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28
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Mort sat in the deserted dining car of the train he was taking to the Portuguese owner of 'The Nine Gates' house. The only other person there, was a steward who was clearing the plates off the tables and placing them on a trolley.
With a coffee cup and a brandy glass at his elbow, he had 'The Nine Gates' lying open in front of him. Mort got up from his seat, gathered his items into the book bag and left the dining car. Bag on shoulder, he crossed the sliding floorplates that connected one car to another.
He entered the next corridor and stopped short: Standing alone in the corridor, leaning against a window, looking out there was someone. It was the mysterious girl who had been popping up in various places in Mort's life lately.
Mort walked along the corridor. As he passed her, his pace slowed a bit. He paused and turned back. "I've seen you before."
"Have you?" The girl responded with another question.
"Yes."
"Are you traveling in this car?" The girl asked.
"The next one," Mort said, pointing to the next car.
The girl nodded. "The sleeper." She smiled. "I travel on the cheap."
"Are you a student?" Mort asked.
"Something like that," She replied, looked out the window and quickly changed the subject, "I like trains."
"Me too. What's your name?" Mort asked, wanting to know who she really was.
"Guess."
Mort shrugged. A goofy grin came upon his face, "Greeneyes?" He guessed.
"That'll do. What's yours?" The girl said, being as vague as possible.
"Corso," Mort replied.
"Strange name," The girl remarked.
"Italian. It means 'run'."
"You don't look like a runner to me - more the quiet type," The girl said.
There was a brief pause. They both looked at eachother. Mort nodded. "Well, give my regards to Balkan. Tell him I'm doing my best," He said, walking down the rest of the corridor.
"Balkan?" She called to him.
"Fine," Mort muttered. There was something strange about the encounter, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
"See you around, maybe," the girl called.
Mort paused and looked back. She was still leaning against the window, staring out. He nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised," He said and opened the door to the next car.