Red Soil Town Station

Woooo! A shrill whistle suddenly shattered the calm of the station platform. The people waiting to board all turned toward the sound. Oh! Our train's about to pull in!

In an instant, the orderly platform erupted into confusion. People darted about like headless chickens, shoving and jostling one another. It seemed a full-blown riot might break out at any moment.

Just then, a well-trained team of railway workers rushed onto the platform. Dressed in matching black uniforms, they split up at once according to their prepared plan.

Some blew sharp blasts on their whistles. Others shouted for passengers to stay safe and keep back from the platform edge.

Before long, a rhythmic chuffing grew louder in the distance, followed by the familiar clatter of wheels against rails.

Trailing thick smoke, a massive steam train thundered into the station like a charging beast.

With a loud clang, the train came to a steady stop.

Before anyone could collect themselves, dense white steam burst from both sides of the train. It flooded the platform like a volcanic eruption. In the blink of an eye, everything vanished into a white haze...

"Everyone, get back! Behind the safety line, now! Passengers still need to get off. Keep order—let them off before you board, and no pushing!" The railway workers shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices ringing across the platform.

When overexcited passengers tried to force their way forward, the workers sometimes had to pull the long wooden batons from their waists and strike those passengers across the back or shoulder to make them keep their distance.

Amid the noise and the workers' unceasing calls, the carriage doors opened slowly, and passengers filed out in groups.

They followed the planned route through a passage the railway workers had cleared, walking briskly until