Out Of The Past
Part XIX - Moving Forward
The entire ride on the subtrain down to the end of the train, all Layton could focus on was the incredible sense of relief he was feeling for the first time in days. As angry, furious, or disillusioned as he may have felt since Melanie told him what happened to Josie, the one feeling he couldn't ever quite acknowledge, even to himself, was that he still cared about her. But he still knew that feeling was there. Still felt it, like a small spark in the center of his chest that refused to let go and accept being banished.
And in some ways, he was grateful for it's tenacity.
Arriving at car 950, Layton could only describe the car as a well organized sense of chaos. And yet in the chaos, every person seemed to know what their role was. Off to the side were several men working on making desk-chairs for the perspective students. Already piled carefully in the corner next to where they were working was a collection of completed chairs.
In another area several others were working on constructing a wall. The frame was already in place and half of the panels were carefully nailed in place.
At the head of the car, another group worked on a raised dais, where Layton assumed the teachers would stand as they presented their individual lessons. A large blackboard had been secured to the wall already behind the raised platform.
All in all, he had to admit the work, all done within just a few days past, was impressive.
Standing in the middle of it, he finally located the one person he had been searching for through the chaos, debris, and other bodies.
Calling out instructions to several workers, Melanie hadn't even seemed to notice him yet as she watched another part of the project meticulously slipped into place under her watchful eye. To anyone who didn't know her as well, he speculated they would say she simply looked engaged in the work, carefully scrutinizing every part of it. But to him he saw so much more.
Yes, she was keeping watch over everything, but it was a concentrated effort. To the casual onlooker, she was supervising the work, but to him, her mind was on anything but what was happening around her. She looked tired and worn down. Like him, he doubted she had had a good night's sleep in days. And though she didn't look like she had lost any significant weight, he seriously questioned when she had last eaten a good meal.
A small child broke through his silent observation as she ran up to Melanie, excitedly waving a scrap of paper at her that had something drawn on one side. Melanie carefully leaning down and took the offered paper with a smile. She looked it over for several moments, then reached down and gently ruffled the girls brown hair.
"That's very good, Kimble." She stated. "You're going to be a great engineer one day. I'll show your idea to Mathew and see where we might be able to put it to the best use, all right?"
The child positively beamed with pride under the Head Engineer's praise as she turned and ran off again.
When Melanie straightened up, she suddenly froze as she found the last person she expected to see that day now standing in front of her.
Having quietly walked over to where she had been talking with the child, Layton managed a small smile for her as he reached out a hand.
"May I?" He asked.
Quickly avoiding his stare, Melanie handed the paper to him without a word. But the silence that filled the space between them as he looked over the drawing started to press in on her.
"It's just a child's drawing." She finally stated. "She's only 12, but she's very bright. And she's eager to learn."
Layton continued to look over the drawing for a few more seconds before handing it back to her. "That's pretty good work for a 12 year old. I wonder where she learned how to make a scaled drawing like that."
Melanie gave a small, absent shrug of one shoulder as she continued to avoid his stare. "I...showed her a few things. She took right to it. Several of the children down here have already shown a great deal of interest in anything I show them."
Layton favored her with another small smile she failed to see. "I always said you were a natural teacher." He offered.
A hand nervously brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "They want to learn." She repeated. "I...show them how to build things. Hes...came down one day and showed them how to tell metals apart just by how they sounded."
"Hes?" Layton suddenly said, a touch of irritation sneaking into his tone at the thought the Metallurgist had known where she was all this time and said nothing. But Melanie seemed to read his mind as she quickly pointed to another man working to the side. Mr. Danson invited him down one day. He thought the children would enjoy it. Bennett also came down one day and showed them how the wiring would be done to make the lights work."
This time Layton managed to keep his thoughts to himself, but promised himself a long conversation with his Second Engineer when he was done here.
When Melanie stopped talking, Layton paused to look around the area again before turning back to her. He did everything he could to maintain a near neutral expression, allowing only the smallest trace of a smile to remain on his lips. He knew she was carefully scrutinizing him, even without looking at him. Trying to pick up on any hint of emotion to tell her what he was feeling.
"A school." He finally said.
