#this is a genuine thing that the southern railway had

[british-rail-official]

we've rehired Oliver bulleid because honestly? we're all out of other people willing to take the job.

anyway we're pleased to announce that we're introducing a sequel to the buffet car: the pub car. now you can get sloshed with strangers in style!

[odinsblog]

I really don’t know what it is about social media that turns so many people into aggressively dismissive, Jr. wannabe lawyers, but here we are.

Do y’all really be thinking you’re hitting some kind of rim shot by being insulting and calling someone pathetic? I mean, someone here definitely IS being pathetic, probably, but…

Anyway… here in the adult world where eye live, unless someone is being dehumanized, or being racist, we try to have rational discussions. No need to try and make yourself look all big & bad by accusing someone of spreading misinformation or calling others pathetic. Capisce? (BTW: it makes you look small and desperate)

Hell, even if I were wrong—I’m not, but for the sake of somebody’s weak argument, let’s say that I am—in some (not all!) cases it is more likely that people make genuine mistakes as opposed to intentionally trying to spread misinformation or disinformation. Ever heard of the saying, “it’s safer to ascribe a mistake to ignorance rather than to malice”?

And I only beat this dead horse of an argument to death because I’m reminded of a post where I mistyped 50.0 instead of 500, and immediately someone responded by accusing me of - yup, you guessed it - spreading misinformation! LOL. I greatly appreciated the person who simply (anonymously) asked if I meant to use the number 50 or not.

Y’all really be tryna do the most over nothing.

I have also had people “fact check” and “correct” obvious (non-offensive) jokes. I know you may think it makes you look good and important, but it honestly doesn’t.

I feel like some of you out there are sO super fucking desperate to be a part of gatekeeper culture that you reflexively “correct” things that really don’t require any real corrections.

The information is what it is. Labeling things you don’t like as “disinformation” does not magically invalidate said information.

And who, exactly, do you think the railway lobbyists were lobbying??

Do you think they lobbied:

A) The Academy Awards

B) The NFL

C) Norfolk Southern

D) The Trump Administration

Are you suggesting that the lobbyists avoided going to Trump and his enormously bribable administration? Is that really what you’re asking us to believe, @thereddestofsons ?? Because that seems very, very hard to believe.

But yeah, consider yourself good & blocked. Like, who even wants to do “the discourse” with people who think being smarmy and making accusations is an invitation to rational discussion?? Y’all don’t have to do this. It really doesn’t puff you up the way you seem to think it does. Do you know how easy it is to just make a post of your own??

Anyway, have fun defending Trump or doing whatever it is you think you’re doing here on Tumblr 🫡

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Trump and the GOP put the “crony” in crony capitalism. He did this.

Remember, Republicans love deregulation. They’ll cut any safety regulation, any health regulation, they will do anything to make it easier for big business to profit. No matter how many people it might harm.

Does anyone remember the deadly fertilizer plant explosion in West Texas? Rick Perry defunded and deregulated the shit out of Texas’ fertilizer plants (pun intended), and then it exploded.

Republicans will deregulate big businesses, but regulate the hell out of women, poor people, LGBTQ people, teachers, Black voters, etc etc etc

[feigeroman]

Thomas Headcanons: Dennis

As many people have guessed (and his physical number would indicate), Dennis is indeed BR #11001, the solitary prototype for a class of diesel shunter designed by Bulleid for the Southern Railway, but not built until 1950, after Nationalization. He was a development of an earlier pre-war design, and intended to be powerful enough for shunting work, yet fast enough for trip working in between the intensive passenger services across the Southern Region.

In any event, though, Dennis proved to be less than satisfactory, but contrary to speculation, this was not down to pure laziness. Surprisingly, he was genuinely keen to work to begin with, but this may have been tempered somewhat by his frequent mechanical failures.

His design had a number of inherent flaws as well. One of the main things letting him down was his gearbox, which allowed three speeds to be selected from one of two speed ranges, high and low. Unfortunately, the high-speed range was too slow for main line work, while the low-speed range was too inflexible for shunting.

It is known that for a time, Dennis was tried out as a shunter at the marshalling yard at Norwood, in South London. However, due to his various flaws, he ended up spending as much time out of service as he did in. These problems came to a head in 1959, when Dennis was finally withdrawn from active BR service. He’s recorded as having been disposed of later that year, but in actual fact, he was transferred to the departmental stocklist, and used as a shunter at Ashford Works.

Dennis’ time as a works shunter proved beneficial for two reasons. Firstly, whenever he broke down, it didn’t take nearly as long for him to be fixed up again. Secondly, and more importantly, he became something of an ongoing pet project for the workshop staff, as they worked to properly iron out all his faults.

It ended up taking several years to get this done - mainly because Dennis figured that the best way to avoid failing again was to not do anything that might cause him to break down. Which basically boiled down to anything resembling actual work.

During the late 1960s, the importance of Ashford declined following the closure of the locomotive works. Dennis continued working at the wagon works - as and when he wanted, of course - until around 1970, when his position was taken over by a Class 12 who’d been transferred to the departmental stocklist following withdrawal from BR. This left Dennis out of a job, but luckily, he ended up being sold to the Ashford Steam Centre, a short-lived museum based out of the former motive power depot close to the Works.

Dennis remained on display at the ASC until 1976, when the museum was forced to close due to mounting debts. Most of the engines and rolling stock were dispersed to other preserved railways, but Dennis had to wait a bit longer before he left the site.

This happened right at the beginning of 1977, after one of the former museum owners was approached by representatives of the NWR. They’d heard about Dennis, and were interested in returning him to active service on Sodor. The museum were only too happy to make the sale - though Dennis himself required a bit more persuading!

Dennis officially entered NWR service in mid-1977. Even though he was now more mechanically sound than before, Dennis was still paranoid about breaking down, and once again, he decided that the best way to avoid failing again was to not even attempt his work. He would slack off at the least excuse, and persuade other engines to do his work for him.

Predictably, this ended in disaster for him - while attempting to run away from one of his jobs, he came off the rails and damaged his fuel tank. Fortunately, no fire resulted from this, but what did happen was Dennis getting seriously called on the carpet by Sir Topham Hatt. After promising to not be so lazy in future, he was given a second chance.

Surprisingly, Dennis did keep his word - sort of. While he no longer shirked off work altogether, he instead tried doing as little work as he could possibly get away with - and somehow, he did get away with doing the bare minimum. Obviously this made him massively unpopular with the other engines, particularly when they realized he was technically still keeping his promise - which had been to stop avoiding his work completely. While Dennis was doing the bare minimum, he was at least still doing some work.

A couple of years later, the NWR was approached by a private builder, who was intent on building a new engine to the same design as Dennis. The builder wanted to use the design as a starting point, but build upon its successes and iron out its flaws. The NWR agreed to provide assistance, working from the experience they’d had with Dennis. This proved invaluable during the new engine’s construction.

