Much RealLife in the last few days. This five-hours, six-days per week is not at all helpful.

Glad that I waited, though. My first glance at this scene had the three women meeting the train. I realized that, like kudzu, Aurie was growing to take over Part Three, a part supposedly focused on Eloise. So, I have her and Colour away from the meeting, unable to hear what’s going on. They get to know each other and the Regent just a little better.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer! 

For whatever of her reasons, Aurelia had left Eloise and Colour at a small rise, just where the rail line left the bridge and crossed onto land.  She had gone on with ten legionaries in uniform, five on each side, all with their rifles but no helmets.

“She’s really wearing that?” Eloise muttered.  Next to her, the older woman laughed.

“A white sundress?  And if we can both see she’s nothing on under it, so can everyone else,” Colour said.  She and Eloise were both in their “secretarial wear,” with jackets and skirts just at their knees.

“Another one of her provocations?” Eloise asked.

“Of course.  She’s very good at them.” A sigh and shake of her head.  “That little general marched an army right up to my country’s borders, demanding we vote on a treaty.  With that being debated, she invited herself into my home.”

“I really didn’t like her when we first met, in her camp,” Colour went on as they could see a small locomotive pulling a single passenger car just begin onto the Texas side of the bridge.  Aurelia and her men stopped just where the bridge began.  “But after our ride up to Brunswick, and later, well… we became friends.”

“I’ve seen what she can do, how she manipulates people,” Eloise replied, seeing their long shadows from the now-risen sun.  “Did you ever think that?”

“No.” Her denial was complete.  “By the time I began to understand what people like her can do, we were already friends.”

“And that means we trust one another.” Colour pointed with her right.  “Look, it’s almost here and slowing.”

“I’ve never seen a bridge like this one,” Eloise said.  They could both hear the squeal of the train’s wheels.  “We’ve got a few nice ones in Canada, but this double-deck design?”

“Didn’t do your homework, Lieutenant?” Colour asked with a smile.  “It’s been heavily reinforced since first built, nearly a quarter-century ago.  That upper part is for the MAGLEV we were on yesterday.  It now goes all the way to Shreveport.  That was Texas territory since the Change.  They only annexed the rest of former northern Louisiana ten years ago.”

“Oh.” I’m embarrassed to know none of that.  And I’m supposed to be an officer.

They watched a part of a dozen get off of the rear car.  All in business suits, some with briefcases.  Four were women but, after being shown a picture of Livia Hartmann late last night, I don’t see her.  I hope she’s on the train or this won’t end well.

Accompanied by two men and one woman, a tall man with silver hair, in a charcoal-gray suit, led their party forward.  Next to Eloise, Colour turned and spoke to one of their minders, asking for binoculars.   Putting them to her eyes, she whistled softly.

“Boy, is that guy mad.”

“That’s their Secretary of State?” More of her poor intelligence.

“Yep.  Oh, they stopped.  See?  About fifteen feet apart.  Just close enough to not yell.” She lowered the lenses.  “I wonder if he wants Aurie to take a few steps, as a goodwill gesture?  Or, maybe he realized she has no underwear on!”

“You joke at a time like this?” Eloise shook her head.

“You’ll grow up some day, Miss Patel.”

Ignoring the subtle put down, they fell silent to watch.  The man from Texas waved his hands about a bit, at one point raising his right arm to point downriver.  She has not moved at all; nor have any of her men.

Behind them, a cloud must have drifted across the sun.  It was still plenty warm, but Eloise still shuddered at the drama before them.

“Odd time of day for a squall,” Colour said, glancing back, east over her shoulder.  “Dear God…”