in the business for years and making my living from the business. It could be my own way of thinking so I could make a living. I just don't know.'

  Amy," I just don't know myself about all this stuff. If you'll excuse me I think I'll go to my room and rest a while."

  Wanda, "Of course. It's been nice to meet you."

  Amy left going to the rear of the train and her sleeping car.

  Wanda, Matt, and Kim started to the front of the train and their coach car. As they walked to their coach car, the conductor announced that it was 10 pm. And the lights were turned down.

  The Night

  As Wanda passed through the third coach car she walked by Delores. Wanda continued to the end of the car and stopped. Matt and Kim watched as a dazed look appeared on Wanda's face. Wanda stood for several seconds with the dazed look. And after a few steps stopped and came somewhat out of the dazed look.

  Kim were concerned and asked, "Are you ok?"

  Wanda after the look left, "Did you say something?"

  Kim replied , "I was wondering if you were ok."

  Wanda replied, "Of course. Why wouldn't I be ok?"

  Kim, "You were just standing there."

  Wanda, looking puzzled, Said as a question, "I was?"

  And then continued to their coach car.

  All sat saying nothing.

  Wanda sat a while and said nothing, then spoke to Matt and Kim, "There was a powerful energy in the car behind us. Very strong. Very deceitful. I never felt anything like that before."

  Matt and Kim didn't know what to say only expressed the look of bewilderment on their faces.

  Wanda continued, "There's something on this train. It's frightening. It's not frightening. I don't know what it is, but there something or somebody on this train."

  Wanda got up and walked towards the rear of the train. Matt and Kim followed behind her. Wanda reached the car door and reached her hand out to open their coach car rear door. Then she saw Delores get out of her seat and walk to the rear of her car. Wanda said nothing while she watched Delores open the rear door of her car and go into the next car.

  Wanda opened the door, entered the car and, walked to the rear of the car. Then she stopped and looked into the next car. She saw Delores and Donald going down the stairs.

  Wanda said to Matt and Kim, "She has the energy. It’s very powerful. Deceitful. But somehow it isn't. I just can't tell. It's frightening."

  Kim responded, "What are you talking about? What are you sayng?"

  Wanda, "Just believe me. Maybe. Should get off this train at next stop. No matter where it stops. I just don't know this feeling."

  All three began the return to their coach car. As they went through the lounge car they passed a young male and young female who were sleeping side by side in chairs in the dim light.

  Wanda walked ahead through the cars and reached her seat. Matt and Kim following behind, arrived and sat in their seats. No one spoke.

  Delores was in the restroom downstairs of the fourth coach car from the engine. She had several staple papers held up and showing Donald.

  Delores, "It's simple. I'll get these papers into her room and get the real ones out. Then she will sign these papers. Then I will control the family wealth and control the family. It will be good for these inferior people I've been stuck with since I was born."

  Donald said. "Talk quietly there may be someone in the restrooms."

  Delores replied, "There is no one in the restrooms."

  Donald said, "How do you know. You haven't looked."

  Delores repeated sternly, "There is no one in the restrooms."

  And looked directly at Donald. Then Donald shifted his eyes off of her

  She continued with the plan saying, "After switching the papers. I will go into Amy's room as Connie and get her signature on the papers."

  She stopped talking and turned into Connie with Donald watching.

  Donald said, "I wish you wouldn't do that. It's too scary. Besides Amy knows Connie is not on the train no matter who you look like."

  Donald stopped talking and Delores looked at Donald. Donald showed extreme fright and asked, "Connie, What happen to Delores?"

  Delores replied, "You don't know I'm not Connie and neither will Amy."

  Donald muttered and said, "I really wish you wouldn't do these things. It's just gets too weird."

  Delores, "I know, ignorant humans don't understand the powers."

  Donald knew it was time for him to quit talking, so he did. Delores climbed
back up the stairs and Donald followed along.

  In the second coach car, Wanda started talking to Kim, "The lady back there somehow connected with what's going on, on this train. I don't know what it is, but she's connected with it."

  Kim without speaking listened to Wanda. Matt across the aisle listened in also.

  Wanda, "This whole thing started when the napkin floated above the table this afternoon and then the cheese changed. Then Amy in the lounge car. Talking about her granddaughter and grandniece. And the psychic things within their family. All this is connected. That is why what is going on, on this train, is happening. Don't know how it all fits. But it explains the energy on this train."

  Kim sat for a while, not saying anything.

  Wanda, "I think I’ll talk with Amy again. To find out what is going on."

  Kim finally answered, "We have no idea where she is. What car she's in or what room she has."

  Wanda, "The conductors on the train know where she is. We could ask them.'

  Kim, "They're not going to tell you."

  Wanda, "Maybe we could have one of the conductors ask her to join us in the café car or lounge car. There's always someone in the café car. I'm going back to see if they would do that."

  Kim got up and let Wanda out of her seat. Wanda walked towards the café car. Kim and Matt followed along.

  They arrived in the café car. Wanda asked the café attended if he knew if the older lady that had a sleeping car had been around lately. He answered that that could be a lot of people, but he hasn't seen anybody like that.

  Then said, "Clyde is in