That new engine was, of course, Norman (NWR #D20), who would himself go on to be purchased by the NWR in late-1981. However, he ended up having the opposite problems to Dennis, in that while he was more willing to work, he was more prone to mechanical failure. See his write-up for further details.

[styxorstoned-blog]

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Wells Fargo

I as of late stumbled upon a book written in 1949 on the historical backdrop of Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC). The book, Wells Fargo: Advancing the American Frontier by Edward Hungerford, offers an interesting perspective into the early long stretches of what is today a standout amongst the best-run banks on the planet. What pursues are 10 fascinating bits of knowledge from the book.

1. Wells Fargo wasn't a bank at first

Banking was initially of optional significance to Wells Fargo. The organization was established in 1852 to give conveyance administrations to individuals in California during the Gold Rush. Subsequent to securing different stagecoach lines, it "claimed the best organizing realm on the planet." It even bought what survived from the Pony Express, which worked between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California for year and a half before the cross-country broadcast line rendered it out of date in 1861.

2. The Fat Cat of Montgomery Street

The high benefits and rewarding profit installments from Wells Fargo's express activities earned it the epithet: the Fat Cat of Montgomery Street - San Francisco's likeness Wall Street.

3. Enduring the Panic of 1855

The first of numerous budgetary frenzies that Wells Fargo endure occurred in 1855, when a dry spell made it difficult to dig for gold along stream beds. The frenzy caused about 200 organizations in San Francisco to fall flat, including Wells Fargo's greatest rival, Adams Express Company. "As the main real express organization enduring the accident, Wells Fargo could anticipate prosperous days ahead," composed Hungerford. Wells Fargo's budgetary position was strong to the point that it didn't suspend its profit that year.

4. The primary genuine risk to Wells Fargo

In the principal half of the 1860s, Wells Fargo gained for all intents and purposes all the stage lines from the Missouri River to California, which gave it an imposing business model on cross-country conveyance administrations. It at that point suddenly changed course in 1868. In the wake of understanding that the cross-country railroad was nearing culmination, Wells Fargo's directorate requested its leader to auction the majority of the organization's stage lines.

5. The antagonistic takeover of Wells Fargo in 1869

At the point when Wells Fargo's stock plunged because of the danger from the cross-country railroad, which was finished in 1869, a gathering of California-based financial specialists gained control of the organization. It was by then that Wells Fargo moved its home office from New York City to San Francisco. Since these equivalent financial specialists controlled the Central Pacific railroad, Wells Fargo increased restrictive express benefits on the main train that associated California toward the East Coast.

The "Bargain of Omaha," which denoted the exchange of command over Wells Fargo, rejuvenated the organization. "Considering the way that Wells Fargo was the main organization that could transport express in California on the [Central and Southern Pacific railroads] it fixed its rates high," composed Hungerford. "What's more, the benefits ... were great."

6. Burglaries and thefts

Burglaries and thefts were a noteworthy risk to Wells Fargo in its initial years. By 1884, its stagecoaches and trains had been looted multiple times, prompting the passings of 16 burglars (excluding 7 hanged by natives) and six Wells Fargo workers. The organization enlisted its own security power to battle the risk. "For a long time it had been said all through the West that there were two foundations hazardous for awful men to tinker with," said Hungerford. "One was the Federal Government and different, Wells Fargo."

7. Well Fargo's most exceedingly awful procurement

In the mid-1890s, Wells Fargo obtained Commercial National Bank, a Portland, Oregon-based bank that "experienced considerable difficulties of it in the extraordinary frenzy of 1893." While Wells Fargo was flush with capital at the time - "frenzies were not really more than episodes" to the organization, composed Hungerford - Commercial National's awful advances were more regrettable than anticipated. As Wells Fargo's leader at the time described:

I tuned in to what those individuals said and I passed on a great deal of advantages that never ought to have been passed. The reason that I made that sort of mistake was that I laid an excess of weight on their great confidence. I didn't take into consideration the way that a man of good confidence may need something of practical insight.

Wells Fargo lost its whole interest in Commercial National and in this manner sold it in 1905 to United States National Bank, which had "since a long time ago become a remarkable bank of Portland." That bank today is U.S. Bancorp.

8. The spinoff of Wells Fargo Bank in 1905

In 1901, renowned railroad lender Edward H. Harriman oversaw the Southern Pacific railroad, which, thus, possessed a generous offer of Wells Fargo stock coming from past dealings between the organizations. Harriman saw little an incentive in Wells Fargo's financial tasks, which were auxiliary to its expedited administration. He likewise chose to spinoff Wells Fargo Bank in 1905.

The bank was obtained by Isaias Hellman, leader of the Nevada Bank of San Francisco, which had $9 million in stores at the time contrasted with Wells Fargo's $6 million. "However to discard the name of Wells Fargo with all its tremendous esteem was unfathomable," composed Hungerford. The joined bank along these lines passed by the name of Wells Fargo-Nevada National Bank.

The Wells Fargo Bank of New York was sold around a similar time to the National Park Bank, which later converged into Chase National Bank - what is today JPMorgan Chase.

9. The San Francisco quake and fire in 1906

For different days after the 1906 seismic tremor and fire that pulverized seventy five percent of San Francisco, Wells Fargo worked without records of its clients' records, which were then caught in the flame resistant vault in its as yet seething base camp structure. Be that as it may, despite the fact that it paid out countless dollars to contributors dependent on their honesty, its complete misfortune from excessive charges didn't surpass $200.

10. The finish of Wells Fargo Express in 1918

Wells Fargo's expedited administration authoritatively finished in 1918. At the command of the Secretary of the Treasury, the three major express organizations in the nation were converged into the American Railway Express "in light of a legitimate concern for winning" World War I.

There was much sharpness. When the new blend had been made, the Wells Fargo signs and badge were torn down right over the land to be supplanted quickly by the signs and emblem of the American Railway Express. Wells Fargo vanished from the phone postings all over the place; the name was obviously never at any point to be murmured.

The equivalent isn't valid, obviously, of Wells Fargo's once thrown away bank. In the budgetary emergency of 2008-09, it demonstrated once more that it's one of the most secure and most judicious stewards of capital in America. As Hungerford watched six decades before the emergency, "From its beginnings almost 100 years prior down to the present, not one individual at any point lost a dollar, in property or in cash depended to the consideration of Wells Fargo."

[northernwinddds-blog]

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Wells Fargo

I as of late stumbled upon a book written in 1949 on the historical backdrop of Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC). The book, Wells Fargo: Advancing the American Frontier by Edward Hungerford, offers an interesting perspective into the early long stretches of what is today a standout amongst the best-run banks on the planet. What pursues are 10 fascinating bits of knowledge from the book.

