Between lush mountain forests, the West Coast wind swept over the railroad tracks. The reefs along the shoreline had been worn by the waves year after year, leaving rough holes behind. Where the two met, they produced a distant, desolate echo.
A train emerged from the tunnel, winding through the meeting point of coast and mountains like a meandering stream. Sea wind blew in through the gaps in the windows, making the panes knock softly against their frames.
One Hand rested on the window latch and pushed forward. With a click, the window locked shut, and the mildly irritating clattering finally stopped. Lowering his hand and setting down the newspaper, Schiller looked over his glasses at Lucifer, seated across from him in the compartment, and said:
"Your travel plans are classically astonishing. I never imagined that a creature with wings of its own would choose a train as its first means of transportation when going somewhere."
Lucifer was cutting up the French puff pastry on his plate with knife and fork. He focused on his breakfast as he said, "That's the point of traveling. People could clearly get somewhere by the fastest method, yet they insist on taking their time and seeing the sights along the way. If you hadn't found it too tiring, we could have walked."
"Give me a break." Schiller rolled his eyes slightly and sighed. Lucifer clicked his tongue and said, "A luxury compartment on a sightseeing train can't represent the true flavor of West Coast travel. If you ask me, we should have taken a spontaneous road trip. Hitchhiking by the roadside is an important part of traveling too."
Schiller folded up the newspaper and looked Lucifer in the eyes. "Then, when a robber pulled a gun, you'd flash your wings and scare them half