Roger and his two sisters had boarded the night train and were making themselves comfortable in their small but functional compartment
Gillian looked at the furnishings as she deposited her bag on the lower bunk
Even though everything changes these compartments remain the same
Look there is a shaving point above the sink
I have shaved you know I do not own an electric razor
Roger looked the busy platform that faced the sleeping coaches of the night train
It was nearly 10.30 and to his surprise the station was still busy
He guessed that a long distance train was about to arrive
Who is having what bunk?
Beach looked at Roger and then at Gillian
Roger you have this bunk as you are the tallest and Gillian and I will have the bottom bunks
All the bags are on the bottom bunk
That is easily solved I will move them onto the top bunk
What time does the train leave?
In about half an hour
Then there is time for supper
If it is being served
Supper is always served
Just over an hour later the night train was travelling at high speed through Hertfordshire
Beach was sitting in her bunk reading whilst Roger was standing at the window looking at the passing countryside
It is surprising what you can see even at night
I can see only black trees and black hills
And cottages
With late night lights
People taking baths
People watching television
People smoking in their gardens
They will all hear this train and say
There goes the night train racing through the night
You talk absolute tosh Roger
Beach slid down from her bunk and stood next to her brother
As she did so Gillian entered the compartment
Beach everybody can see you
What would have happened if I had brought the guard back with me?
Then he would be disgusted and think that you were sharing your compartment with a man and a boy
I would think that he would put you off at the next station
Wherever that is
Preston?
I do not know
There was a knock at the door
Just a minute
Gillian lightly grabbed Beach’s arm and ushered her beneath the blankets of her bunk
She opened the door
A steward from the dining car stood nervously in the doorway
Sorry to bother you Madam but are you Miss Beatrice Boo?
No I am Gillian Baxter
Do you have a Miss Beatrice Boo travelling with you
Yes
Then she left her purse in the dining car
As he spoke Beach emerged from under the blankets and without leaving her bunk leaned forward and took her purse from the embarrassed steward
Thank you
What is your name?
Graham
Thank you Graham that was so sweet of you
I am always losing things
The steward who was looking at his feet smiled weakly and left
He said something but his words were drowned by the noise of a passing train
Gillian closed the door
Really Beach you are such a bitch
I think that Graham has seen a woman’s breasts before
Anyway I am so flat he most probably thought I was a boy
They are most likely laughing about you in the kitchens as we speak
Let them
Roger who had not become involved in the conversation turned around
Do you know that not all night trains have reached their destinations?
His sisters did not answer him
Gillian was sitting on her bunk smiling at her errant sister
Beach who was still sitting upright was examining the contents of her purse
Do you think I should have tipped him?
I think you did enough
As I was saying not all night trains reach their destinations
Do you remember a television series called the something lawn
The Camomile Lawn
That’s it
Well part of it was set on a night train just like this
I remember it
There was an actress who was thrashing around wildly in her bunk
It was a memorable scene
Do you remember it Roger?
Yes
What was the name of the actress?
I cannot remember the name of the actress but the character she played was called Calypso
From Greek mythology?
Correct
Well she had the most amazing full breasts and I think of her every time we travel to Scotland
Do you Roger?
Not particularly
I wish I was like Calypso
I am glad you are not you would have sent the poor steward mad
Do you think he thought I was a boy?
Ask him
He looked at his two sisters
Gillian was now reading a magazine but was not really interested in the content and Beach had returned to her book
Both were wearing identical glasses
I am not that tired so I am going to sit in the dining car and read as I do not want to hinder your sleep
What were you saying about night trains not reaching their destinations?