A small nod of her head answered him as she turned from him and walked over to where a large paper lay spread out over a table. She bent over the schematic drawing, keeping her back to him and appearing to study the paper to the near exclusion of everything else around her.
He knew she wasn't just avoiding him. She was actively keeping a wall between them. The wall was her protection. Shielding her from what she perceived as his anger still.
Of course, he was certain the two men who had stepped up several feet behind her didn't hurt her feelings of insecurity any. But her guards, while ever present, kept a respectful distance while not letting their gazes fall even one second from Layton.
'Highly attuned, constant vigilant protection' is what Jackson had called it.
'Plain annoying' was Layton's' term for it.
He turned his eyes back to her.
"A school." He repeated. "For a bunch of Tailie kids?"
"For children who want to learn." She replied, looking up at him briefly.
"So what brought this about?" He asked, gesturing to the work as a whole going on.
Melanie kept her back to him. Bent over the drawing still while she answered his question. "The other classroom in the forward section of the train is too small for so many children. And it's also too far away from the Tail. You can't expect children to walk half a day to get to school, then have much energy left to learn anything."
"They could take the subtrain." Layton offered.
"That doesn't solve the issue of the overcrowding of the classrooms." Came the short answer.
"So you decided to commander one of the train cars in the Tail and build them their own school."
If it sounded like an accusation, which Layton didn't mean for it too, Melanie gave no hint of it. "I asked."
"Who?"
"Those who would benefit the most."
"The Tailies."
"Those who live here."
"And they agreed?"
"They are helping build it." Came the same short answer.
"So I see." Layton paused to look around the area again before turning back to her. Still she was bent over the drawing, more or less ignoring him. He wanted to talk to her, but he didn't want it to be a forced conversation. He had to do it in a way she would be engaged in the discussion, not feel intimidated.
"Well," he tried again, "I haven't seen much of this 'project' Nate told me I approved..."
He watched her whole body stiffen slightly at being caught in the lie, and he knew she was waiting now to see what his next move would be. With a word he could stop everything. Shut down the project. Where would that leave her?
"Could I have a tour of the progress?" He finally finished. "Since I haven't seen it since you started."
Melanie paused over her drawings for a moment. Likely, he thought, looking for any way out of the request. He had given her that escape route, solely to see if she would take it. She could request one of the other workers give him a tour of the work site. But to his relief she finally pulled up and gave a brief nod. It wasn't a breech in the ice wall she had erected between them, but it was a small chip. And at that point he would take whatever he could get to start them talking again.
Carefully she began showing him about the area of the train car. What he quickly learned from a tour he thought would take just a few minutes, was her plans extended well beyond the one car. From the school car she moved on to another train car, her faithful guards following at a slight distance, but keeping her always in their sight.
Unlike the first car, this one, while clearly in the stages of renovation, was nowhere near completion. Looking around he saw several built up rectangular areas across the floor, with several workers still in the process of constructing more.
"What's this?" He asked.
"It was just another unused car down here." She replied in the same mechanical manner she had used in answering all of his questions. "At one time it was being used for storage. Hes has been using the old shelves to make panels to build grow boxes. I didn't think you would mind." The last part came out sounding more like a question than a statement.
"Grow boxes?"
"Children in the Tail rarely saw anything grown on the train. Even over the past eleven months, I doubt half of them even know where the food on the train comes from. I thought an agricultural car of their own would be a good learning tool, providing them with fresh fruits and vegetables they grew themselves in the process." She pointed to the door on the other side of the car leading to the next car in the line. "There are three more cars the people down here agreed to clear out of. They suggested that perhaps the older children and adults could have a place where they could learn skills. Medical, more advanced engineering, or infrastructure repair. Audrey said she would poll the Market to see who would be willing to donate some time to teaching what they know. Mr. Martin also has committed to bringing some livestock down for the last car and to teach tending to the animals."
Layton had to admit he was more than a little impressed with what his roommate had been up to since she disappeared. But it didn't surprise him. In the eleven months since they had been living together, he had learned when she was upset, she put her time and effort into building. To create something new that would benefit the train.
What he had also noted with a touch of irritation was she rarely looked at him, and whenever possible, only kept him just within her sight to the side. Mostly she seemed to rely on engaging others to give reports of the building progress in each area while she would step to the side. Layton let it go for now, instead concentrating on what the other workers were telling him. He even made several suggestions. But what he also noticed was that while he was talking to someone, Melanie had her attention focused on something else. Either talking to another worker or giving instructions to someone.
