The steam train rolled on. There was clearly no hurry. The smell of coal filled my nostrils but I was used to the smell and luxury of travelling by train. The only thing that mattered was that I would arrive at my destination. Just a few more hours to go and then I would see my brother Daan again.
The landscape looked deserted, everything was covered in snow.
Right on schedule, a gentleman said to his travelling companion, before you know it we will be home. He held the pocket watch to his ear and put it back in the pocket of his tailcoat.
I dozed off by the sound of the locomotive on the rail.
The train stopped with a loud crack and my suitcase flew out of the luggage net and hit the gentleman's companion full in the face. He said nothing and sank to the floor without a word.
Suddenly it became dark and chaos. Footsteps, shouting, crying and the conductor shouting for everyone to remain calm and in their seats until the police arrived. The murmuring and whispering continued. There had been a murder and the victim was the driver. I thought of Daan who would surely be worried and the long night ahead of me while we waited for the police. I wondered who it was that had wanted to harm the driver and felt my stomach growl with hunger.
for the picture and the prompt see @freewritehouse (contest) and pixabay.com