Another time
Suit yourself
Over a hundred miles away Miles Kemp had parked his car in front of his farm
He was drunk
Miles Kemp was always drunk
He stumbled into his cottage and sat on the scruffy settee
He fell asleep instantly
As he did so the London bound express roared by
It shook the cottage as it always did
But it did not disturb Miles Kemp
The cottage was situated on a slope above the railway line and should he have wanted to watch trains pass it would have afforded Miles Kemp a perfect view
What Miles Kemp did not know was that when he had parked his battered old car he had not engaged the hand brake properly and the car had started to move down the slope towards the railway track
It had travelled only a few yards when it came to a halt
Its front wheel had become wedged against a small scar in the grass that had occurred when Miles Kemp had carelessly reversed his tractor a few days previously
Nothing happened at first but soon the sill of damp earth began to give way
Suddenly the car began to run towards the cow bridge which crossed the railway line
It gathered speed and smashed into the parapet and ended up hanging over the bridge
Some of the damaged stone from the bridge fell on to the track below but it did not disturb the high voltage overhead power cables
The runway car was positioned above the cables but had not fouled them
Although the noise of the collision had been considerable Miles Kemp had not heard a thing
The countryside around his tormented cottage was silent again
Miles Kemp was sleeping but not dreaming
Miles Kemp did not dream
In just over three hours the night train from London would pass under the cow bridge at high speed
Roger was sitting in the deserted dining car
He was drinking coffee
Graham was sitting opposite him
I am sorry about my sister’s behaviour she does it to shock
Don’t worry it surprised me that’s all but you get used to it
It is surprising how casual people are on these night trains
We see a lot travelling
How long have you worked for the railway company?
Just over eight years
But I have done the night trains for just over three
You must see life
Very much only last year somebody passed away on my train
I must say that that brought our journey to a rather sudden stop
I got to know Preston Railway Station very well
Are you always confident that the night express will arrive?
Yes
Why do you say that?
I am researcher and about a month ago I came across a report of the Wigan railway accident in August 1883
I am not aware of it
Basically a train was derailed as it passed through Wigan’s North West station in the early hours of the morning and thirteen people lost their lives
What caused it?
It appeared that excessive speed caused the accident
The carriages which were rather ill matched but the first fifteen carriages passed through the station without incident
Sadly the sixteenth carriage and others derailed at a set of facing points and smashed through the station
Ouch
That would not happen today as safety is paramount
I agree
But that said accidents always occur
I prefer train travel to flying
So do I
Safer
I agree
Are you going all the way?
Yes we are staying in Edinburgh for a few days
My youngest sister Beatrice believe it or not holds down quite a responsible job
What does she do?
She works in art galleries and as you know there is a splendid one in Edinburgh spanning the tunnels near Waverley station
What does you other sister do?
She is a researcher like me
We do the research on all subjects just name them
For magazines books and everything
I have always wanted to write a book
Then do so
I do not have anything to write about
Write about your experiences on the night trains
You could fill many pages
Possibly
Would you like a whisky?
On the house
A nightcap
That is a nice thought
As Roger and Graham shared a small bottle of whisky Beach lay awake in her bunk
As normal she could not sleep
Gillian was lying on her back
In the dim light she could see her sister’s breasts rise and fall almost in rhythm to the train
She wished that she had breasts like Gillian
So full
That is why she mocked her own breasts
She felt that she was punishing them
What a ridiculous thought
What is a ridiculous thought?
I was contemplating your breasts and I felt a jealousy
I wish I was like you
And I wish I was like you
Let me touch your hand
See there is electricity between us
There usually is between sisters
When do you think Roger will return?
He is probably chatting to someone
The poor steward
Possibly
Do you think I shocked him?
Yes that was naughty of you
Was it?
I did it on the spur of the moment it was not planned
I know
Do think it made Roger cross?
No he is used to your games
And really dear Beach I wish that I had the guts to do what you did but I am so dull
You are not dull
The look on the steward’s face was incredible
So funny
I was so jealous of you
Miles Kemp had two sisters one lived in South Africa but other lived nearby
She was concerned for her brother who had begun drinking heavily again
The farm was running at a profit but her brother was suffering from stress
He worked long hours
She had been expecting a call from him
He had promised to call her
But he had not kept his promise
Their father who had owned the farm before Miles had found comfort within the bottle and the drink slowly killed him
Miles was now forty-seven
Their father had died at forty-seven
Monica took her coat off of the hanger and walked towards the front door
Deep down she thought something was wrong
It was raining again and as she started her car she cursed the weather
Monica always cursed the weather
She did not like driving in the rain
Roger had decided not to return to the sleeping compartment
He did not want to disturb his sisters
When they travelled to Scotland he quite often sat in the dining car
It was raining and the raindrops were chasing each other in frenzy on the carriage window
Gillian walked into the car
She was wearing her faded jeans and Rogers cream sweater
I thought I would find you here
Is Beach asleep?
