Chapter 7 – The Journey Begins (Finally!)
*NOTE – I apologise for the fact that the story is progressing so slowly. But get ready, because the pace is going to be picked up as effect from now! In this chapter, the real 'action' part of the 'action/adventure' genre kicks in. And thank you to all of my readers who haven't lost interest in the story!*
No sooner than the Jr. Executive had given me 5 Moolah, I sprinted back to the main desk, and practically threw the 770 Moolah ticket fee at him. He handed me the ticket, and I ran to the platform. I glanced at the giant clock that lumbered over the platform. The time was 6:44 AM. A couple of seconds longer, and I would have had to wait another 3 days for the next train. I stumbled aboard, and slumped into a seat by the window. I had a reputation for getting terrible motion sickness, so the window seat was the safest option for me. I heard the heavy thud of the doors closing, and the grand train slid out of the station. I had been on Oddworld for over a week now, but I was finally off, off to save Abe and Munch, the Mudokons and the Gabbits, and various other species native to Mudos. And as I sat, glaring through the magnificent windows of the silver locomotive, I thought to myself. Because, if I wasn't setting out on this journey now, the future of Oddworld would be tarnished. I now finally understood how it felt to be in Abe's shoes. And yes, I know he doesn't actually wear shoes.
The train seemed to travel forever. But the view was exhilarating. I suppose you already understand that the trains on Oddworld are not like the ones on Earth. They hang upside-down from the rails, which are suspended high above the ground. The journey really benefited, though. It made the view all the more splendorous. The train sped high across deserts, jungles, meadows, and even industrial areas. The horizon must've been hundreds of miles away, not like the miniscule 20 or so miles on Earth. You could see it all. Honestly, if you were in the right place at the right time, Oddworld was truly the most beautiful planet in the universe.
As the train rattled along the line, the likes of Vykker and Glukkon passengers slowly deteriorated, and the carriage began to fill with Clakkers and Wolvarks etc. It was clear that I was slowly traveling into Western Mudos. The door at the end of the carriage slid open and a pair of armored sligs walked in. They were dressed in conductors' uniforms, and carried no weapons.
"Tickets, please," said the first slig, "Can I see your tickets please?" I reached into my wallet and pulled out my ticket, ready to show to the conductors. Suddenly, a message came on over the tannoy.
"Attention all passengers! Attention all passengers! Due to recent lightning storms, the track ahead has undergone some damage. The ride may become temporarily turbulent. Please secure any items that may be moved around as effect by said turbulence. Thank you."
Suddenly, the carriage began to jerk and flick from side to side. It shook upwards and downwards, and shuddered violently left to right. The ticket I had in my hand slipped and fell, fluttering towards the window. I reached up and slammed the window shut, grasping for the ticket. I gripped it firmly in my hand, and sat back in my seat. But the ticket had gone. As I had sat down, the air ventilation shaft on the roof of the carriage had sucked the ticket right from my hand. Which was not good. Not good at all.
"Ticket please, sir," came a voice from behind me. Oh, dear. I turned and faced the heavily armored conductor. "Sir, your ticket please."
"I…I…" I began shakily.
"Oh, it's like that is it? Let me guess: You lost it did you?"
"Well… Yeah," I replied, looking down at the ground.
"No problem, mate," said the conductor, turning to the other slig. "We'll sort things out for you…"
"Oh, thank you so much for understanding!" I exclaimed, quite relieved. However, all relief left my body when the two sligs began to roll up their sleeves. "W-What are you doing?" I asked.
"Why, we're sorting things out for you, mate. Aren't we Derek?" I gulped. I heard Derek grunt in agreement, and without warning, the first punch landed.
My face was in unbearable agony as the two sligs beat me with their huge, armored fists. I jumped up, and ran to the end of the carriage. They followed close behind me as I dived across the seats of many angry passengers. I reached the end of the corridor and forced the door open. The wind rushed violently against me as I barged into the next carriage. I ran along the corridor, past more yelling passengers as the two sligs on my tail quickly caught up. I dived to the ground as one of the sligs smashed me over the head with his baton. It turned out that they did have weapons. Blood began to poor from my neck and I staggered back to my feet. The next carriage was just a few feet away, but the pain I was in was too unbearable for me to travel any further. There was only one more option. There was another door at the end of the carriage. But it was on the side. It seemed to be the only way, so I pried the door open. I was now drenched in my own blood, and the wind blew dust and sand into my eyes. I could barely see. The slig conductors, now so close I could feel them breathing down my neck, raised their batons high above their heads. I turned to face them, and raised my rifle.
"Gentlemen," I began, "I'm sure you'll always regret this. For on this very day, your chase along a crowded train, after a man who had no ticket, ended with you both… dying. Goodbye." I fired two shots from my rifle and, swallowing my fear, I leapt from the train.