Chapter 10: Dead but Not Gone ----------------------------- "I can't believe we landed safely! What were the chances?" Katarin looked surprised, but definitely glad to have survived. The five of them had landed on a deck outside the engine. "Speak for yourself. Oof." Lyrix was in obvious pain, after having been landed on by Khalrach. Suddenly, there was a noise, as if the great machine were trying to speak. "Whoooooooo..." A pause. "aaaaaaaaaarrreeeee......." Another. "Yooooooouuuuuuu......?" Uh-oh. The door to the engineer's compartment opened, and a man -- no, men weren't generally semi-transparent -- a spirit stepped out. "You do not look like you belong here. Your names, at any rate, were not on the list for tonight's delivery. Unfortunately, our course is set. You must stay with us until the end of the journey, and I'll see what I can do about getting you back, although I wouldn't count on it. The Train is notorious about efficiency, and tries its hardest to keep on schedule. While you're here, you might as well relax - the journey'll take another few hours. Go get a meal or something in the dining car, and when we arrive, talk to me." He spoke with authority and finality, and the group decided that that wouldn't be such a bad idea - their most recent meal had been less than satisfactory. ******** "Please wait at the table. Party of five? Very good. Here are your menus..." A white sheet draped over an invisible body handed out exquisitely printed menus. thought Gogo, The ghostly waiter took orders, somehow comprehending Khalrach's roars and grunts perfectly. In a matter of seconds, the food was delivered, prepared perfectly, and no one was even the slightest bit skeptical about its quality. ******** The following morning (the five had found a small sleeping car adjacent to the engine), they came to a halt. The conductor came to them, with perfect precision, at 8:00. "Well, we're here. Let's see what we can do." The five started to follow, but were stopped by the conductor's hand. "No. Leave your bodies here. Only the soul may experience the city of the dead." "How?" The conductor simply reached out and grabbed what should have been Duane's chest, but his hand passed through, and pulled out a nebulous white-sheeted being. Duane's body fell limp to the floor. The spirit spoke. "Don't worry, it's not that bad. Let's just get this over with, shall we?" The others were similarly drawn out, even Khalrach, and they followed the conductor into the offices of the station. The land of the dead, they noticed, was very much like the land of the living, just with white sheets where people should be. A sprawling city had sprung up around the train depot, bustling with spirits. They entered a large office, complete with a large swivel chair behind a huge desk, its front towards the far wall. It abruptly spun around, revealing a skeleton in a black robe: the perfect likeness of the Grim Reaper. "Yes, what is it? Who are these? Are they on the list?" Death's voice sounded perfectly sepulchral. "No, sir. That's why I need your authorization to return them." Death remained cool. "And how did they get here if they weren't on the list?" "Ask them." Lyrix answered. "We stumbled upon the tunnel. Please, if you must let us return, at least let me stay for a little while. Until I feel like coming back." "In other words, you want me to keep your soul here for some unspecified amount of time, until you choose to return? Where will your body be?" "I know just the place. Do you remember a girl named Daryl? Airship accident, about two years ago?" The answer came as a surprise to almost everyone: "Daryl? She's not dead, you fool, she's standing right there beside you!" "Then why does she have a tomb?" "Daryl has a TOMB? To what end? A tomb's no good if there's no one buried in it!" Death was beginning to lose his cool. "You!" He pointed at Gogo. "You're Daryl, aren't you?" "Um... I don't know. I honestly can't remember a thing past - oh, around two years ago. I know for a fact, though, that my name's not Gogo. I just chose that because it sounded neat." "I see. Conductor, escort these three --" Death pointed at Duane, Katarin, and Khalrach "-- back to their bodies. You, the one who wished to remain here for a time --" "My name is Lyrix." "Very well. Lyrix, you may stay. I cannot guarantee your safe return, however." "I understand completely." "You may leave now." He did so, and was soon lost among the crowds of the dead. "Now, as for you, Daryl..." Death pulled out a crystal ball from beneath his desk. "Look closely, and you will know the truth. Your memory will heal. Look and you will see..."