Put back together

56. I'll see you again, either here or on the other side

Roman carried Patton for most of the way to the railway station.
He was stronger than Logan had expected.

Patton was barely conscious.

It had been a dumb idea to go on. Logan shouldn't have trusted Patton's judgement on how well he was.

He also was well aware of Emile staring at the marks. For some reason, he hadn't asked about it yet and Logan wasn't sure if he wanted him to just hurry up and get it over with or just never ask.

If he had been curious at first, the moment he actually saw the cable railway he wanted to turn around. It looked like the next gust of wind could make it fall apart.

It was probably safer to just go back to the castle than spend three entire days on this wreck.

The metal was covered in rust and woodworms had filled the wooden parts with holes. Spiderwebs had been woven between the cabin and the railway and the door of the station lay on the ground, rotten and covered in moss.

"You don't honestly expect us to get on this thing?" Roman exclaimed as soon as he saw it.

"Don't worry, it'll hold!" Emile just answered. "I've used it plenty of times."

"No wonder nobody guards the borders here," Logan muttered under his breath.

Emile cut away a few tendrils of ivy that had grown over the door of the railroad car and forced it open.
Logan half expected it to just fall apart immediately but it held.
Emile got on.

The structure creaked and a bird fluttered up at the loud noise.

"That really doesn't look safe," Logan called and cringed at another loud creak. "Maybe we should just find another way?"

"No, really! It's fine, look!" Emile answered and to prove his point jumped.

The entire thing shook when he landed but somehow didn't collapse.

Emile jumped again, again making Logan's heart skip a beat in terror but it still held.

"Now get on. It'll depart soon," Emile instructed them with a smile.

Logan shot Roman an unsure glance.
Roman shrugged and adjusted his grip on Patton before slowly stepping into the wagon.
Logan hesitantly followed him.

He had to admit, it was nice to get out of the rain, even with his heart hammering in his chest.
The metal floor under him was swaying slightly and Logan struggled to keep his balance.

"Wait-" he began, Emile's words only now sinking in. "What do you mean it'll depart soon?"

"Wait," Emile said, his eyes trained on the still open door.

Then the mist outside moved. It curled around itself and eventually formed the shape of an old rough looking man. He was tall and ghostlike and his footsteps made no sound as he got closer. They didn't even press the grass down.

He moved to close the door and even though he didn't even touch it it slid shut as easily as if it had just been oiled.

"All aboard?" he asked without opening his mouth and it felt as if someone was scratching at the inside of Logan's skull.

"Yes, thank you very much," Emile said. "Will you please let us pass safely, good sir?"

"You may pass," the man said and dissolved into mist again.

For a moment it was quiet and then the railway started moving with a jolt.

Logan nearly fell over but an arm snaked around his wrist before he could.