Harmony pushed one of the red knobs on the train’s console and listened. Nothing. Instead of giving into disappointment she tried another. This time a sound filled the air. Hopefully, that meant something was working.
She smiled at Griffin. “I hope there’s still no one in the yard. In a few minutes, I should be able to start the engine and I don’t know how loud a sound that will make.”
“I don’t see any Overseers.” He glanced toward the engine’s control panel. “Maybe we shouldn’t start it until we see whether or not Molly’s been successful. We don’t want to draw any unwanted attention before they arrive, not if we’re going to make a clean escape.”
The sun had been shining down brightly for some time, but there was still no sign of Walker or Journey. There hadn’t been any sight of the Overseers in the railroad yard for some time now, so that probably meant they were already in the town center handing out that day’s duties to their citizens. Knowing they could come back at any moment filled Harmony with dread. It was taking every ounce of to stop from doing something rash. The only thing holding her back was the belief that Griffin’s robot friend would eventually be successful.
“Maybe we should go see if Molly needs our help. With everyone outside waiting for their job duties, won’t that make it harder for them to make it here unseen?”
Griffin shook his head. “No. Molly’s taking them out the back way. With everyone in one place, there shouldn’t be any unpleasant surprises.”
Harmony stared across the train yard. “They should be here by now.”
“They’ll be here.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “If it will make you feel any better, I’ll go check.”
She turned and smiled. “Would you?”
He nodded. “If it will take that worried look off your face.” Griffin slipped the backpack off and set it on the floor. “When you see us running across the yard, start the engine, and not a moment before. As soon as the Overseers hear it, they’ll swarm this place. The day I stowed away, it took the train several minutes to build up steam. I have no idea how we’re going to keep the Overseers at bay for that long.”
“I have an idea.” She patted his arm.
“What’s that?”
She grinned. “I’ll work on it while you’re gone.”
Griffin had the nerve to flick the end of her nose before opening the door and sliding out. Only after he took off running across the yard toward the opening in the fence did Harmony think of wishing him good luck. When he disappeared through it, she regretted having sent him. What if her concern got him captured, or worse? And what would that worse be here in Freedom? Would the Overseers go as far as killing someone who’d defied them?
Harmony sighed. She should have just waited for Molly and her brother and cousin to show up, as planned. “Damn. Why couldn’t I have waited just a little while longer? Because I’m impetuous and impatient, that’s why.” If Boy had been here, he would have tried to talk some sense into her. She needed him to keep her under control.
Unable to do anything about it now, Harmony climbed out of the cab and went about unhooking the engine from the rest of the cars. All they needed was to keep the Overseers out of the cab long enough to build up speed, and that would be easier without the extra weight.
Harmony pulled at the coupling pin, but even with her foot pressed against the coupling bar for leverage, she still couldn’t get it to budge. “Damn.”
“Can I help you?’
Harmony almost fell backward. She grabbed ahold of the car and steadied herself, coming face to face with a rusty-faced robot. He was a little taller than her and appeared to have been built from spare parts.
Brazening it out, she simply said, “Who are you?”
The rusty robot clinked back a couple of steps before answering, “Bolts.” He looked at the coupling. “Do you need help?”
She grinned. “Certainly.” Harmony stepped out of the robot’s way, relieved when he pulled the pin out, as if it was nothing.
Bolts held it out to her, and without thinking, she took it. “Is there anything else you need?”
Harmony shook her head. “Err, not right now, no, but do me a huge favor and stay right here.” She put the pin down and turned the robot to face the gap in the fence. “If you see anyone coming through that opening over there, tap on the cab window to let me know. Okay?”
The robot swiveled his head back and forth between her, the fence and the cab’s window several times before finally saying, “Okay.”
His rusted out features didn’t exactly inspire confidence, but at least he had something to keep him occupied instead of warning the Overseers that a stranger was in the train yard.
Harmony patted his shoulder and slipped back into the cab. Doing her best not to worry about the others, she rechecked the water and pressure gauges. Not knowing exactly how a train operated, she crossed her fingers and hoped both were at the right level. With any luck the engine would start when the time came.
