New Railway Lines

Early the next morning, after saying goodbye to Gutierrez, Bask took the first train back to Red Soil Town Station. The two stations were less than thirty kilometers apart, so he reached his home base by ten.

"Bruno! Everything been all right these past few days?"

Bask summoned his deputy stationmaster as soon as he arrived.

"Don't worry, Stationmaster. Everyone's been doing their best to keep the line running since you left. Not a single train has been late in the past two days!"

Bruno knew exactly what mattered most to Bask. After years of service in the Two Rivers Territory army, where discipline was strict and military law was absolute, Bask was keenly alert to rules and regulations of every kind.

Under Bask's careful management and strict oversight, Red Soil Town Station had become the finest railway station in the vast territory. It was renowned for its uncompromising rules and an almost perfect on-time arrival record, earning award after award.

Bask took immense pride in that achievement. It also meant he would not tolerate anything that might tarnish it.

Pleased with Bruno's answer, Bask said, "At the headquarters meeting, Director Bob gave us our assignments for passenger service during the Harvest Festival. He also had another job for us!"

Bruno straightened and listened intently.

"You know the territory is about to build a new line, right?"

"Of course. I heard about it some time ago!"

"Good. The new line will probably be bigger than Lines One and Two combined. The Railway Bureau will expand with it, which means plenty of new positions, from stationmasters down to ordinary staff. Some people from our station are bound to be transferred to the new line.

"You've only recently become deputy stationmaster, Bruno, but you've been here a long time. This is a