CHAPTER 28 - When All I See is Darkness Part IV

When he woke up the following morning, Layton had already totally reworked his plans for the day. Instead of meeting with a host of different people that day like always, he was only interested in a specific group for the day.

He and Melanie had sat up late into the night talking about the ideas Laudreys had come to her with that day. Now it was time to share those ideas with the people who could make them happen.

Layton had to admit, Laudreys had a good head on his shoulders. He had already taken a look at the production levels of the Ag cars and assessed them against the train's current population and come to the conclusion that within a few months they would be leeching far too much out of their soil supplies to properly keep up with the revised demand of food. His ideas had run the spectrum of a general scaling back of production and stricter diet controls of the train's population, to a regulated rotation between the Ag cars, the Livestock cars, and the Compost cars to help the soil replenish quicker and give it needed rests.

Although he allowed himself a little bit of a sleep-in that morning, Layton was still out of bed shortly after sunrise. After he got dressed he helped a half asleep and extremely grumpy Melanie up as well.

"Come on." Layton coaxed her as she slowly pulled herself up in the bed. "The sun is up. It's another bright, cold, frozen day."

Melanie fell back on the bed.

Layton walked over to her side. "Look," he stated, staring down at the motionless body, "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your days of leisure are over, lady."

Melanie turned her bandaged eyes to him, a questioning frown on her face.

"Time to get up and get to work." Layton answered her.

"Really?" Melanie grumbled as she slowly pulled herself out of the bed and stretched. "And what is it exactly you think your blind engineer can do, Mr. Layton?"

Layton gave the statement a small smile despite it's tone to the casual observer. He had learned early on that Melanie had several ways of addressing him, and each one meant something totally different from the others. But they basically came down to two categories. A simple 'Layton', which held several subcategories, depending on her mood. These could range from a happy 'Layton', to a 'I am going to kill you, I just haven't figured out how yet - Layton'. Or occasionally she would resort to a more formal title - 'Mr. Layton', which also had subcategories. These could range from when she was addressing him as one would an unruly child who simply needed to be redirected, to the one he hated the most - 'Mr. Layton', stated like she was addressing the Chancellor of the train. He knew when that one was being used, whatever the argument, he had already lost. It wasn't used often, but when it was, he knew she was done talking.

This time it was definitely the former 'Mr. Layton'. But he wasn't about to let her just absently brush off his plans for the day. While he had a clearly laid out the work, he needed her to make it work.

"If this is going to degenerate into you're usual argument of how useless you are now, you can stop here." He stated in a no-nonsense tone as he handed her some clothes to put on. "Because you utterly disproved that one last night. You added a lot of good ideas to Laudreys'. Now it's time to get to work on them."

Melanie stood holding the clothes in front of her as she listened to him leave the room, a look of disbelief that slowly melted into small smile playing across her lips as soon as she heard the bedroom door close.

Once they got moving, it seemed to Melanie they never stopped, although Layton always seemed very careful to never move her from place to place faster than she was comfortable with.

They first made their way down to the Ag Cars, meeting again with Richard Laudreys first, and then the head of the Ag cars. From there the four of them went to speak to those in charge of the Livestock cars. Then finally the whole group moved on down to the Compost cars, where all three group leaders began hashing out a plan to implement Laudreys' suggestions.

For the most part, Melanie stood by and simply listened, her hand covertly holding onto Layton's sleeve to give herself a compass of her surroundings. If things ever got heated between the groups, she would move her hand down to his, grabbing hold of it. Layton understood her nervousness and would give her hand a reassuring squeeze as he moved closer to her. She was still worried about her disadvantaged state. If the argument became something more than a heated debate, she would literally be trapped in the middle of it. She worried how easy it would be for someone with an axe to grind against her still to use such a situation to their advantage. An accident. An unintentional swing. A misjudged step. All things that could injure her but just as easily be explained away. And a few times she found one of his hands covertly directing her just slightly behind him as he moved in front of her when things heated up. A small smile always made it's way to her lips as she would duck her head down to hide it, liking his protective gesture more than she knew she should have. But still it was nice to know that even when things weren't the best between them, his protective streak never wavered. And now that she was injured, and she was sure to him, defenseless, it ran deeper than ever.

As the debates went on over ideas, policies, and territories, Melanie still listened carefully to each argument. And in turn she would listen to Layton trying to mitigate the disagreements. Trying to placate each party while still trying to offer a solution that benefited them all in reaching their goals. Pulling his arguments from all the details they had worked out into the wee hours of the morning.

Sometimes it was all she could do to stay silent. It was his train now, she reminded herself sternly. His fight. And he had to learn. He was still trying to please everyone. Something she had worked diligently to try and get him to realize was impossible.

And what good was she to him anyway? A blind engineer.

But in the middle of yet another heated round, something happened that wouldn't allow her to stay outside of the battle. It wasn't much in the scheme of things. But it struck a cord deep within her the moment she felt it.

One of the men from the Livestock car had been arguing with Layton over the possibility of rotating the cars. Pointing out for, in her opinion, the hundredth time, how difficult it would be to move what he referred to as 'a freaking herd of cattle' through the train to a new car. By intent or pure instinct on his part, the man reached out and shoved Layton back a step or two.

Melanie's mind went into instant reaction mode, analyzing the situation. She didn't know the other man very well, but she knew Layton. The act was a challenge to him. He had been getting better about his 'fight or flight' reactions to daily encounters, but it was still a work in progress. And she had already spent the last half hour listening to him getting more and more agitated at what even she would term 'mindless bickering'.

Letting go of Layton's hand, Melanie pulled out her Hospitality persona in full force, stepping just slightly in front of Layton as she addressed the other man in the direction she had heard his voice coming from.

