Another Place, Another Time

 

            The sail scooped wind out of the sky and propelled the wooden train-boat onwards. The four adventurers were in the middle of their journey to find out exactly what goes on beyond the fog. The fog had protected their sea-locked town for over two decades from the vast unknown. It is said phantasmal figures lurk within the impenetrable, permanent mist: spectral anomalies, eerie shades, ghastly wraiths, and other apparitions.

These four children had an insatiable curiosity for such phantoms. They set out on the fourth hour of this very day, climbing out of their windows, creeping out of their homes like they had stolen the largest diamond known to man. They had been planning this endeavor for some time now, and had sketched, developed, and designed a suitable vessel for this grand adventure.

            “How about we build our own train? It would be a steely monster, and go really fast,” exclaimed Billy.
            “Because, ya dingus, we can’t build a train,” replied John.
            “How’s that, John?”
            “Because, ya dolt, we don’t know how.”
            “Oh... yeah.”

John sighed in exasperation as he planted his hand on his face. Matt and Nick mimicked John, resulting in a chorus of moans of disappointment and irritation.

“I know! How about we build a boat, and go by sea?” questioned Matt.

“The wood we have is too heavy to float, Matt, and we don’t have enough of the special, lightweight wood to make an entire boat, can’t go by sea,” replied John.

“Wait, I’ve got it. What about a boat that’s a train and a boat. We could call it the train-boat!” proclaimed Nick. 

“Is your head screwed on right? You can’t just throw a train and a boat together, Nick,” John countered.

“Wait, John, I think he’s onto something. What if we had a small wooden cart, like made of the lightweight wood that would fit on the train tracks? Then, we could put a sail on it, and the wind could carry the lightweight wood, and we would have enough of it to build the small cart!” Matt shouted with excitement.

“You know, Matt, that just might work,” responded John.

So they began to build their train-boat. Within two weeks, the contrivance had been completed, and the four buccaneers and their glorious pirate locomotive were ready to ride. 

So they snuck and they sneaked, from their homes they lurked. They heaved the most innovative invention since electricity onto the railroad. Then, they opened the sail and hopped in the cart, venturing into the unknown.

If there was an answer, they'd find it there.