Anna Peregrine--Hollow City

Chapter Six

The town was literally called Coal. Not even Coalville or Coaltown, just Coal, and for good reason. Coal was everywhere in the town as we walked. Alongside doors of houses, coming up from chimneys, and smeared on men's overall. We hurried past the people of the town, trying to get to the station.

"Quickly now. No talking. Eyes down," Emma said.

"Thank you.", I whispered to her, thankful that she would take the lead sometimes.

We got to the station, finding it to be small. Smaller than I thought it would be. We hurried over to the ticket counter where a man sat behind the counter sleeping.

I quickly rapped the window, startling him awake, "Nine tickets to London! We must be there this very afternoon."

The man looked at us through his glasses. He took them off, cleaning them before putting them on again.

"So sorry, the train is full," he said.

"That's absurd!" I said, taking on the role of a demanding Ymbryne who needs to protect the ones she cares about.

"Sell us the tickets at once or I shall report you to the rail authority for child discrimination!" Emma said, making me give her a look.

"If there were any such statute, it would certainly not apply to you. There's a war on, you know, and more important things to be hauled about her majesty's countryside than children and animals!" the clerk looked at my mother who was now perched on my shoulder. "Which aren't allowed in any case!"

A train came into the station squealing to a stop. A conductor stuck his head out and yelled, "Eight-thirty to London! All aboard!"

People who were sitting on benches sat up, getting on the train. One gentleman pushed past us, putting down money before receiving a ticket in exchange before hurrying to the train.

"You said it was full!" I said, rapping on the glass. "You can't do that!"

"That gentleman bought a first-class ticket. Now be gone with you, pestilent little beggars! Go find pockets to pick somewhere else!"

Horace stepped forward, "Beggars, by definition, do not carry large sums of money." He reached into his pocket before slapping down a large sum of money. "If it's first-class tickets you're selling, then that's what we'll have!"

The clerk sat up, gaping at Horace before going through the money, "Why, this is enough to buy seats to an entire first-class car!"

"Then give us an entire car! That way you can be sure we'll pick no one's pocket."

"Y-yes sir--sorry, sir--and I hope you won't take my previous comments as anything other than jest--"

"Just give us the blasted tickets so we can get on the train!"

"Right away, sir!" the clerk said before giving us more first-class tickets than we needed. "Enjoy your trip! And please don't tell anyone I said so, sirs and madams, but if I were you, I'd hide that bird out of sight. The conductors won't like it, first-class tickets or not."

We walked away from the counter with tickets in hand, Horace looking triumphant.

"Where on earth did you get all that money?" Emma asked, confused.

I was just as confused. If we ever asked Mum for money, which was rare, she wouldn't give us as much as Horace just paid. Even me!

"I rescued it from Miss Peregrine's dresser drawer before the house burned. Tailored a special pocket in my coat to keep it safe," he answered.