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“How are we going to find her on the cruiser. How will we even find your boy?” “We’ll find him.” “I see. You don’t want to give away any of your company secrets?” She shrugged her shoulder. “That’s fair, I guess.” A train conductor walked through the carriage, swinging a bell, shouting “Transfer. Transfer.” As the train came closer to the 8-tracker, Ruskin and Saddler went with the other passengers to a passage wagon. This wagon had no windows but was lit with a few hanging caresene lamps and quickly grew hot as it fille with people. The sound of heavy locks coming together sounded from the other side of the metal wall. It stopped. The wall fell outwards and became the floor of gangway with side and roof of harmonica folded canvas. Ruskin stepped into the vestibule wagon. The floor was covered by a thick carpet with the cruiser company logo weawed in. The room was open up to the ceiling and the walls covered by walnut panels.Gaslit chandeliers. The lack of sense of movement made it easy to forget you were on a train and not in a hotel or club. He went to the 15 feet model of the train to get an overview of the cruiser. The model train had no roofs so it was visible to see what facility each wagon contained. A brass sign stated the number of each wagon, as well as the interval of room numbers for the wagons containing private guestrooms. “He’ll be down here,” he said to Caselli after studying the plan and lead the way out. The corridor that took them out of the vestibule was on the side of the train and took them past a glass wall with a restaurant on the other side. A waiter stood by the door. “Hope you had a pleasant journey, Sir, Madam. Why not enjoy a late supper here.” Ruskin lifted a hand to show they were not interested. As they walked on, Caselli said, “It’s not such a big secret as you think it is.” “Really?” “We do it too. We have a system of numbers, and if we have to make contact we have a system of numbers to go through. Like, 16 is the first choice, but if the building does not have 19 floors, then you go to the next number, say 6, and if there are 6 floors then you know your contact is on the sixth floor. So you know what car number your contact is in.” They must have stolen that trick from us. “It’s called a wagon.” “‘it’s called a wagon,’” she repeated in a deep voice, mocking his voice. “You English are lucky that it was your language that became the world tongue and other languages now are only used for specialities.” They continued to the next wagon, where there was no corridor just and empty passage between cafe tables. In the next wagon they had to up to a passageway on the first floor while a dancing teacher shouted instructions walzing around the floor below them. So the next wagon would be a stage wagon. No 27 and his contact should there. An unlucky coincidence, for had it been a cafe or bar wagon he could’ve walked around and looked for him, but if a play or concert was in progress they might not even let him in. He could be waiting in the corridor ofcourse, but he would have been taught not to stand in places where he didnæt belong and attract unwanted attention. He knew something was wrong when people came streaming toward him. Looking scared and worried. He and Caselli made his way past them and into the corridor. More people came streaming out from the doors to the auditorium. Ruskin pushed against him up the stairs and cameout on the top row of seats. Four rows down uniformed train officials stood around a male body laying on the floor. One of them only wore a shirt. His jacket covered the face on the body. The suit was that of James. As Ruskin walked closer one of the officials held up his hand and signaled for him to stop. “I recognize his clothes. Is this my friend James Holden traveling on a diplomatic passport?” The officials exchanged looks, then one of them spoke. “I am sorry it is your friend.” Ruskin lowered his head and lifted his hand to hie eyes. Casseli’s hand touche dhis shoulder. “Oh, sweetheart.”She muttered comforting. “What happened?” She asked. After amoment of silence, one of the men said, “I’m sorry to tell you, but he was murdered. Ruskin looked up. “Murdered. By who?” “We don’t know. He was found—” “We should not talk about this before the train police are here.” “I understand.” Ruskin nodded. “But you see his fiance is also on the train. Elisabeth Sadler. We were supposed to meet her.” “Oh no,” Caselli said,” with her bad nerves, she will be absolutely hysterical. You should be the one to tell her, darling.” “Yes I think