The Argo Goes West

23, Attack of Scylla and Charybdis, part 1

"Okay, Hugh. There's no time to rest. Throw the coal, throw it, throw it."

"Yes."

Hugh grabbed a shovel and jumped to the coal car behind the locomotive and crouched on the pile of coal. Then he dug up the coal underfoot and threw one after another into the locomotive. Chester threw the coal into the boiler, which was burning like a hellish cauldron. The flames in the boiler devoured it with pleasure, blowing hot breaths on him, begging for another refill. Chester immediately became drenched in sweat, but he was used to it, so he continued the work with a cool face. Deke Anderson, a harpooner, is back on his whaling cannon pedestal.

Sheriff Pike and Gus, who were nervously watching the race between the Argo and the moving whirlpool from the high ground, were relieved to see the Argo pass safely before the whirlpool reached the tracks. The Argo gave a shout of victory with a high-pitched whistle.

But it was still too early. The moving whirlpool hadn't given up on the race yet. It started chasing the fleeing Argo like a torpedo. The speed was picking up as well.

"Run away. Run away, Argo!"

Pike and Gus yelled at the Argo.

"Fire!"

Commander Hawk Galloway, wearing a wide-brimmed slouch hat, gave the order. The 305 mm artillery on the last open wagon burst into flames with a roar. However, both the train and the whirlpool were moving, so it was very difficult to hit it. Galloway didn't panic. As expressionless as a bronze statue, he stood tall and repeated the command to fire. The moving whirlpool was right behind the Argo. It swallowed the rail the Argo had just passed, and spat it out. The cannonballs fired by the Argo also hit the rails and destroyed the tracks. The way out was completely cut off. Only progress!

"There's something creepy ahead!"

Chester reported to the command car from the locomotive.

Captain Harris unfolded a handle on a long tube hanging from the ceiling. It was a periscope invented for submarines by Frenchman Hippolyte Marié-Davy. It penetrated the ceiling like a chimney and protruded outside, and I could see the scenery ahead that he couldn't see because the cars in front was in the way.

In Scope View, there was a creature with tentacles that looked like a fluffy snake or an octopus. A number of tumor-like bumps were attached to its waist. It seemed to be covered with scales, and its whole body was shining silver. It was quite large, about the size of one or two cars of the Argo.

Harris groaned.

"It's Scylla."

Harris turned around and pointed the periscope toward the rear of the Argo. He faced Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt pouted in disgust at Harris' lack of explanation. But Harris couldn't see it because he was looking through the periscope. He couldn't see the whirlpool directly, but he could see the cannons firing. Since the one in front is Scylla, the whirlpool behind must be Charybdis.

Two monsters from Greek mythology are now closing in on the Argo!