I think so she is very quiet
I was thinking
What about?
Sue
How long has it been?
Six years
She is happily married again but I do find that I think of her at times especially when it is quiet
There are other Sue’s out there
I know
Well at least you have experienced marriage
What have I got to show apart from a series of ex-boyfriends?
Do you think Graham is married?
I do not know in my view he is married to the job
I think that Beach quite shocked him with her prank
He says it happens all the time when his customers are not dying on him
As Roger finished his sentence the London bound express thundered by
He glanced at Gillian but did not say anything
When you were in the sleeping compartment you said something about not reaching our destination
I just have an uneasy feeling about this journey
Why?
Just a feeling in the pit of my stomach
You read too much Roger
Perhaps
Where are we
I am not sure
We have not reached Preston yet
Still in England
It is always a long journey
Imagine if we were Russian and were travelling on the Trans-Siberian Express
The journey takes days not hours and Beach would most probably have had us condemned to a gulag for insulting the steward
Twenty years in Siberia
Gillian smiled at her brother
I am going back are you coming with me?
No I will catch up with my shut eye in the hotel
Beach’s thing does not start till four
Suit yourself but no more Sue thoughts
Promise
Gillian walked slowly away and it was she left the carriage that Roger realised that she was wearing his sweater
It took Monica almost half an hour to reach the farm
As she parked her car she was a little puzzled that her brother’s car was not in its usual position
The lights were on in the cottage but she could not see his car
She saw her brother as soon as she opened the cottage door
He was slumped on the settee and had not even removed his coat
The room reeked of stale beer
She gently removed his coat and his boots which were surprisingly dry considering the weather
Because of her gentle consideration for her brother Monica visited him at least twice a month especially when she knew he had been drinking
Miles stirred
Rufus
No its Monica again
Where’s Rufus?
In his bed I would imagine
It is where you should be
Leave me here
As you will
Where did you park the car?
What car?
Your car
Outside
It is not there
Miles did not answer and turned his back on his sister
Although slightly unusual Monica did not worry about the car
It was most likely still in the Seven Stars car park
Miles might have been placed in taxi by his so called friends
She spent the next few minutes checking that the house was secure and then after ensuring Miles was safe she left
Monica drove forward very slowly and stopped on the edge of the slope
Although the heavy rain was distorting the beams of her headlights she could see what had happened
Miles’s car had rolled down the slope and had crashed into the cow bridge
For a moment she froze and then fumbled for her mobile only to realise that she had left it at home
She climbed out of her car and began to make her way down the slope towards the small bridge
It was as she neared the bridge that the gravity of the situation hit her
The car had crashed through the north wall of the bridge and was hanging at a shallow angle over the railway lines
Having lived at the cottage previously she was well aware that apart from the expresses there was not much traffic at night
She prayed that no trains would pass as she knew that it was likely that the vibrations would cause the car to fall
She had to think and think fast otherwise a great number of people could be killed
Forty miles away Beach had decided to join her brother in the dining car as Gillian was now asleep
She could not sleep and the last station had woken her up once and for all
She was also worried about her presentation
Beach dressed in the dark as she did not want to disturb Gillian
Her jogging bottoms were easy to find bot she could not find her tee shirt so she borrowed Roger’s sweater
As she left the compartment she looked at her sister who was lying on her back with her right arm above her head
The pose reminded Beach of the television series that she had once watched although she could not recall its title
It was something to do with Greek mythology
Roger was reading the previous days newspaper
Could you not sleep?
No
Coffee
Not yet
You are wearing my sweater
Sorry I could not find anything else without waking Gill
Are you worried about tomorrow?
A little
You have visited these people before
I know but it still makes me nervous why you think I had some fun earlier on
Tomorrow or today as it is I will be Beatrice Baxter and when all the kind words are complete I will asking them for their cooperation in staging a number of exhibitions
Now I am just plain old Beach Boo who does not have a care in the world
Who would you rather be?
The trouble is I do not know the answer
Do you know what the Greek is for sea?
No should I?
It is Pontus which strictly means that the sea is the road to adventure
This train is your ship
The ship of Ulysses
Do you know the story?