They weren't working together. Each of them was engaged in their own individual act. And he didn't much care for it.
This was suppose to be an engagement between them. How was he suppose to talk to her when she was so actively avoiding him?
As she led him back up to the first car, he decided if they were ever going to try and talk this out, he had to get her alone. Somewhere she couldn't run away or deflect his attention onto someone else. But first he had to lay some groundwork.
"I'm really impressed with what you've accomplished." He said in as neutral a tone as he could manage. "And in such a short time."
All his attempt at acknowledging her work met with nothing more than a slight nod.
Layton gave a slight sigh, knowing how his next suggestion was going to be met. "But right now," he added, "I need my Head of Engineering back in the engine."
He expected a blatant refusal. But instead Melanie diverted her attention back to the schematic drawing on the table in the first car. "What seems to be the problem?" Was her sole question.
Layton stepped up next to her. "There's no problem." He replied. "It's just that you haven't been in the engine room in over a week. Now, I understand this is important to you, but you have other responsibilities besides this."
Whatever he hoped to accomplish, she was apparently ready for his arguments. "I've stopped by the Engine room after my work here several times. I've spoken with Bennett and Javi. Everything is running smoothly."
"And it takes more than two engineers to run this train. You know that better than anyone. It isn't fair to put all of the work on Knox and Javi."
He knew that would get her attention as she pulled up slightly from looking over the schematic drawing. Guilt was a wonderful motivator sometimes.
"And the Horde misses you." He added.
He was sure that would get her moving to the subtrain, but she instead turned her attention once more to the drawing on the table. "They've seen me." She replied stoically. "They seem to be doing fine working with Bennett's senior engineers."
Layton tried again. "Plus, I think Javi broke something in the engine last night and he's been trying to cover it up until he can fix it."
Melanie pulled up again, but held the position without saying anything. Layton knew she was thinking over her options. Looking for another escape route. But this time he seemed to have cornered her. A threat to her beloved engine was just too much for her to turn her back on.
Pulling away from the table she directed her focus on one of the men working at the head of the car.
"Mr. Davidson?"
The man immediately stopped what he was doing and came straight to her. Layton didn't miss the quick scrutiny he was given as the man approached.
"Yes, Ma'am. Is something wrong?"
Layton quickly stepped in. He didn't want to be perceived by the workers as a threat to the project.
"Nothing serious, Mr. Davidson." He answered, quickly picking up on the man's name and making a mental note of his position. "Ms. Cavill is just needed in the forward engine for a few hours. She'll be back when she's done."
As reassuring as he tried to be, Layton didn't miss how his statement went over as the man cast a quick look at Melanie, as though looking for confirmation.
What was it about this woman that wherever she went on the train, even stepping in among people who a year ago would have slit her throat without question, now inspired this level of concern for her well-being?
"I'm sure it's nothing, Mr. Davidson. Please see that the work continues as quickly as possible. We want to get the school open as soon as we can. Ms. Audrey will likely be down this afternoon with some perspective teachers who will want to get a look at their new classrooms and might even have a few suggestions of their own for improvements. All right?"
The man was still eyeing Layton with a decidedly unfriendly stare. "Yes, ma'am. My little Benny's looking forward to the school opening. Lot of the kids here are. Won't want nothing to delay it."
Layton clearly heard the message. "I'm sure Ms. Cavill will be back in record time." He quickly added.
Just then another child quickly ran up to them.
"Ms. Cavill?" The boy piped up with concern. "Are you leaving?"
Melanie quickly crouched down to eye level with the child. "I'm needed in the engine, Ellis." She answered with a reassuring smile. "But I'll be back as soon as I can."
The boy pulled himself up proudly. "One day I'll go to the engine room. He announced. "And I'm gonna help run the train, too."
"I have no doubt of that, Ellis." She replied. "You're very smart. But be sure to pay attention to what you're asked to do here for the school. Engineers have to be able to follow instructions to the letter."
One of the workers came up just as the child ran off again. "Ms. Cavill?"
Melanie quickly turned her attention to him. Something that irritated Layton even more. It seemed she had the time to stop and talk to everyone they encountered, but would hardly even spare him a glance.