1. Wells Fargo wasn't a bank at first

Banking was initially of optional significance to Wells Fargo. The organization was established in 1852 to give conveyance administrations to individuals in California during the Gold Rush. Subsequent to securing different stagecoach lines, it "claimed the best organizing realm on the planet." It even bought what survived from the Pony Express, which worked between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California for year and a half before the cross-country broadcast line rendered it out of date in 1861.

2. The Fat Cat of Montgomery Street

The high benefits and rewarding profit installments from Wells Fargo's express activities earned it the epithet: the Fat Cat of Montgomery Street - San Francisco's likeness Wall Street.

3. Enduring the Panic of 1855

The first of numerous budgetary frenzies that Wells Fargo endure occurred in 1855, when a dry spell made it difficult to dig for gold along stream beds. The frenzy caused about 200 organizations in San Francisco to fall flat, including Wells Fargo's greatest rival, Adams Express Company. "As the main real express organization enduring the accident, Wells Fargo could anticipate prosperous days ahead," composed Hungerford. Wells Fargo's budgetary position was strong to the point that it didn't suspend its profit that year.

4. The primary genuine risk to Wells Fargo

In the principal half of the 1860s, Wells Fargo gained for all intents and purposes all the stage lines from the Missouri River to California, which gave it an imposing business model on cross-country conveyance administrations. It at that point suddenly changed course in 1868. In the wake of understanding that the cross-country railroad was nearing culmination, Wells Fargo's directorate requested its leader to auction the majority of the organization's stage lines.

5. The antagonistic takeover of Wells Fargo in 1869

At the point when Wells Fargo's stock plunged because of the danger from the cross-country railroad, which was finished in 1869, a gathering of California-based financial specialists gained control of the organization. It was by then that Wells Fargo moved its home office from New York City to San Francisco. Since these equivalent financial specialists controlled the Central Pacific railroad, Wells Fargo increased restrictive express benefits on the main train that associated California toward the East Coast.

The "Bargain of Omaha," which denoted the exchange of command over Wells Fargo, rejuvenated the organization. "Considering the way that Wells Fargo was the main organization that could transport express in California on the [Central and Southern Pacific railroads] it fixed its rates high," composed Hungerford. "What's more, the benefits ... were great."

6. Burglaries and thefts

Burglaries and thefts were a noteworthy risk to Wells Fargo in its initial years. By 1884, its stagecoaches and trains had been looted multiple times, prompting the passings of 16 burglars (excluding 7 hanged by natives) and six Wells Fargo workers. The organization enlisted its own security power to battle the risk. "For a long time it had been said all through the West that there were two foundations hazardous for awful men to tinker with," said Hungerford. "One was the Federal Government and different, Wells Fargo."

7. Well Fargo's most exceedingly awful procurement

In the mid-1890s, Wells Fargo obtained Commercial National Bank, a Portland, Oregon-based bank that "experienced considerable difficulties of it in the extraordinary frenzy of 1893." While Wells Fargo was flush with capital at the time - "frenzies were not really more than episodes" to the organization, composed Hungerford - Commercial National's awful advances were more regrettable than anticipated. As Wells Fargo's leader at the time described:

I tuned in to what those individuals said and I passed on a great deal of advantages that never ought to have been passed. The reason that I made that sort of mistake was that I laid an excess of weight on their great confidence. I didn't take into consideration the way that a man of good confidence may need something of practical insight.

Wells Fargo lost its whole interest in Commercial National and in this manner sold it in 1905 to United States National Bank, which had "since a long time ago become a remarkable bank of Portland." That bank today is U.S. Bancorp.

8. The spinoff of Wells Fargo Bank in 1905

In 1901, renowned railroad lender Edward H. Harriman oversaw the Southern Pacific railroad, which, thus, possessed a generous offer of Wells Fargo stock coming from past dealings between the organizations. Harriman saw little an incentive in Wells Fargo's financial tasks, which were auxiliary to its expedited administration. He likewise chose to spinoff Wells Fargo Bank in 1905.

The bank was obtained by Isaias Hellman, leader of the Nevada Bank of San Francisco, which had $9 million in stores at the time contrasted with Wells Fargo's $6 million. "However to discard the name of Wells Fargo with all its tremendous esteem was unfathomable," composed Hungerford. The joined bank along these lines passed by the name of Wells Fargo-Nevada National Bank.

The Wells Fargo Bank of New York was sold around a similar time to the National Park Bank, which later converged into Chase National Bank - what is today JPMorgan Chase.

9. The San Francisco quake and fire in 1906

For different days after the 1906 seismic tremor and fire that pulverized seventy five percent of San Francisco, Wells Fargo worked without records of its clients' records, which were then caught in the flame resistant vault in its as yet seething base camp structure. Be that as it may, despite the fact that it paid out countless dollars to contributors dependent on their honesty, its complete misfortune from excessive charges didn't surpass $200.

10. The finish of Wells Fargo Express in 1918

Wells Fargo's expedited administration authoritatively finished in 1918. At the command of the Secretary of the Treasury, the three major express organizations in the nation were converged into the American Railway Express "in light of a legitimate concern for winning" World War I.

There was much sharpness. When the new blend had been made, the Wells Fargo signs and badge were torn down right over the land to be supplanted quickly by the signs and emblem of the American Railway Express. Wells Fargo vanished from the phone postings all over the place; the name was obviously never at any point to be murmured.

The equivalent isn't valid, obviously, of Wells Fargo's once thrown away bank. In the budgetary emergency of 2008-09, it demonstrated once more that it's one of the most secure and most judicious stewards of capital in America. As Hungerford watched six decades before the emergency, "From its beginnings almost 100 years prior down to the present, not one individual at any point lost a dollar, in property or in cash depended to the consideration of Wells Fargo."

[dennou-translations]

Violet Evergarden: Chapter 13

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Violet Evergarden

The railway that parted from the southern maritime country Leidenschaftlich finally being extended to northern nations was something quite recent.

Public means of transportation were rather useful for traveling around a wide continent, yet the trains across the mainland contributed greatly not only to each person but also to society in terms of logistics. It could be said that the current results had been achieved due to the North-South feud of the Continental War being terminated on a superficial basis.

The information that a ceremony would be held for the departure of the intercontinental train spread quickly in the city of Leiden, and people rushed in pursue of tickets for the first trip. On the following day, the morning newspaper prior to the departure ceremony – which was completely taken over by the latter – was made to be delivered not only throughout Leidenschaftlich but also to the neighbor countries.

