“That’s a funny thought.” She had an image of pesky things chasing after a crow. “I hope James is okay.”

“Sure he’s fine,” Lucas said. “Where we going, Bella?”

“Looks like a train station. Let’s just sit on a train until we get some clarity in our thinking. It won’t be busy, as we’re out of peak hour. James gave you one of those travel cards and I’ve got one, so let’s do it.”

“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been on a train.”

They were on the platform now. There were screen doors running the length of the platform and rail tracks meandered off into the distance.

“I can hear the tracks singing, Lucas. A train is coming.” She saw Lucas looking at the screens. “They keep people and things off the tracks. Now don’t freak out when you don’t see a driver—trains are mostly driverless these days.”

A train came into view. There were few people on the platform. A pang of paranoia touched Isabella as she saw a lady with a black coat walk on to the platform. She didn’t see the face, only the blonde hair. She brushed the paranoia away.

“No driver. Thanks for warning me, Bella.”

They boarded the train. A voice warned them that the doors were shutting. As Lucas searched for the most inconspicuous seat, Isabella noticed a ruckus near the entrance to the next carriage. She noticed the black-coated lady arguing with some man. The man was on the train; the lady wasn’t. When train doors shut, they shut.

The train was now moving past the lady, who was walking off in disgust.

It was her.

Isabella looked in the other carriage to see who the man was whom she had the dispute with. He was to the rear of the carriage with his back to her.

“You okay, Bella?” Lucas asked.

She nodded. In the back of her mind she heard the words, trust me.

<°)))><

Ava was furious. Who was that jerk? She had to refrain herself from doing something stupid. He actually looked like he did it on purpose. He even smiled.

She was now going to have to call on her network of contacts to track the girl. Her phone vibrated. She dug deep into her pocket to retrieve it.

“Hello, love. Where are you?”

“Just out getting some fresh air, my love.” She took a deep breath as if triggered by her own words.

“We need to get together and have a chat. One of our technos raised some concern about some internet activity. It appears there is some snooping going on.”

“Are you at home?”

“Yes.”

“Did you want to come and pick me up?” She looked up at the sign for the name of the station and then the sign pointing to the street. “I’m near Willison Station, at the end of Shalless Drive.”

“Okay, Willison Station, be there in ten minutes.”

She placed the phone back in her pocket and walked back down to the park bench. Another car and trailer came past. This one had its load well secured and the tyres looked new.

Snooping. Who would be snooping?

61 – A peaceful and reflective train ride

LUCAS COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time he’d been on a train. There were few passengers in the carriage and the patchy beard that now covered his face gave him what he now considered an unfamiliar look.

Isabella rested her head on his shoulder. He’d seen the lady following. He’d seen her through the gaps in the trees in the park, and again when she appeared on the road that turned down to the station. He wanted to thank the man who had obstructed her access to the train. Those automatic doors showed no mercy.

He knew Isabella had seen her too. But she had chosen not to mention it, and Lucas wasn’t going to raise the subject, not now that the lady was nowhere in sight. Lucas would wait for her next appearance.

The train was relatively quiet. Where had the clickety-click of the old days gone? Must be the modern way the tracks were laid, no breaks to cause the clickety-click.

What next? He saw Isabella’s reflection in the window. “Where we going, Bella?”

“I was hoping you’d tell me. But then I’m the Melburnian, so I suppose I need to work it out.”

“Yep, I don’t know anybody in this fair city, and I’ll have to think about giving myself up some time. For now, I’m enjoying your company.” He felt a surge of warmth flow from those words.

“I’m sure if you think hard enough, you’ll come up with someone, but it doesn’t matter too much because I’m enjoying your company too.” She snuggled up to him. “I feel safe but this train will eventually stop so we have to think of something”

Who did he know in this fair city? What could they do?

He felt Isabella move. “I haven’t told you about the Messenger, have I?”

“Messenger?”

“You saw the lady following us?”

“Yes.” Lucas moved in his seat. He felt exposed.

“And you saw that man block her access to the train?”

“I did. I didn’t want to alarm you.”

She squeezed his arm. “I know that, Lucas. But I want to tell you about the Messenger. He blocked her access.”

“So you give people names by the actions they perform?”

“No. I’ve come across that man a number of times now.”

Bells chimed as the train shot through a railway crossing. Lucas stared at the flashing lights on the boom gates and the people behind the pedestrian barrier. In a flash the scene was gone.

“A number of times? Are you sure, Bella?”

“The first time was on the bus trip from Melbourne. He sat next to me even though there were plenty of seats available. He told me I was going on a journey that would help others.” She stopped and looked out the window.

“Well, he was reasonably accurate with that.” Lucas put his hand on her lap.

Isabella smiled. “The next time was when we came down from the bush. He protected me from that lady.”