Harmony missed piloting her airship. At least on there she had no doubt over which buttons to push and when to do so. One wrong move here and they were either going to be incarcerated or killed, both of which sounded a bit too much like an unhappy ending.
A tap on the glass startled her. She ran over and looked out the window. Thank goodness. Something seemed to be going right. She counted three men and a robot making a mad dash toward the train. Not wanting to be caught at a dead standstill, she rushed over and increased the hydrogen and oxygen mixture. That sent the numbers on the pressure gauge up, so she released the steam from the boiler and into the cylinder. The moment the pistons pressurized, she unlocked the handbrake and the train rolled forward. Maybe, just maybe, they were going to get out of this alive after all.
Harmony was tempted to return to the window, to check on the men’s progress, but feared taking her hand off the brake would let the train go too fast for them to catch up and jump aboard.
The cab door slid open and Bolts climbed in. “They’re coming. I’ll help them to get on board while you man the controls.”
Harmony didn’t question why the robot was helping them but did as she was told. A moment later, Bolt pulled Walker into the cab, followed by Journey.
Harmony’s relief at seeing her brother and cousin was short lived for a spindly leg reached in and grabbed Journey by the ankle.
Walker reacted quickly, pushing Bolts out of the way before kicking so hard at the Overseer’s leg that it released its grip. To Harmony’s surprised, both men jumped off the train again.
“What the hell did they do that for?” she screamed at Bolts, but the damn piece of rusted-out crap just shrugged. Harmony’s mouth hung open for a moment, before she jumped into action.
“Come over here,” she told him, and then placed his hand on the brake. “Keep this exact same pressure. I don’t want the train getting too fast or we’ll take off without them. The moment I tell you; release it and push this button, right here.” She pointed before patting his shoulder. “You got that?”
He nodded, and she ran over to the sliding door and yanked it open.
An Overseer had a hold of Griffin, two more already entering the yard. Walker, Journey and a tiny robot were doing their utmost to pull Griffin free but the Overseer had too many legs to fight off. They’d no more get a couple off Griffin when two more would grab on to take their place. Harmony’s breath caught in her throat. Without a second thought, she jumped out and rushed over to help.
Harmony grabbed a metal pipe from the ground and pounded away at the Overseers’ head. After several hard knocks, the thing became confused enough to release Griffin, but it grabbed the pipe from her hand.
Walker pushed on her shoulder and screamed, “What are you waiting for? Get out of here!”
They all took off running toward the moving train, but a stitch in Harmony’s side caused her to fall behind. Griffin stopped, swept her up and raced on, all but throwing her into the cab. She had her breath knocked out of her from the rough landing on the floor, but she quickly recovered and scrambled to her feet. She rushed over and took the controls from Bolts. The robot made way, and without being told, rushed over to help Griffin and Journey pull the other robot aboard. As soon as they accomplished this, they grabbed Walker’s arms to drag him in too, but an Overseer reached in, trying to pull him back.
While Griffin and Journey fought off the Overseer, trying to free Walker, Harmony released the handbrake and increased the steam pressure. Griffin finally dislodged the robot’s leg from Walker’s ankle, the train increased speed, enough to leave the Overseer behind.
Griffin slammed the door shut and shouted at Bolts, “Hold this shut and don’t let go unless I tell you to!” He then winked at Harmony.
Harmony was so happy to have everyone back in one piece, she returned the wink without thinking, knowing she owed this man far more than she could ever repay.
Walker and Journey joined Harmony at the controls. She couldn’t help but give them a brief look-over, to make certain they still had all their limbs, before concentrating on increasing the train’s speed.
Harmony’s voice cracked as she scolded them. “The next time the two of you get imprisoned by power hungry robots, I’m not coming to look for you, do you hear?” She made eye contact with them both, only to shake her head when they returned nothing but devilish grins. She should have left their asses back in the Overseers’ clutches. These two knuckleheads were incapable of staying out of trouble.
A strange metallic voice interrupted. “How far are we traveling?”
They all turned to the new robot, Griffin saying, “Molly, we’re headed to the city the Overseers venture into every so often. Why do you ask?”
Molly pointed toward the back of the train. “Then why did we leave the spare water car behind?”