Appointment in Madrid

The hills across the valley of the Ebro had faded into a distant memory as the scenery moved southwards through the windows of the café car. The American and the girl sat across from each other in a leather booth at the end of the car. The girl sat facing the rear of the train and had a view of the landscape in three directions. Flat land and trees had given way to steep rocky cliffs and clouds began to gather overhead.

"Three hours and we should be there," the man said.

"I think we should have a drink," the girl replied.

"Perhaps you have had enough?" the man questioned.

"You would be the expert on what is enough." She smiled and signaled the waiter to come over.

¿Estás lista para ordenar? The waiter asked.

"Si, dos cervezas."

"I don't want beer," the girl said.

"What do you want?"

"A glass of red wine."

"Nosotras tomaremos una cerveza y una copa de vino tinto."

"What is Madrid like this time of the year?" she asked

"Sunny, very sunny. It's one of the sunniest cities in Europe."

"Are they very religious there?"

"What?"

"Are they religious? What is their religión?"

"Mostly Roman Catholicism," the man replied. "If you ask me, one day they'll make it the state religión. They are very serious about it."

"I guess it's a good thing we are not religious."

"Why?" the man asked.

"Because we can never commit a sin." A trace of a smile appeared on her face.

"Una cerveza y una copa de vino tinto," the waiter announced. He placed the glasses on the table. The girl watched as the liquid rumbled with the motion of the train.

"It's almost as if they're alive," she said.

"What?"

"The drinks," she replied, "they seem to have a life of their own. Maybe they are trying to tell us something."

"The only thing they are trying to tell us," the man responded, is they are doing us no good in the glass." He took a large sip of his beer. He looked out the window for a moment and then turned to the girl. "You know I'll be there for you. Through the whole thing."

"Of course you will," she replied. "You have to be there."

A voice on the train speaker called the passengers attention to the spectacular views of Parque Natural del Barranco del Rio Dulce.

"The cliffs are beautiful," the girl remarked, "they seem so peaceful."

"They scare me," the man replied. "They're so jagged and steep."

"That's what makes them so peaceful; they aren't going anywhere."

"You know, I was thinking, after Madrid, maybe we could take the train to Lisbon?"

"What's in Lisbon?" she asked.

"Well, it's one of the oldest cities in Europe. And they have this amazing drink. It's called Ginjinha. You have to try it in Lisbon."

"Why?"

"I don't know," he replied, "that's just what people say."

"I'd like another glass of wine."

"Are you sure?"

"It's my body. I can put in it what I want."

"Camarero, otra copa de vino," he shouted to the bar.

"Look, if you are having second thoughts, that is perfectly understanable," the man said. "Everyone has second thoughts. But I can assure you..."

"I'm not having second thoughts. I'm not having thoughts at all. I'm just enjoying the scenery. I have never been better."

The waiter brought the glass of wine.

She raised her glass to the man. "To us."

"To us," he returned.

When she finished her drink, she stood up. "You'll have to excuse me for a moment."

"It's at the end of the car—on the right."

"Thank you."

The man focused his attention on the breathtaking scenery. He never noticed that she walked past the restroom and exited the car. Between the Café car and the next passenger car was a walkway exposed to the lush warm air of Spain.

"How beautiful, how very beautiful and necessary nature is," she thought. Turning to the left, she gazed at the low, cumulus clouds. "They look like animals, all sorts of animals." Strangely, she found her feet moving forward, acting as if they had a will of their own. Slowly she descended one of the three steps of the disembarking platform. "Perhaps to get a better view," she speculated. And again, while taking in the view, her feet advanced another step. "The air is so much fresher here." Another step, the last. "I can almost touch the clouds!" As she reached out toward the cloud that looked like an elephant, she was finally free. The train continued on to Madrid.