that might be best.” One of the conductors said. “What is room number.” “I don’t know. Do you, dear? No we don’t know. We were suppose to meet them here.” The conductor said, “Please, if you care to come with me.” They followed him out of the theatre, and though the next three wagons until they came to a dork marked Office. “Please wait here.” The conductor. Ruskin resisted the temptation to tease Caselli with a ‘darling’ remark. They did not know if anybody was watching, so they stood in trygget silence. The conductor led them onto a rolling walkway and they were carried four wagons down. What would happen when they were alone with Saddler and she had the pearl. Should he subdue Saddler. Would she try the same. Eventualy it could come to a fight with weapons and he could end up killing her. make it clear that he wants to overpower her. But not kill her. But only if Sadler actually had the pearl. The idea of eliminating her did not sit well with him. But if she tried he would defend himself. Then maybe, Sadler didnæt have the pear anymore. In that case he might still have use of Caselli. Unless she didnæt make a move, he would wait till after he was sure the pearlwas with Sadler. Then he would try not to harm her too much, At least not kill her. There was no use denying he felt a spark of attraction to her. He would try hard not to kill her. He turned to Caselli. She was looking intensely at him. She must be having the same thoughts. He took them to door no 1705mandd knocked. “Who is it?” called Sadler from the other side of the door. “It’s me, Ruskin.” “You,” she screamed with surprise and fear. The conductor looked at them. “Poor thing. Bad nerves.” Caselli sad in a confidential tone to the conductor. “Please open the door, Elisabeth,” Ruskin said. “I’m afraid I have bad news.” The door opened ajar and Sadler’s confused face looked out. Her eyes settled on Caselli. Her eybros knitted.“Her. Why did you bring that—” “Please Beth,” Caselli interrupted. “Can we not bury the past for a moment?” “Beth?” “Please let us in.” Ruskin said. Sadler opened the door. Ruskin turned his back to the conductor, as he walkedin, hoping the man would take the opportunity to go away. He didn’t. They entered the living room of Sadler’s suite. The light from gaslamps reflected in polished dark wood and a silver framed mirror. The air smelled of fresh flowers. A table beside an armchair held a cup of tea and a book. Keeping his back to the railway official Ruskin blinked at Sadler. “It’s about your fiancé, I’m afraid he has been murdered.” “Murdered?” she gasped. “But I don’t have a fiance.” “What’s this,” the conductor exclaimed. “She says—” Caselli struck his neck with the edge of her hand, and he crumbled to the floor. “Where’s the pearl.” Caselli stared hard at Sadler. Sadler turned to Ruskin. “Why are you two together now?” Ruskin staredat Caselli while answering Sadler, “It’s okay. Where’s the pearl?” “I don’t have it.” “She’s lying.” “Shut your mouth,” Sadler shot back. “Where is it?” “I’m so sorry I ran away. But you see, my uncle is not a rich man. A friend gave him the money, the diamond so he could buy it. All he wanted was to borrow it for a time before we got it.” “That’s alright. Where is it now?” “I gave it to some man. You see I was told that once I had bought it I should go to the railway station and get on the first train going west. Then someone would contact me.” “So someone contacted here on the train?” “As soon as I was in my kupe.” “And you gave him the pearl?” “Yes. And we will get it back a later. So all is good. Oh, I’m so sorry I ran away it. But… I was afraid you would take it from me after I told you that silly story that we thought it could explode.” “Explode? Now what kind of silly story is that, Ruskin?” “Do you have a way to contact this man on the train?” Sadler shook her head. “Can you recognize him?” “I believe so.” If Ruskin had been sent to pick up a delivery on a train, he would be sure to get off the train as soon as he had picked up the item. Put as much distance between him and the courier as possible. If the man would do the same he would geet off the train the next time a chaser caught up, which he had seen on the plan was in two and half hour. That should give them able time to plan. Good, he was hungry. Through the thick almost soundproof wall he heard the distinct steam whistle from a chaser getting closer and preparing to attach. Had he misread the plan. No, it must be a supply train carrying goods and mail. Ruskin knew from experience that it was possible to bribe one’s way onboard a supply train.