"I'm sure Mr. Layton isn't trying to downplay the difficulties you present in moving the cattle to a new car, Mr. Martin." She stated in a level, but solid tone. "But no one is suggesting moving any whole herd at once. I believe the offer was to take only nine or ten at a time and move them to one of the Ag cars where they could graze on the spent crops there while in turn providing natural nutrients to the soil. The cows would enjoy getting out of their stalls to roam in addition to a new diet while clearing away the spent plant matter. This would also benefit the train in that we would have to feed them less from the grains store. At the end of a few days, they could be moved back while a new group takes their place. And it wouldn't be a matter of parading the cows through populated cars. The cars we are purposing for this trial are all closely related in their position on the train. In addition, the moves would only be done while we were on level track."

The man stared down at her. Melanie didn't have to see his face to know the look she was being given. "And what do you, an engineer...," he all but sneered the word at her, "know about cattle?"

Melanie kept herself firmly in front of Layton. She wouldn't let him fight this battle for her, especially when she didn't want a fight to begin with. She was trying to reason with the man through diplomacy, not action. But some people just seemed to want a fight. Either with their fists or their words.

"I am a third generation farmer, Mr. Martin." She stated in a proud, no-nonsense tone. "I can rope and hog tie a steer probably about as fast as I could do the same to you. And I don't think my engine is any less temperamental then your cattle. So if any of them give you trouble you don't think you can handle, feel free to call me. I still have my whip and I promise you I can make it crack loud enough to get anyone's attention. Especially an unruly steer." She added with emphasis.

While he allowed her to remain in front of him, Layton still brought his hands up to wrap them protectively around her upper arms as he stared the man down from behind her.

The man seemed to take the hint and the discussion returned to calmer levels among the group.

Before he moved back beside her, Layton carefully leaned down next to Melanie's ear.

"Do you really have a whip?" He asked in a quiet tone, barely keeping the amusement out of his voice.

Melanie kept her attention focused in front of her. "Act like an unruly steer and you'll find out." She whispered back.

A soft chuckle answered her as they rejoined the talks, with Melanie adding a few more suggestions from time to time.

By the time they finished for the day they had a preliminary plan worked out, with an experimental rotation plan involving ten cars. The additions of corral walks on either side of the cars would make for moving the livestock easier from car to car.

While the overall plan was not set up to replace the current method of replenishing the soil, it would give the cars that were set up as strictly agriculture a needed rest as they served instead as a grazing area for the cattle and likewise for the current livestock cars.

Throughout the talks, Layton had carefully watched his roommate. While she did start taking a more active role in the discussions, he would watch her fall into silence for periods of time, when she would just listen. But he knew she was doing much more than that. While the others talked, she was planning, taking in ideas and problems presented and trying to work them into a feasible plan all in her mind that would produce the greatest results. He turned to her several times, giving her a small smile even though he knew she couldn't see it, and giving her hand a small squeeze also to let her know he was more than just physically there for her.

For her part, although she never turned to him, Melanie always acknowledged the gesture by tightening her hold on his hand in return.

By the time the day was over, Layton swore he was going to sleep sounder than his roommate that night.

He made them dinner, and they sat talking over the days events as they ate. For Layton, it was a brief reprieve for them that he relished. Instead of the awkwardness between them of the last several days, it was a return to better times for them. When they would sit at the table, have a quiet dinner, and work together for the betterment of the train and everyone on it.

But as much as he enjoyed being able to again just sit and talk with her like they used to, Layton couldn't help but find himself fighting off sleep. The day had been long and tomorrow was going to start early again.

As he cleared the table, Melanie retreated to the sofa, picking up her laptop and beginning to work on it. By the time he finished cleaning up the last of the dishes, he expected her to give a resounding agreement to head for bed. After all, her day had been as long as his. But instead, by the time he was dressed and ready for a good night's sleep, she was still sitting up on the sofa, fingers tapping away eagerly on the laptop as the computer read out each letter to her in turn.

Giving a sigh, Layton walked over and slowly began edging the laptop away from her. He knew it was going to be like trying to get a piece of string away from a cat as Melanie immediately latched onto her favorite article on the train.

"What are you doing!" She demanded. puling back on it firmly.

"I'm telling you it's time for bed." He stated.

Melanie held on. "And I'm telling you to go..."

"It's late, Melanie." Layton quickly cut her off.

Melanie stared up at him passed her bandaged eyes, looking totally innocent about the matter. "Well, how am I suppose to know that?"

Layton gave the laptop a firm pull. "Because I'm telling you. The sun is down. It's time for all good little engineers to go to bed."

"Shows what you know." She countered. "Engineers work best at night."

"Not when they've had a busy day and are going to have another one tomorrow."

Melanie stopped for a moment, but kept a firm grip on her laptop. "What's happening tomorrow?" She asked.

Layton smiled down at her. "Didn't I tell you?" He stated. "You're beloved engine says it misses it's mother. It wants a visit."

Melanie froze at the comment. "I...I can't go..."

"...back to the engine tired. I know." Layton cut her off. "That's why you need to go to bed and get some sleep."

Layton watched her body start to go ridged and knew she was gearing up for a fight.

"We already had this discussion, Mr. Layton." She stated firmly. "I'm blind! What is it exactly you think I can DO in the engine?"

Layton was ready for her. "Quite frankly, I wouldn't put anything past you." He replied in an even tone. "But for right now, I think your skills would best be put to use doing what I suggested to you once before. Teaching."

Melanie returned a sarcastic laugh. "Found me a classroom full of students, did you?"

Layton shook his head. "No. Just one."

"Who?"

"Me."