All The Way Down

Candy Bars, An Unbearably Tragic Story, And The White Train

The Szioomunmi may have been free, but it was most certainly not
comfortable.

The wooden wheels seemed to search carefully for each and every rock in the road, and each and every pothole, causing the entire cart to bounce, causing its occupants to flop uncomfortably on the unforgiving hard bench.

The occupants of the cart made sure to voice their annoyance each and every time the cart bounced, crying out angrily, squealing in annoyance, and even yelling out what Josephine was certain were curses.

The driver, at least, was kind, and even gave Josephine some candies, and even a strange liquid that tasted like liquid sunshine.

The driver didn't seem to speak very much english, and yet Josephine felt that she could understand him perfectly, and even felt that he was a better conversationalist than most of the people she had met in her life.

"Excuse me," Josephine said, turning to the driver again.

He glanced at her.

"Weehnate?" He asked.

"When will we arrive?" She asked.

He looked down at her.

"Ssoon..." He said.

"Oh." Josephine said.

"Mzistmi?" She said.

"Xef?" He said.

"Are you hungry?"

"Xef."

"Why did you give me your food?"

"K-Kindness."

"Thank you."

He nodded.

"Here. These are small, but you can have them."

She reached into the pocket of her dress, and pulled out two candy bars.

"They have nuts in them. I'm allergic to nuts." She said, and handed them to the driver.

He took them, and looked at them with interest,

"This is...?" He said.

"Candy bars. They're good. But I can only have the ones without nuts, so those can be yours."

He took one of the candy bars, and held it.

"It is in paper. How do I free it?"

Josephine took the candy bar from him, and unwrapped it.

"There. Now try it."

*********************

The Sczioomunmi rolled to a stop in front of an old shack.

"Everyone is get out. Yes." The driver called, and the aliens on the cart looked at the driver in confusion.

He sighed.

"Berete ouhte oti emyi canaorte!" He called.

The aliens jumped out of the cart grumbling.

The driver got out, untangling the serpentine horses from their ropes.

Josephine got out.

"Thanks for taking us here." Josephine said.

"Yes. Yes." He replied, not looking at her.

The old driver sighed and stiffly walked over to a bag in the cart.

The man walked as if he had a broken spine, and it seemed as though every step he took seemed to hurt him.