say hello wave goodbye

62: in the land of a thousand guilts (1980)

It's been so long! And I'm afraid this chapter will be a disappointment simply because it's a lot of setting the stage for what's to come and it ends on a cliffhanger, but I will try to get the next chapter out sooner so that you're not left hanging infinitely.

Warnings: this continues on from the last few 1980 chapters, so you already know what we're dealing with. Mentions of abortion, self-harm, substance abuse, relationship violence, and Hitler's sexual proclivities (yup).

With that being said...

June 1980

Mick had told Stevie that the train would be an ideal way to travel.

According to some guy JC had talked to, private trains didn't get stopped and searched at European border crossings. As they were going to be passing through several countries on this leg of the tour, no one wanted to have to part with their stash at the airport and then go through the hassle of replenishing their supply at each new destination. Besides that, Mick had actually been considerate of someone else for the first time in his life and suggested that the train might be easier on her because she could lie down when she wanted, rather than being stuck in an airplane seat.

Eh, okay, maybe it wasn't the first time. She was just irritated with Mick, which she supposed that she shouldn't be, because it wasn't his fault this particular train was cursed.

Carol Ann came hurrying into the lounge car not long after the train had set out for their first destination, a horrified look on her face. Knowing the kind of mood that Lindsey had been in lately, Stevie instantly found herself fearing the worst and looking the other woman over for signs of a fight. "Carol? What's wrong?"

"That little old man in the white suit jacket? He told me that he used to work for Hitler. This is Hitler's old train."

Stevie's mouth formed an 'o'. "Are you... really?"

"What if this was the train Hitler was assassinated in?" Carol Ann asked as Lindsey walked in the same way she had come from, shaking his head.

"That guy was bullshiting you, and Hitler wasn't assassinated."

"He was," Stevie argued. "And then they hung his body up in the town square."

"That was Mussolini. Hitler killed himself."

"No, he was shot by Serbians," Carol insisted, Stevie nodding in agreement.

"That was Franz Ferdinand."

"Who?"

"It doesn't matter, Care. Hitler committed suicide in an underground bunker," Lindsey said, crossing his arms in finality. "That guy was just trying to scare the foreign girl. There's no way the Allies would've bombed the shit out of Germany but let them keep Hitler's train. Guys," he called out to Mick and John as they joined the group. "You're history buffs. Tell them this isn't Hitler's train."

"I had a mate at school who told me his aunt slept with Hitler, and he only had one ball," Mick said, everyone but John cringing.

"Why would his aunt tell him that? Gross."

John shrugged at Carol Ann's question. "According to the OSS, Hitler liked girls who would take a shit on him."

"That's nasty! How would they even know?"

"They had spies everywhere." John leaned in toward Carol like he had a secret. "Maybe some woman shat on him in your very own bed."

Carol Ann started screeching in protest and Stevie used the chaos as her excuse to get away. "This is disgusting. I'm leaving."