Chapter Two

Toru was dreaming about cats when she snapped suddenly awake. The lights on the train were blinking on and off rapidly and the entire car was rattling violently. Toru grabbed the sides of her chair and looked around nervously along with the other passengers. There was a quiet murmuring punctuated by louder cries of terror as the train shook and heaved.

Father Anderson put his gloved hand on Toru's shoulder to calm her as he stood up slightly and looked around. His hand did more to freeze her in place than bring any sense of security.

Slowly the train settled back into its normal, smooth course and the lights flickered less frequently. With sighs of relief the other passengers settled back into their seats and began quiet musings on what had caused the train to shake. Maybe they had gone over a flooded section of track; some wondered if trains suffered from turbulence.

The only two people on the train who were not calm were Father Anderson and Toru. Anderson was still sitting up in his seat and looking about. It reminded Toru of a dog that sensed something in its yard but wasn't sure if it should bark. The tension in Anderson's body seemed to flow down his arm and into Toru, freezing her to her seat.

Toru swallowed hard. She began to wonder if Father Anderson didn't have more severe problems than he let on. That scar on his face, his demeanor, what had been done to him to make him so edgy and cold? If he calmed down again she decided she would ask. Even if he was creepy, it wasn't his fault and it was probably because no one had tried to help him before.

After what seemed like an hour, Father Anderson removed his hand from her arm and settled back into his seat. He was still on edge and was looking about with his eyes but managed a brief "I'm fine." smile in her direction.

Toru lightly tapped her arm rest and thought carefully about how she was going to approach this. Maybe being direct was the best way. "Excuse me." She said, hoping she was sounding polite. "Um…are you alright?"

A puzzled frown flicked across his face but then he smiled warmly. "I'm fine child; just looking out for the flock as it were."

"You just seemed a bit…jumpier than everyone else that's all." She said meekly.

Anderson chuckled. "I've had a long trip."

"Oh? Where did you go exactly?"

Anderson took a deep breath and thought a moment. Toru thought he might be getting ready for a long winded conversation that he didn't want to go through and she felt bad for being a bother. "I had to meet some friends at a museum and help them with something."

"Really? Are you a curator or something like that?" She asked.

"No, actually I spend most of my time with orphans near Rome." He said serenely. His face then darkened ever so slightly and his voice began to carry a hint of sourness. "Some fellow churchmen needed help with a meeting they was having with certain parts of the British government."

Toru gathered that there certain parts of the British government that Father Anderson didn't care for. She doubted it had much to do with why he was so cold on the inside though. His current troubles seemed to be a result of deeper issues. "An orphanage? You must like children then." She said happily.

Anderson nodded. "I do. Children are God's gifts to the world. Blank slates free of sin; free to be molded into righteous God fearing Christians. It's a joy to watch wee ones grow and to help them do it right."

Toru simply smiled. "Were you always a priest or did you do something else before?"

Father Anderson slowly swiveled his head and looked right through Toru. "You're an inquisitive girl." He said.

Toru gulped. Maybe she had pushed too far. "I-I didn't mean to be rude."

Anderson's face slowly split into a broad smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Not at all my dear child. I wouldn't say it's rude to be curious…dangerous maybe but not rude." His eyes lifted from Toru and floated about the train car as though her were looking for someone.

Toru shrunk slightly in her seat. The look in Anderson's eyes told her he was clearly troubled. She had seen a look like it someone else before, back home in Japan, but this was a different kind of look. Toru wasn't sure what it was and had less of an idea on how to help.

Once Anderson had settled back into his seat and taken his horrid gave off Toru and the other passengers, she went back to thinking on how to help. She still had a few more hours until her final stop and it was going to be a long ride sitting next to someone like Father Anderson.

She was thinking idly thinking about mice when a crashing sound from the car in front of them filled their ears. On the heels of the breaking glass came the sound of screams. Toru thought someone might have dropped something breakable but the number of shrieks and yells made her wonder.

Before she could wonder any further, Father Anderson leapt over her and into the isle. How he had moved his large frame so quickly and in such a manner she didn't know. He was through the door before she had time to think. Against her better judgment she too got up and followed Father Anderson as the hem of his long coat disappeared through the door.

End Chapter Two