Although it was a trivial article for those who were not interested in the subject, the appearance of a single woman amongst the published photographs of people seeking the tickets instigated, for better or worse, a surreptitious feeling in those who knew her. Lux Sibyl, who would be at the CH Postal Service first-thing in the morning, smiled proudly upon spotting the figure of her beautiful friend. A novelist who quietly recited words in the middle of the mountains was in high spirits as though he had found a treasure amidst the article’s photos, and laid it as decoration on his cutouts wall. A young astronomer on the way of a journey bought two more copies of the same newspaper after a moment of astonishment, and Cattleya, who was on an amanuensis duty at a place far away from the office, asked her male client, with the newspaper at hand, who the cutest one was between herself and the woman displayed in it. Someone who had not seen her face for a long time surrendered himself to tracing it with his fingertips.

It was only a picture, but on the morning of that day, a premonition that something special was about to begin was engraved remarkably in the minds of those who had been involved with Violet Evergarden.

The departure ceremony was held in the Leidenschaftlich Station at two o’clock in the afternoon, and at three o’clock, after the passengers had come aboard the intercontinental train, it left the city by the end of the formalities. Children riding a train for the first time leaned their bodies forward over the windows and praised the scenery, proudly boasting to each other about the good fortune of managing to entrain the first expedition. Those using it for work-related transferences were satisfied with the careful customer service and safe driving, and those who had booked the sleeper cars had their hearts stolen by the comfort as their bodies immediately embraced the drowsiness.

The operation went on without a hitch in general. Minor troubles were witnessed, such as the employees in charge of transporting baggage sending a passenger’s luggage to the wrong room, or a customer from one of the dining cars who had ordered a dish without onions finding a small piece of onion in it and getting angry, but they were nothing that could be considered important.

The passing scenery outside the windows was gradually dyed in madder red, and just an hour after the departure, the world began to be surrounded by signs of the night. Once every hour, the train was required to be refilled with water.

“We will soon temporarily stop at the water supply point, so please sit down as the train will shake.” The porter advised the customers of each car.

As people were completely fascinated with the tour, they did not attempt to impede those who remained on their feet without any intention of sitting down. There were also many who observed the scenery while sipping alcoholic drinks. Those in a good mood did not listen to what others said.

The porter, who had given the warning, smiled while thinking along the lines of “what troublesome patrons” as he gently walked next to said passengers and asked them to take their seats.

It was an exceptionally wonderful voyage. Nobody imagined any tragedies would happen. Nor did anyone find the behavior of those individuals suspicious. The fact that they stuck a knife to the porter’s neck and slit it went unnoticed as well.

That day was genuinely supposed to be a marvelous one for several people.

At two quarters past four o’clock, under the thick clouds spreading in an autumn sky, a corpse was discarded on the railroad track as if it were dirt. It rolled onto the ground, and, before the crows could greedily devour it, it was found by the owner of a nearby meadow, who happened to be passing by. Much like rain pouring onto the surface of a lake, such thing hinted the extent of some sort of big incident. The first drop was the dead body. One, two more drops fell from the sky, which marked the discovery of a problem that was now progressively growing.

The abnormal demeanor of the intercontinental train, which had originally been supposed to make stops yet was passing every station while keeping the passengers on board, caught quite a bit of attention, and at some point, the army was mobilized. First came a report from employees and civilians from one of the stations that were passed by, and the message was relayed to the military police.

The military police based itself mainly on law enforcement duty to protect the safety of the citizens’ everyday lives, and was a separate entity from the army, despite having the word “military” in its name. By the time the military police had arrived at the Leidenschaftlich Army Ministry, a reinforce request for the situation had been issued from the Leidenschaftlich National Railway as well.

The headquarters of the Leidenschaftlich Army Ministry were, in one word, a fort. For a mere building, it had a hardly describable architecture. Firstly, there was a castle tower-like construction that housed the Army Ministry, with double stonewalls surrounding it. There was a dry moat outside of the walls, and the trees and shrubs beyond said moat had been entirely cut down in order to open the view. There was no place for foes to hide in case of invasions. The structure already seemed to intimidate with an unsaid “if you want to defeat me, come try”.

Being able to bask in a constitution that was so well-attuned to hostility was likely a proof that its soldiers had overcome numerous aggressive wars. In such setting, by courtesy of the country’s system, the reinforcement request project, “Case of the Intercontinental Train’s Hijacking”, was set to be launched at the Army Ministry on an early stage, but the recruited officers were not yet aware of the extent of the chaotic rain’s dispersion.

At twenty minutes past five o’clock of that day, in one of the Army Ministry’s rooms, Gilbert Bougainvillea was discussing the course of action of Leidenschaftlich’s army’s Special Offense Force, which he used to lead.

“Disbanding would be reasonable, but if it is to be handed over, I would like to be the one to choose the personnel.”

Gilbert Bougainvillea, who used to be a major of Leidenschaftlich’s army, had equitably served as lieutenant-colonel, and, in recognition of the achievements in the Great War from the Special Offense Force of Leidenschaftlich’s army, then led by himself, yet another position promotion was acknowledged and he was allowed to wear the rank insignia of colonel. After becoming a colonel, operating inside the Army Ministry was basically his main task. The way it was, his troop had been on march both inside and outside of the country, since the circumstances had required post-war armed interventions, yet it was left afloat as a result of his successive career.

“It’s my honest opinion that disbanding it is regrettable. There are members who want to resign from it due to being promoted, but even with those posts vacant, it has a high level of excellence. To the point it can very well work as an independent unit. Well, the higher-ups probably won’t allow that so easily... since they might think of it as your private soldiers.” A bluish black-haired man agreed with Gilbert’s words. “Laurus Schwartzman” was written in the nameplate on his desk.

Gilbert nodded at the outlook of the person who had the same status of colonel as himself but used to be in the position of his superior in the past. “Eventually, we could create this independent unit... From the viewpoint of those who are managing it, a unit that has too much freedom is dangerous, but it spends great efforts when there are big emergencies. However, if we are told that there have been none of those until now, we will not be granted consent. Therefore, I would like to leave a foundation ready for the sake of this occurrence... and, if I am to pass it down to someone else, I want a person who puts everyone’s individual qualities into consideration to take over it. The members were mostly polished by being brought into my personal care, after all.”

“Who do you intend to appoint as successor?”

“Idris. He’s fit for being commander.”

“Isn’t he a fellow without education or supporters? It’s almost like me. Won’t you recommend someone from the Bougainvillea lineage? There ought to be people in the army who are from your branch families.”

“Colonel Laurus... you recommended me because you dislike faction-based nominations, yet now you’re telling me to nominate a Bougainvillea? Idris is clever even without education. He’s also vastly ambitious. As for supporters... I can become one.”

“I was just teasing; don’t get so angry.” At Gilbert’s low voice tone, Laurus soon laughed and apologized. As he became older, Gilbert had come to possess a presence that he did not in his younger days.

