Assault on the Train

Chapter 4

Assault

The sad steam locomotive sounded like a loud whistle of a bat on a mysterious night. The loud horn of the train opened the eyes of the deeply sleeping Elinka. The young girl watched through the window as the dark forest moved a little faster. Although everything was dark, it could feel like the steam locomotive was speeding up mysteriously.

- Layla? - She called while turned in search for her - Layla, the train is moving faster - She said a little louder to wake her up.

Footsteps like elephants could be heard in the hallway outside the room. Elinka put on her nightgown to cover her pijama and left the room almost sleepily to investigate what was happening.

- Eli wait. - Layla called her who got up very slowly

When Elinka went out into the hall, she realized that she was not the only person to go out in pijama to see why the horn sounded so late at night and that the increase in speed was due.

- Layla! What is happening?

- It must be animals trying to cross between the tracks. Perhaps the driver accelerated the train so as not to harm them - said Layla who did not know what to answer.

Elinka was more awake, wiped her eyelashes and realized that no worker was as usual in the area. In a moment a pack of people from the front wagons were boarding theirs.

- Elinka! - Rigel called

- What happen? Where all of you come from?

- Is air pirates and they are approaching here. – he answered still looking well-groomed.

Most people looked desperate, some hid their valuables in their clothes.

- They come to steal - Wyatt said very sure.

On the outskirts, there was a loud flutter combined with a whistle that was increasing. Then a roaring explosion shook the entire ground. Several shots were heard after the explosion. Everyone on the train crouched in fear. Layla got on top of her younger sister without knowing exactly what was happening. After a few seconds, cries of panic began to take over the night.

- It is better to be locked in your room - Rigel suggested to the sisters.

Layla took her sister back inside the room. She suggested putting on something more of a lady style. On the outskirts, people could be heard talking desperately. Elinka kept looking out the window in search of some clear idea of what was happening. Layla took a belt of her suitcase and put her grappling hook on her waist as Wyatt did.

Outside the bedroom Rigel, Wyatt and several of the men in took the stairs to climb on the roof of the wagon. The speed of the train was so immense that they had to hover over the roof to avoid losing their balance. Each passenger who climbed was impressed to see the smugglers in their huge airships flying at the same speed as the steam engine. The impressive propellers of the ships roared almost as loudly as the moving locomotive.

Railroad guards were observed firing their shotguns at the smugglers' ships attacking them from both directions of the wagon.

- They can't beat them, the smugglers are well prepared! - Said one of the gentlemen who climbed the car.

- There are two flying ships! - Wyatt warned them in a loud voice from the roof of the car to the others in the carriage hall. Elinka listened to the conversation with her sister. They watched the airship approach the window. The most outgoing was the imposing globe. - They are approaching the locomotive and are shooting the driver.

Railroad guards unsuccessfully fire their weapons at flying ships. The smugglers threw bottles with flame what had surely caused the explosion was minutes before.

- I think the best is to protect the other Wyatt. - Rigel said.

- You are right if we don't help we may end up dead. - Another man said while pointing to the railroad guard's wagon that seemed to have lowered the level of replication to the fire. - It's just a matter of time.

Rigel and Wyatt remained silent at what they saw. They both knew what to do just that they didn't know-how.

- This will get ugly, I think it's time to use my weapon. - Wyatt said to Rigel in a low voice. - Take my gauntlets just in case. – He took them out of his pokets and threw thm to Rigel, who still was looking worried at the sky.