Again Layton found himself under the man's assessing stare before he turned back to Melanie.
"Did...did you have time to discuss...what we talked about? The supplies?"
"Not yet, Mik..."
But Layton suddenly cut her off. "What supplies?" He asked, not missing an opportunity to let the workers know he wasn't the enemy he seemed to be perceived as. That he supported the idea of the new school being built.
The man turned a still suspicious gaze to Layton. "A lot of different things." The man replied, casting a quick glance at Melanie. "Mostly we scavenge what we need from the cars. Re-purpose things as best we can. But we're running low on certain items."
"Make a list." Layton told the man as he directed Melanie towards the subtrain, also not wanting to miss an opportunity to get her out of the car without any further delays. "Whatever you need, I'll see you get it."
Melanie put some resistance against the hand in her back pushing her forward.
"I'll be back soon, Mike. And I'll see the Chancellor knows what is needed, all right?"
Down on the platform, Layton hit the button to call the closest car to their station. Standing obediently next to them a few feet away were her two guards, which Layton was already working on how to get rid of. He wanted some time with her alone, not alone with her two ever present guard dogs. But once that plan was in place, he turned his attention to his roommate.
"They seem to listen to you up there more than me."
"I've kept my word to them." She replied, keeping her eyes fixed on the wall opposite the platform. "That means a lot to those that still live down here."
"Coming down here was a big risk." He added. "You're still not exactly their favorite person."
He got a slight shrug in response this time. "They need someone they can trust. To know the front of the train hears them. That we care for everyone on the train."
"They have representatives for that."
"But they still don't feel heard. To most of the train they're still just little more than...whining, complaining...Tailies."
"You still shouldn't take risks like that." He tried again. "You're too valuable to the train."
"Noah and Henry understand that." She answered this time.
"Noah and Henry?"
Melanie gestured slightly with her head to the two guards standing nearby.
"So they actually have names?"
Melanie turned to him for the first time on the platform. "Of course they have names! Why wouldn't they?"
"Because you usually just whistle for dogs?"
The comment earned him a deep frown.
"It was a joke." He added.
"Noah and Henry are actually very nice young men." Melanie defended her guards. "Frank even got their families off of Big Alice and safely on Snowpiercer."
Layton cast a quick glance at the two men, who still had their sights trained on him like two rottweilers.
"I bet they'd attack and eat me if you told them to."
Melanie made a dismissive sound as the subtrain pulled up. "Don't be insane." She responded as she stepped into the carriage. "They wouldn't eat you. They'd toss you into a ravine, like all the others."
Layton paused for a second as he followed behind her, then shook his head with a small smile. At least she wasn't cutting him out so far she was past making a joke.
Layton quickly turned to the two guards as they stepped forward to get on the back of the subtrain.
"Sorry, fella's" He stated. "This is private car." He told them. "The next one is yours."
The exchange that took place at the statement happened so fast Layton could hardly follow it. The two guards instantly exchanged a glance, then turned to Melanie for instructions. With a single nod from her, one of the guards quickly stepped back to the wall and pressed the button to summon another car.
As Layton stepped up to get into the carriage, a hand firmly seized hold of his arm. Turning back to the guard, all that answered him was a stern look and a single shake of the man's head.
With a deep sigh, Layton took his foot off the carriage floor and stood on the subtrain platform with his hands folded in front of him as he waited. Just then he caught Melanie's stare as she watched him. Although barely noticeable, he caught the trace of a smile on her lips at his predicament just before she turned her attention back to the front of the carriage.
"Just make sure it's a nice ravine." He commented.
Within a few moments a second car pulled up.
Inside the carriage, Melanie watched as Layton stepped back to the two guards and spoke a few words to them. She knew the guards listened to him, since Jackson had instructed them their duties were not just to protect her, but Layton also. But for some reason, her standing with them did seem to superceded his.
Watching them in the rearview mirror of the carriage, Melanie saw the one guard give a single, sharp nod to Layton's words, then the two of them got into the second carriage as Layton walked back to where she waited. Her whole body stiffened as he got in and took the seat next to her.
It was a good ten to fifteen minute ride to the front of the train. And she already anticipated it would be the longest of her life.