“Well, then, regarding the placement of a successor in my troops... I will count with your assistance for the necessary arrangements.”

“And my recompense will be...?”

“My little sister has said she wants to ride a horse with you in our next outing.”

Laurus showed a pleased reaction and Gilbert sighed a little, his shoulders slumping as if a weight had fallen upon them.

Gilbert’s position in the army appeared stable, but it was not so in reality. Although there were people who supported him simply for being a Bougainvillea, there were also those who attempted to ostracize him for it. Gilbert had reached a period in which he would have to decide whom he would take as his allies. Jealousy and corruption always rose wherever there was influence. Gradually gathering into his hands those people who were so hard for him to become like and securing them tightly under his arms was something necessary for Gilbert as of late.

Laurus was someone whose back he had used to observe as if chasing after it when he had joined the army, and now Gilbert was finally side-by-side with him. There were very few who could manage through the promotion from colonel to brigadier-general and from brigadier-general to major-general. As Laurus himself did not display interest in being promoted, Gilbert believed he would not go above being a colonel. His origins, unlike Gilbert’s, did not leave him in an advantageous condition for disputing success, either.

“This is up to the two of you, but please don’t ever upset my sister, since she deeply cherishes you. Promise me.”

“I know she does. She confessed her love for a guy like me, after all. I intend to be with her even in my grave.”

He displayed no signs of looking for competition and his nature could be trusted. For Gilbert to think he could leave his sister to the latter’s care, he had to be a commendable individual.

Upon easing the wrinkles between his brows with the fingertips of his left arm, which had become a prosthetic, Gilbert took in his hand a newspaper unrelated to work that was lying on the desk. Ever since he had read it in the morning after waking up, he had carried it around with him while on-duty. He subconsciously looked at the part of it that had photos of the intercontinental train.

“You’ve... been reading that since morning, huh. You like trains?”

“If there comes a chance to get on a tour ride, I want to try it.” With gestures that could not be perceived as unnatural, he folded the side with the pictures and put the newspaper down.

The two men had been in a situation in which even Laurus had come to question why Gilbert had abandoned the Warrior Maiden of Leidenschaftlich’s army in the aftermath of the Great War, and therefore, he did not wish to get into the topic. As they chatted about trivial everyday matters, someone knocked on the door.

“Colonel Schwartzman... ah, Colonel Bougainvillea, you’re here in a good timing. We are having an emergency meeting. A big incident has happened. The case has been established at the countermeasures headquarters, so please come quickly. Right now, we are summoning all the personnel from the task force.”

Being told so by the administrative official, the two looked at each other’s faces and stood up at the same time.

Those who gathered at the headquarters, in which a roundtable was prepared, were mainly colonels. The occurring incident would be explained by the major-general beforehand.

“First and foremost, at two in the afternoon, a departure ceremony was held in honor of the intercontinental train, and one hour later, the passengers came on board and it left the station. It passed by Attaccare, which was one of it stop stations, and proceeded just like that. It was also at this time that a corpse was thrown off in the vicinity of Attaccare. The body was found and reported by a farmer of that neighborhood. According to the information of the Leidenschaftlich’s National Railway, the train is currently stopping at the Rauschend station, which is one of the water supply points. A demand for reward in exchange for the passengers was issued to Leidenschaftlich through the station’s staff.” While everyone paid attention to him, the major-general said bitingly, “The enemy is telling us to release a political felon who is being kept in the Altair Prison. He’s a criminal from one of the countries that had formed an alliance in the previous war, Rohand. After the proclamation of their defeat, he blackmailed his motherland’s leaders into revoking the announcement, caused an internal conflict and was arrested. The ones responsible for this hijacking incident are maybe his guard dogs, certainly his comrades. Meaning the main offenders of this case are people who still don’t want to acknowledge that they lost the war.”

A feeling of tension ran through the place as the major-general recognized the other party as an ‘enemy’. In Leidenschaftlich, ‘enemies’ brought harm to the whole nation. They would all become targets of elimination, and most of them counted with military power as their means of control, unwilling to solve anything with dialogue.

“To top it off, the enemies hope to migrate to their country. The train is headed to a port at north of the continent. They have a ship prepared there as well. It seems they expect everything to go flawlessly...” The major-general punched the north part of the map laid on the roundtable.

The people seated at the roundtable did not move even upon being startled, and their line of sight was fixed on the major-general. They accepted the anger emanating from him.

“We... we of Leidenschaftlich’s army... exist for the sake of defending our people and territory from foreign threats. To allow something like this after ending a war is a disgrace to Leidenschaflich’s name. But this is not just a matter of honor. There have already been casualties. This is quite an obvious statement, but it’s clear that our country’s people will be taken throughout this trip until the migration succeeds. There are surely women and children who can’t fight back in that midst. It’s not hard to imagine what they’ll go through. We must prevent this no matter what. The ��enemy’ is moving. The problem is how to take the reins. We shall form a strategy considering the hypothesis of even worst-case scenarios. From this point on, I give everyone, regardless of them being upper or lower ranks, permission for voicing suggestions.”

At the major-general’s words, everyone started composing tactics while observing the map. The train was in motion. If they were to strike it, their only option would be invading it. Attacking from the outside would compromise the lives of the passengers inside. The opinion that there was no choice but stand in wait for it at one of the water supply points and ambush it all at once was settled down no matter what. But the enemy would probably anticipate that much. The concern that a hostage could be killed for display just so the criminals’ passage would be permitted was enunciated, as well as the fact the passengers would be in tantalizing circumstances, as they would not be able to do anything until the train stopped at the water supply point. They sought for urgent contact.

The debate became heated. Amidst it, only Gilbert was reticent as he paled in silence. His ears registered everyone’s exchanges. He was also formulating in his head what proposals he should verbalize, as doing so might be necessary. However, a single fact dominated his entire body and halted its outward functions.

——Violet is on board.

There was no way he could have mistaken her figure as he spotted her in a photography of people trying to buy tickets for the first trip. It was extremely natural for an Auto-Memories Doll traveling around the world to rely on trains. Meaning there would be no one else to be aboard the intercontinental train in her stead.

——If I called Hodgins, would he answer?

He had judged Gilbert for leaving Violet without a trace. In their last conversation, he had said he would be cutting their ties until Gilbert reconsidered it.

“Gilbert...? You’re... quiet, but don’t you have any ideas?”

As Laurus spoke to him from the side, Gilbert turned towards his direction. He was probably making a face that he normally would not. Laurus leaned back with a start.

The major-general promptly noticed it. “What’s wrong, Laurus? Don’t hold back in giving your suggestion.”

