Thomas had been awake since dawn and waited with his baggage in hand on the deck of the ship. He didn't wanted to miss a single thing of the arrival to Boston. It was certainly not his final destination but he was going to arrive in a new country which some people said was very different from the old continent. From there, he would take a hackney cab to gain Toronto, where he should find a room to sleep. His job interview with the inspector taking place three days later, this left him the time to discover the city and to find a long-lasting solution for his accommodations. The serious, day to day things, were soon going to begin in Thomas's new life, but he was not dissatisfied to be leaving in London after the terror of the ripper which had shaken the capital last year; even if it had earned him a promotion to Detective's rank. The bridge remained empty of passengers until the last minutes of the stowage. Doubtless it was regular passengers or simply the sights was not sufficient for their taste to give some time to watching it approach. It was approximately 11 am when the boat whistled a long time and when they were able to come down to quays. A good numbers of travelers were expected by family and reunions were often tearful – not of his taste- or mixed with burst of enjoyment. Knowing no one on the docks, he made his way with a lot of effort through the curious onlookers and spoke to some dockworkers to find where he could get a hackney cab in this damned city. Thomas did not know how long the rest of his journey would last, but he didn't want to lose a minute. As he was not really a man known for his refinement, Thomas did not burden himself in superfluous manners to address the dockworkers, apparently that did not sit well with them because they gave him a punch in his face. Fortunately for him, he knew how to defend himself and didn't hesitate to respond. The policemen did not delay intervening to separate them but no one was worried. Thomas took advantage of it to ask the agents where to find a hackney cab.
Undoubtedly, his new life did not really begin as he had dreamed it. Having traveled a good two kilometers while loaded down like a mule, the young man finally hailed the first hackney cab which passed at his sight. The hackney cab slowed down, and he went on board announcing in a slightly annoyed voice: "Toronto if you please." The hackney cab moved off and the second part of its journey began. He quickly fell asleep, rocked by the back and forth sway of his transportation. He woke up halfway between Boston and Kingston. The sun had already begun to fall, it had to be 4 pm and he had no food! His stomach reminded him of that fact noisily. Thomas took a crust of bread out of his bag and hurriedly began to eat. It was little but he had not thought of buying something to eat before hiring the hackney cab.
Fortunately for him the hackney cab stopped in the evening. Thomas leaned his head through the window to find out what was going on. He was not delighted by the answer from the coachman.
"We are stopping in Kingston for the night, I leave you here, and you will have to take another hackney cab from here tomorrow."
To what Thomas had hurried to answer:
"But I paid for the whole trip! You have to take me to Toronto!"
The anger grew in Thomas, but the driver did not give him time to say a single word more and threw him out of the vehicle. Finding himself on the pavement with his suitcase, Thomas cursed rather vulgarly at the man who had just left him stranded after he had paid the full price of a trip to Toronto while he was still far from it! He only wanted to find a place to eat and to sleep. Having walked a long time in the street, he finally found a pensioner and managed to negotiate a room for the night and a hot meal but he had to use many smiles to convince the old lady who held the pension. The meal was not very copious but at least he had eaten.
Thus it is with a half full stomach that he went to bed so he would be able to leave the next day at dawn. In any case, the chamber was paid for so he could leave when he wanted to. The bunk was not the most comfortable that he knew but it was already better than what he had slept on in the ship and it was only for a night so he was not going to complain for so little! Thomas fell asleep easily because he was exhausted. He woke up only due to the first beams of the sun. He jumped out of his bed and put on his clothes, collected his baggage and burst out of the chamber. It was necessary to him to find something to eat before taking a hackney cab or maybe he would get on the road first ... Thus it is what he made finally.
He hailed a hackney cab and had no other choices other than to travel in an old, very old hackney cab smelling the smoke of cigars with every breath. This time, he would not be tricked, he would pay only after he arrived safe in Toronto. In spite of the hesitations of the driver, Thomas did not give up and convinced him to agree. Thus they started on the way and the journey took place without an excess of resistance. This was fortunate because Thomas wasn't in good humor after the misadventures of the previous night. But his arrival at his destination increased his morale, the city was so big, so different from London as the curiosity took over him. With eyes wide open, he admired skyscrapers and the modernity which reigned. At least some buildings were made of a red brick, built the same as certain districts of the British capital. The hackney cab stopped and the driver announced that he had arrived in Toronto. Thomas exited and paid the coachman. Too anxious to complete his trip, he forgot to ask they driver the way to the police station number 4. Releasing a profound sigh, he watched too late as the hackney cab drove creaking away. One more time he will have to ask for his way but hoped not to have to fight this time.
He moved forward, deciding to try to find his way alone. After all, he had come here because he did not need anybody! Thomas however really had no sense of direction, and confused by the new town he eventually faces the facts, he was going to have to ask for help. He set his sights on asking a young lady who was accompanied by a man, who had a goatee.
"Excuse me Sir, I would know if you could tell me where the police station number 4 is, please?" The man was a little amazed to see this red-haired young man dressed as a sailor address him. The young lady to her stared at him. Due to their silence Thomas elaborated. "I have just arrived here and I have a meeting in a few hours for a post over there."
To his surprise it was the young woman who answered. "You are very close; you just have to turn right, then to continue straight ahead 50m and turn left. I only hope that I am not informing a bandit who wishes to help a friend escape!"
"Margaret, will you please keep silent!" Says the man who was still reserved.
Thomas thanked them, then continued along the way according to the directions of the one who had been called Margaret. She was a big help, because Thomas found easily the Police station number 4. He looked at the building for a moment, then breathed profoundly to give him the courage to enter.
