Chapter 4

           ThesunwasjustclearingthebuildingsofthecitywhenJimandMaccametotherailroadyards,wheretheshiningmetalsconvergedandseparatedandspreadoutintothegreatgridironofstoragetrackswherelineafterlineofcarsstood.

           Macsaid,"There’safreighttrainsupposedtogooutatseven-thirty,empties.Let’sgodownthetrackaway."Hehurriedthroughtheyardtowardtheend,wherethemanytracksdrewtogetherintothemainline.

           "Dowehavetogetitonthemove?"Jimasked.

           "Oh,itwon’tbegoingfast.Iforgot,younevercaughtafreight,didyou?"

           Jimspreadhisstrideinanattempttowalkoneveryothertie,andfoundhecouldn’tquitemakeit."SeemstomeIneverdidmuchofanything,"headmitted."Everything’snewtome."

           "Well,it’seasynow.Thecompanyletsguysride.Intheolddaysitwastough.Traincrewsusedtothrowthestiffsoffamovingtrainwhentheycouldcatchthem."

           Agreatblackwatertowerstoodbesidethetrack,itsgoose-neckspoutraisedupagainstitsside.Themultitudeoftrackswasbehindthem,andonlyonelineofwornandmirror-polishedrailsextendedahead."Mightaswellsitdownandwait,"saidMac."She’llbealongprettysoonnow."

           Thelong,lonelyhowlofatrainwhistleandtheslowcrashofescapingsteamsoundedattheendofhiswords.Andatthesignal,menbegantostandupoutoftheditchbesidethetrackandtostretchtheirarmslazilyinthecoolmorningsun.