“No... I... right, I agree with the ambush at the water supply point. It will be off-the-cuff from the garrison on the railway, but I think we can’t do anything other than prepare the troops and stand in wait... I believe that organizing a plan and personnel that can back us up during a seizure battle after the waiting is most crucial. The fact that stopping at the water supply points is mandatory for the train is its trait, after all.” Once Laurus had uttered his proposition, perhaps due to thinking Gilbert was feeling sick, he asked the latter in a low tone, “You okay?”

Gilbert nodded without saying anything. As the major-general requested his opinion as well, Gilbert settled for saying, “I approve the flow of the current situation’s discussion.”

Since he was worried about Violet’s and the passengers’ safety, Gilbert favored the course of action of a short-term decisive battle.

——Still, it is only a matter of time for an antagonistic view to manifest. Just as he thought so, what Gilbert dreaded soon became a reality.

“I sense an incongruence in this trend. To ensure the success of our scheme, wouldn’t it be better to formulate a plan for us to take control of the train at the last station in that northern port?” After Laurus and Gilbert had expressed their valuations, a colonel who had been solely observing, much like Gilbert until that point, raised his voice.

“Ahmar, when you object, you have to explain your plan in detail.” The major-general urged colonel Ahmar to speak further.

Laurus had an obviously unamused face on. Bearded and enormous, the man named Ahmar was on par with him, but the two of them were like cats and dogs. The people present were aware that the fact Ahmar had not voiced his own suggestions until then was due to wanting to oppose Laurus. The air became heavier.

“This opinion was given just a bit ago, but if we target them at the water supply point and end up letting them pass, the number of deaths would go up, right? The perpetrators would kill hostages for revenge, and their demands towards us would be bound to increase. In that meantime, I can already see that they would use a ransom for their requisitions. If that will be the case, making the other party think that things will proceed as they requested and then taking them down at once is a better idea. I’m sorry for regressing the discussion, but if this is an emergency, I believe we should choose an assured plan.”

“No! If you think about the citizens, we should act immediately! How do you think the people in that train are feeling right now? Are you saying that while knowing how long it takes to reach the last station?! Their families, too, want the army to do something as soon as possible!”

“Laurus, you always show off your principles with emotion-oriented arguments, but that’s unnecessary for a strategy. Results are everything, and we can elaborate the process later on. Are you giving those suggestions by picturing the aftermath of the aftermath? There have already been casualties, and for the sake of causing no more of them, we’ve no choice other than have the passengers endure it.”

The subject of the meeting was split into two sides: Laurus, who thought about the citizens’ rescue before anything else, and Ahmar, who prioritized bringing the situation under control.

Gilbert, who was silent beside Laurus, could even feel his restless heart sort out in the course of events. Rather than agitation, his impatience to do something about the direction that things were taking, which was not the one he wanted, was becoming stronger. Gilbert could not consent to Ahmar’s methods.

It was difficult to imagine that Violet Evergarden would tamely ride all the way to the final station. She would likely take some sort of action. The fact that she was on board enthused not only great hopes but also a sense of unease.

——If she’s on her own, it’s evident that she will be reckless.

She was not the kind of young woman who would not use self-defense were she in a situation that required it. Gilbert had disciplined her that way.

——I must go for her aid. I must protect her. It’s precisely because she’s strong that she...

It would mean taking back his resolve of that day, in which he had shed tears while making the decision to part ways with her. Should she find out he was still alive, Violet would definitely attempt to become Gilbert’s tool once more. That was his biggest fear.

——I don’t want... to see the one I love acting as a tool ever again.

Gilbert asked himself – in the current circumstances, what was the man named Gilbert Bougainvillea most afraid of?

——Violet’s death.

Gilbert asked himself – in the current circumstances, what did he wish for the most?

——Her safety.

Peeking into his heart’s discords, what he had to do was crystal-clear.

——Is this... also fate?

Gilbert closed his eye once. He evened his breathing. The face of the girl he had forsaken resurfaced in his mind. So did her appearance from that picture, which showed she had grown up a good deal curing the meantime they had not seen each other.

He had spent many efforts until managing to secure that position. The next one he would aim for was the seat of major-general. The farther up he climbed, the more he would be able to do in exchange of his free conduct being restricted.

At that moment, while such an incident was going on, he could feel God’s guidance yet again. He had become distressed when worrying about Violet, but could clearly understand what he had to do upon reasoning calmly.

——What are you living for? Don’t get worked-up.

Slowly, slowly, he opened his adhered eyelid.

——I’ve chosen a path in which I’d be able to walk at times like these. The time has come. That is all.

“May I... offer my suggestion?”

No wavering remained in his emerald-green orb. He stared at the major-general and everyone at the round table with his eye open. He knew what conduct he should take even without thinking about it.

“I have an idea.” His voice was neither too loud nor too low. “Firstly, about dispatching soldiers to the garrison located on the train’s route... I agree with it. We simply must not let it go to the North. Should it, by any chance, reach the sea, the navy will be the one to deal with it. I will talk to my older brother, Dietfriet Bougainvillea. As the Major-General has said, we should move while keeping the worst possible scenario in mind.”

It was important to speak with a calm attitude.

“About the current problem of where the dispatched soldiers should engage, I am against a battle at the final station. Should the place turn into a battlefield, emotion-based issues with the northern side will be involved. Those people are heroes from the North’s viewpoint. Showing them being purged in northern lands – their own home – would become a great display, but we should expect that it would instigate a shock big enough to cause an incident. Right now, they are showing a well-behaved attitude towards the Southeast regarding the release of their military forces, but they will definitely hold a grudge against this.”

“We shouldn’t be discussing such a thing now!”

Gilbert responded level-headedly to Ahmar’s angry roar, “The one who talked about picturing the aftermath of the aftermath, Colonel, was you.”

“You... have some nerve to be using such rude words with me, given that you became a colonel just recently...”

“The Major-General stated from the very start that we should give our suggestions freely. Are you against the Major-General’s decision?”

As their superior was cited, Ahmar refused to back off with a “no way”, his face becoming bright red.

Just as Ahmar had done with Laurus, Gilbert laid out a protest, “Please allow me to continue explaining my idea. There is no guarantee that the damage is limited only to the passengers. It is necessary to evacuate all of the stations along the train’s course and the citizens in their proximities as well. Paired to the ambush attack at the water supply point, I propose an infiltration plan by tailing them from the capitol Leiden.” He stated loudly with a manner of speech that had a touch of composure and elegance.

People judged others mostly through vision and hearing. Taking such conduct would make them think, “what this man says is worth listening to”.

“‘Infiltration plan’, you say? Will we make it in time if we start chasing them now?”

Gilbert retorted Ahmar’s mockery without so much as raising a brow, “I will have the Nighthawks take flight.”

“Even if the train is on a stop now, it will eventually move!”

The one who became emotional would lose.