The one featured in the television series?
No one of the characters just had the same name
Calypso
The one with the big breasts
Yes
The one who thrashed around on the night train in a compartment like ours
From now on I will associate the two
Well Ulysses was shipwrecked and ended up on Calypso’s island
I believe they became lovers and she wanted him to stay
But he would not
She offered him immortality
But he longed for the sea and the adventures it brought him
And the dangers
Yes and the dangers
What I am trying to say and say quite badly is that you will need to continue your voyage
When you tire then just return to Beach Boo
She does not take life too seriously
Sometimes you are Beatrice and sometimes you are Beach Boo
You are lucky that you have two identities
Most of us only have one
That is why I was so hurt when Sue left me
There was no one I could turn to
Does it still make you unhappy?
Yes but I am over it
But I do think about her at times especially when I am travelling
I think that I might have that coffee now
I am not sure if Graham is around
Should I apologise to him?
No I am sure you made his day
His Calypso moment
Yes his Calypso moment
Calypso with small tits
Monica began thinking straight
She would have to alert the authorities
So that any trains could be stopped
She scrambled up the slope towards the cottage
Miles always carried a mobile with him
The cottage used to have a telephone but Miles insisted that it be removed as he did not use it
How she regretted his decision
Monica flung the cottage door open hoping to wake Miles
But he was in a deep drunken sleep
She shook him but without success and pulled his mobile from his jeans
Without looking she tapped 999 into the silver keyboard
It was then to her absolute horror she realised that the phone was dead
Miles had neglected to charge it
Fuck you Miles fuck you
She slapped his face but he did not react
Then for no reason she looked up at the kitchen clock and realised that the night train to Scotland was due to pass as it did each night
Monica ran down the slope towards the cow bridge and stood in front of the crashed car
She considered her options
Run along the track and warn the train
No the driver would not see her
And of course a train could come the other way
She knew that she only had one option
This was to push the car onto the tracks
Its fall would bring down the power cables and hopefully this would alert the signalmen
Through the wind and rain Monica thought she could hear the night train as it whistled through the town station
It would be seven miles away and travelling at top speed
She began to push the car but it would not move and then gravity took hold and the car toppled from the bridge onto the track below
There was a huge flash which threw Monica to the ground and then a large explosion
That was the last thing that Monica remembered
Roger and Beach were standing in the vestibule as the carriage had become a little stuffy
Out of the corner of his eye Roger saw a flash which lit up the low wet clouds for an instant
The train suddenly jolted throwing Beach to the floor
What’s happening are we going to crash?
No the driver has hit the emergency brake that’s all
You said we were going to crash
I said I had a feeling but we are not going to crash be brave
Beach was sitting on the floor staring at the carpet
What is it?
I think it was some kind of explosion
It lit up the sky for an instant
Gillian ran towards them and was joined by other passengers
There was confusion
Suddenly Graham appeared from the dining car
What’s happened?
Have we hit anything?
Keep calm ladies and gentlemen it appears that something or someone has brought down the overhead power cables just ahead of us
As you can see this train is now stationary
We are in no danger
Please return to your compartments and wait for further announcements
At eight fifteen that evening Roger Gillian and Beach were sitting in a restaurant not far from the Scott Memorial in Edinburgh
Well congratulations to Beach on a job well done
It was a long and hazardous journey but we made it
Did you find anything more about the incident?
There is not much coming out but it appears that a woman managed to drive her car through the wall of a bridge and it fell on to the railway line
Was she killed?
No she was injured but not seriously
That’s good to hear
But that’s all I found out so far
It appears that we will be travelling back via Berwick and York and this time it will not be on a sleeper I am glad to say
Roger and his two sisters toasted each other
To Beach
To Beach
Do you know that sounds slightly ridiculous?
Roger do you remember our conversation about Calypso and Ulysses?
Yes
Well today I am going to stay with her on the island as I have had my fill of adventure for a while
Does your elbow still hurt?
No
Gillian touched her sister’s bruised elbow
Ouch it is a little sore
Do you realise Beach that you were the only casualty apart from the poor woman who crashed her car
Then in future I think we should all listen to Calypso and stay on her island