Psilocybin Twenty-Nine

The train station was a mess. I’d walked past it a few times while exploring the city. It was a larger station, with several tracks and an area that was walled off where a complex array of switchbacks and... okay, so I didn’t know much of anything when it came to trains. There was a space where they could turn around, and where large warehouses sat, probably for train maintenance or something of that sort.

The main station was what concerned me.

I was with my mother. She had a large bag on her back,with most of our possessions that weren't furniture or otherwise useless to move. Bet was here, with her own mom, and then Willow and Daisy.

If it was just us, then it would be complicated enough, but the station was packed.

Hundreds of people were moving towards the front, and just as many were being pushed aside and rejected.

The sign where prices hung had been removed. In its stead was a wooden board. The cost of a ticket three days ago was ten shilling, basically half a pound. Now it was up to three pounds. A neat six times the original cost. Just enough to price out most people.

I think that if it weren’t for the large force of bullies gathered around, there may have been another riot.

As it was, the kind people of City Nineteen were forming a proper line. There was some jostling for place, but for the most part people were being orderly. We had arrived early enough that we weren’t too deep in the line, though it wasn’t so early that we didn’t see the price get hiked twice.

The people behind the ticket booth were sweating.

I didn’t know who was in charge of the station, but today they were making a killing. This wasn’t the last train out. At least, that’s what a cryer from the train company was saying from atop a soap box. I wasn’t sure if everyone believed him.

I think some of the relative calmness came from how warm it was. The sun was beating down on us from the moment it hit the horizon. My mom shifted next to me, moving her bag around. I did the same for my own satchel, and I felt Sir Nibbles grumble uncomfortably within.

Willow was the one in our group who complained the most. I knew she had her free hand on a shiv under her coat. We’d made sure that everyone was dressed in their nicest clothes, so she wasn’t too out of place, but... yeah, she was antsy. Daisy, on the other hand, was a smart kid, and hadn’t spoken a word in hours.

The line moved forwards, then paused again. One of the train company workers climbed onto a box and changed the sign out. Four pounds a ticket.

“Gods and goddesses,” Bet said.

“Don’t worry,” I replied.

“We’re six. That’s twenty-four Pounds,” Bet said.

I nodded along. “I can do the math,” I replied. And yes, she was right, that was a reason to curse some gods. That was more than what our little mushroom-skewer industry made in months.

It was worth it to get out of here.

A few people shouted, some spat, and there were some that simply left the line. I watched as a family of eight or so grouped up together some ways ahead of us. They hugged, then the one that I presumed was the father of the family and one of the older boys simply stepped out of the line. They couldn’t afford to go. Not all of them.

I kept my features blank. What was a family split compared to the number of people that I’d ruined already?

The man on his soapbox kept telling people that there was plenty of room, that there was no need to jostle, that panic was unbecoming. Then someone smacked him with a thrown bottle, and he went down with a squawk.

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It might have been funny if the bullies didn’t rush out to beat the offender.

By the time we reached the booth, the cost had climbed up a few shillings. I paid. It stung, but it was just money. Besides, I saw some of the people on the other side of the gates. Those that could afford to pay without issue, without batting an eye at the added cost, tended to be well-off.

All they were doing here by increasing the price was separating the chaff. Those that would be on that train were going to be those that I wouldn’t feel bad about taking from.

The man behind the counter wiped his brow. “Platform Two. Boarding is in... about one hour. Have a nice day.” He slid six tickets over, then focused on the next group.

Once on the platform, things were calmer. There was a subdued feel to the air. People who had made it this far were thankful, but we were all aware of the crowd one wall away.

Fortunately, the city hadn’t imploded yet. I think that if we were one day later, then there wouldn’t be any standing in line, and no amount of bullies would keep the platform safe.

“An hour; it feels long,” my mom said. She was eyeing the crowd, and the people just outside, then those waiting for the train. She jumped when a whistle sounded. I carefully reached out and took her hand. It calmed her, I think.

Maybe the reality of things was finally hitting her. This was... home. This city was where she was born, where Dada was born. I don’t think she’d ever set a foot out of it.

I looked back, and couldn’t help but notice the thin plumes of smoke over the city. None of the factories were operating today. That smoke was from fire, and the distant bangs I heard weren’t backfiring vehicles. Gunshots, at midday.

Half an hour later, the train pulled up at the platform. By then it was nearing full, and I suspected that the cars were going to be heavily overloaded.

We were, nonetheless, pushed aside as a team of bullies pressed through the crowd. They were escorting some people. A few men, some women. They looked important. More nobles, running away at the last moment?

I caught sight of one man in the bunch, a cop, maybe? He was wearing a trench coat, and seemed hunched over. Something about him was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

“It’s our turn,” my mom said gently.

We shouldered our way forward. Our car was the one right behind the nobles’, for whatever that was worth. The space within filled rapidly, and my earlier guess was right, the train was overbooked. That was fine. I was small, Bet and Willow and Daisy weren’t exactly big, and we didn’t bring much luggage with us. It all fit in neatly at our feet and in the racks above. We took one pair of benches, and when someone came and tried to muscle in on our spot, Willow pulled out her knife and grinned at the man. He found another seat.

The whistle screamed, and then, slowly, the train shifted, jostling us all for a moment before it started to move and I got to see City Nineteen crawl backwards through the window.

“We’re out,” I said.

I luxuriated in the feeling of stress slowly weeping out of me for a solid ten minutes before I had to stand. My legs were going to cramp. This wasn’t a quick jaunt, City Seventeen was nine hours out, we’d be arriving by nightfall.

So, I told Willow to watch over things and stood. I left Sir Nibbles behind. He needed his rest. His head poked out of the bag, then he shuffled out until his head was on my mom’s lap. For some reason, he allowed her to pet his head without getting bitten, which was... typical of him, really.

Willow gave me a nod, then returned to staring around the car. There had to be fifty people in there, in a space meant for half as many, but everyone was being quiet and respectful, even if we were all in each other’s space.

I started to walk, heading up towards the front and that noble’s car. I wanted an idea of the energy in there. I had to make up for my losses somehow, and maybe I could snatch a purse or something. Or cause an accident.

Maybe that was unwise? I wouldn’t know until I had time to scope the place out a little.

The cars were opened in the space between them, but there was a small ramp, and other than a bit of difficulty with the door, there was nothing stopping me from moving up along the train.

The next car up had several partitions. Nobles, or at least the upper class, were here, with a lot more space for them. There was even a small bar in the centre of the car.

I walked towards it, feigning base curiosity and with all of my social skills fully activated.

Which made it strange that one of the people here turned and stared right at me.

The same man that wore that trenchcoat. “Hey, you,” he said, his voice low, but carrying. “Stop for a moment.”

“Me?” I asked innocently. I smiled. Maybe coming up here was a mistake?

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