“Even if it does, it will stop again. To replenish water. If the infiltration turns out successful, it will greatly increase the accomplishment rate of the estimated suppression at the water supply point. Rescuing the passengers is a top priority. The more time this hijacking case takes, the more the death toll will rise. Both the criminals’ side and the victims’ side are losing their sanity. You shall know whether or not the Nighthawks will make it in time if you leave it to me. Let us mobilize the Leidenschaftlich Special Offense Force. Of course, I will be the one in command.”

There was a stir. He examined the major-general’s complexion, but the latter did not find fault in his proposal.

Not letting the flow slip away from him, Gilbert resumed speaking, “Just a while ago, there was a remark about how we must prepare personnel specific for this sort of situation, but everyone, have you forgotten? The Leidenschaftlich Special Offense Force has been widely active as a raid unit since wartime. They clearly have the role disposition necessary for the process of an infiltration with a small number of people. If we are told to move now, we can act immediately. Although there may be opinions that I should not be the one commanding on-site given my rank, the troops are still in my care, and my status is of recently-nominated colonel. I shall prove my effectiveness. Please think of me as a board piece. A board piece that will mobilize the navy, and, if everything goes well, fulfill the infiltration which will bring a quick resolution to this. If my troops fail, the ones lying in wait will be the dispatched soldiers of Leidenschaftlich’s army. I find it extremely hard to believe that this incident merely stems from the North’s revenge. There must be... something else happening behind the scenes. There is not only one trap. I feel that... they are seeking for a devastating win, for which they have yet another scheme that we would not be able to crush along with the twofold and threefold traps they have laid out.” After pausing once to swallow saliva, Gilbert inquired, “Major-General, what do you say? I wish you would let me do it.” He pleaded, yet the right to decide was not his. Maintaining his posture, he pleaded even more with his eyes and approach.

Gilbert was aware. From an early age, he had always understood how he should behave in front of whom whenever he was in the presence of others. Were he to make a mistake, admonition would come flying at him. That was the secret for triumph in order to live as a Bougainvillea. Depending on the attitudes he took, he knew what his opponent’s outcome might be. Within the world he understood, he currently existed for the sake of the one and only person that he once did not know he loved.

“Well, give it a try. Demonstrate your abilities as a board piece.”

“I will definitely show you satisfying results.” While replying, Gilbert had already created a different strategy.

If there was something that could have been considered a brilliant day in the life of Samuel LaBeouf, it would be today. He had been elected head engineer of the frontal engine room of the first intercontinental train, which would remain in the country’s history. One had to wonder how many kisses of joy he had planted on the polished, black car walls. He had boasted about it to his family and friends countless times. The people who knew of his efforts praised him sincerely and saw off the first service with a smile. Initially, Samuel had planned to spend his time humming a tune while journeying around the world as the Sun set, replaying that wonderful day in his head.

“The substitutes... still haven’t arrived?”                                         

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry...!”

It was exactly six hours and forty-three minutes into the evening. Samuel had a gun thrust at his neck from behind. The unmoving body of one of his colleague engineer and assistant lay at his feet, head hanging loosely. Said person, who had greeted and chatted with him on that very day, was now immobile. The train which tale had only just started and which name would be engraved in history had suddenly been hijacked and occupied by criminals.

——Why... Why... did it come to this? What did I even do?

When exposed to a cruel fate, people would mostly have similar thoughts. Firstly, they would bemoan their doom.

——Where and what did I do wrong?

Then, they would trace in their brains the way back to when they were struck by misfortune. The time in which the intercontinental train that Samuel had been supposed to drive had left the station of Leidenschaftlich’s capitol city, Leiden, after the departure ceremony was over had been a while before dusk.

The intercontinental train, so-called “Femme Fatale”, was a full thirteen-car train composed of Locomotive 1, 2 and 3, Single-Room Sleeping Car 1 and 2, Simple Sleeping Car 1 and 2, Passenger Car 1 and 2, Panoramic Seats Car, Dining Car 1 and 2, and a freight car. In order to pull the other ten cars, each of the three locomotives had an engineer and engineer assistant, and with a steam whistle as sign, each locomotive would do a triple-heading to adjust its pace. Therefore, even if the driving staff were lacking by just one person, the operation would not go as desired.

Femme Fatale had been invaded by hijackers with weapons not even an hour after departing from Leidenschaftlich. The hijackers had scattered into each car upon the start of the operation, seizing the train from the freight car. In the process, the ones murdered were a porter from Simple Sleeping Car 1, one engineer from Locomotive 3 and Samuel’s partners – a total of three assistants – from Locomotive 1.

Femme Fatale needed replenishment of water, which was its fuel, from the stop stations. Currently, parallel to the water supplying, a demand had been sent to Leidenschaftlich and the National Railway for replacements to the vacant engineer and assistant posts, and the substitutes were being awaited. The hijackers seemed to have made other demands to the government, but did not notify Samuel, who was merely one of the hostages, of such things.

They had a cloth bearing the national emblem of a certain northern country wrapped around their arms. What on Earth was their purpose? Was it to take revenge for their defeat? Did they have even more outrageous plans? Either way, it could be assumed that their group was full of people that behaved carelessly and did not take orders. After all, no matter how much they lacked knowledge of how trains worked, they wound up killing staff members for hindering the operation.

“Don’t worry. If you hadn’t listened to our instructions, it’d be a different story, but since you are a driver, we won’t kill you. This space is crammed. Don’t get too scared and wet your pants. It’d stink.” One of the hijackers said as if to calm Samuel down, perhaps due to his fearful form being unsightly.

“Hum, once the vacancy is supplemented... until what point am I supposed to drive...?”

“Go to the final stop with no changes in the course. What we demand of you is to deliver us safely.”

He had thought that saying anything would irritate them and earn him a violent response. Thus, he was a little surprised to be able to talk normally to them.

——They may be human beings just like me, but I can’t bring myself to think of them as such.

From Samuel’s viewpoint, they seemed like people from a completely different world.

There were obviously people other than Samuel LaBeouf wondering why things had turned out that way. Unlike Samuel, who had his life assured to some extent for being in the position of engineer, the ones in question were the frightened passengers, who had no idea of when they might be killed should they get on the hijackers’ nerves.

Several hours had passed since the incident had started upon arrival at the water supply point. The number of criminals was not too big, but a few of them were monitoring the hostages by taking turns with one another. The information that an engineer and some assistants had put up a resistance and been slaughtered in the frontal engine room, and that replacement personnel was being awaited had not come down to them. The state of tension due to fear persisted for a long while, and the mental condition of the passengers was nearing its limit.

“Aah, really, why did this have to happen?” In the back of Dining Car 2, one of the customers – an elderly gentleman – lamented with his meal gone cold in front of him.

——At this point in time, I was supposed to be seeing my niece wearing her wedding dress and getting married in our hometown.

He had not expected that the train ride, which had begun with such a happy mood, would turn into something so horrid. The big incidents he would see in newspapers and hear about in rumors always took place far away from him, and therefore, he had never imagined that a disaster of similar proportion would actually occur.

He had not been directing his words at anyone in particular, but the woman sitting close to him reacted to them.

“What is an intercontinental train even meant to be...?”

Amidst such an overwrought scenario, a beautiful and refreshing voice echoed in his ears, “Just as the name says, it is a large-scale vehicle that makes connections through a railroad that goes from one end to the other of the continent, and transports anything, from goods to people. It grants accessibility and profit to many. However, trains cannot run if there is no railway. To build railways, the ground must be shaved off. Even if there are flowerbeds or homes on said ground, whatever might be on the way is forcefully removed and their existence is eliminated.” It belonged to an eccentric, attractive woman who only mutely watched the change of colors in the sky without letting out a single scream ever since the car had been taken control of by the hijacker group. As though a machinery or something of the sort was embedded in her head, she talked on smoothly, “In order to build this railroad, it seems that a northern castle, which used to be a cultural monument, was demolished. Moreover, I have heard that operators from the North, the losing side, have suffered profoundly from overwork due to low-wage labor. Paths are opened with explosives so that we can get through mountains. The number of explosion accidents that happened in the process was not small.” The woman’s blue eyes observed the northern country emblem wrapped around the arm of a hijacker that held onto his weapon.

“That can’t be. You shouldn’t tell lies. Such a thing was... not in the newspapers, was it?”

Few were the people who would not become uncomfortable upon hearing that the state or nation they belonged to was the evil side. As the gentleman spoke a little indignantly, the woman – Violet Evergarden – spouted forth, “It is not a very well-known story. I, too, heard it by coincidence when I was traveling. I have been to everywhere, after all. Most likely, it can be presumed that this was their impetus... but if that were the case, taking the chance of destroying this train car and killing us should have been the main goal. They have murdered crew members, but seem to regard the lives of us passengers as considerably important. There... might be some other purpose...”

The gentleman was shaken at such a frail-looking girl uttering the word “murdered”. “By that, you mean...?”

“Who knows? Since they have taken us as hostages... it is reasonable to believe that they are making demands to the government.”

The gentleman was not convinced of Violet’s speech, yet was impressed by her intelligent guess.

——Just... what exactly does this girl do for a living?

She was a mysterious young woman who had an appearance akin to one of those dolls that small children would carry around. The fear that had been enveloping him settled down a little due to his curiosity regarding her.

“Still, that has nothing to do with us. I simply... wanted to attend the wedding of my distant niece.”

“Yes. However,” Violet continued, “Our circumstances also do not matter to them. Each side persisting on their convictions is what wars are about. This place can already be considered a battlefield.”

The world, which had been covered by dusk, morphed into evening. The soft glow of the lanterns hanging in the car produced a gentle light that significantly contrasted with such an edgy situation. Blue eyes stared at the state of the water supply procedures outside, the car’s lamps and the men yelling at a few passengers that had been taken hostage, respectively.

“I should soon... get going.”

It was then that the gentleman finally noticed. She was not merely observing the situation in silence. She had been aiming for some sort of opening.

“Hey, you, I don’t know what you intend to do, but it’s better to stop...”

“It is completely dark outside. This window is rather large, is it not?”

The gentleman was confused at the remarks that did not make sense.

“Sir, if I may ask, do you smoke cigarettes or cigars?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Do you have matches?”

“In my right pocket...”

“Please allow me to borrow just one of them later.” Saying nothing but that, Violet promptly stood up. She slowly raised a hand to her hair’s bundle of braids.

The gentleman could see that her hand grasped a thinly-sharpened silver stick. It was one of her hidden devices, which could be used in both close and long-range combat, but from an ordinary person’s view, it could be perceived as nothing but a thick needle.

However, one of the criminals held Violet at gunpoint as she had started acting odd. “Hey, what are you doing?! Hands up!”

“Understood.” She raised her arms, just as she was told.

The next instant, only the lanterns of the car abruptly burst and the lights went out. The screams of the passengers mingled with the hijackers’ angry voices. But there were no gunshots. The sounds of something striking and of breaking glass continued. Then, it became completely quiet. Everyone was enveloped in bewilderment at the silence that met them amidst the pitch darkness.

What had happened to the hijackers? What had been made of the girl who had suddenly stood up? What on Earth was going on in that car at that moment? While the passengers’ minds were filled with questions, fire was lit back within one of the shattered lanterns. A beautiful woman holding a match emerged from the dark like a spirit. With an index finger against her lips, she whispered a “shh”. The woman stood out vividly against the colors of the night. All the passengers who took notice of her fell silent under compulsion.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am a traveler. Everyone, I am aware that you must be tired. Please wait a little bit longer. I will now take control... of the guards outside and the freight car.” Saying no more than that, Violet blew out the match’s fire with a whiff.

The gentleman realized then that a match had been taken from his breast pocket without his notice.

Within that world of darkness, only noises began to echo yet again as one of the left-side windows was opened and someone landed outside. The sounds of gravel being stepped on and of someone running ensued. After a short while, a man’s groan could be heard. A few seconds later, there was a rustle of something heavy being dragged.

The passengers shuddered, astonished with the unexpected turn of events. They then heard a treading over the gravel once more. It was a nimble pacing, coming close to the car. The footsteps of the unseen person fueled the sense of uneasiness in those who had been immersed in fear for a long time span.

“Excuse me.”

“Hih!” The gentleman yelped curtly as the window was casually knocked from outside.

Violet stood in the outer world, where one could rely solely on moonshine, with the moonlight against her back.

“Everyone, make sure to remain quiet. Please escape before the people from the other cars come to attack this one.”

Doll-like clothes, doll-like features. The hints of her humanity were dim in everything about her.

“Do lend a hand to women, elders and children. Please follow along the railway and walk in the opposite direction of the ride. It will most likely take time, but if you go to the nearest station, the military police will definitely grant you protection. It is not a good idea to stay at this station. People who seemed to be station’s staff were conversing amicably with the guards, so there must be other entities participating in this takeover.”

One could tell without directly seeing her fight. She was not an ordinary person.

People started to climb onto the window and come down in a surge.

“What about you? Will not you come with us?” The gentleman asked the enigmatic woman whom he was curious about once he set his foot on the ground.

Violet shook her head. “I have something to do here. An incident such as this one is a first ever since the war ended. Most likely, Leidenschaftlich’s army will make its move to deal with this strife. It is exceedingly difficult to stop a train... which is like a box with people inside, without attacking from the outside. If the inside is emptied, there will be no need for hesitation. It is clear that a battle will commence at one of the next stop stations. Until then, I have to do what I can...”

“That... isn’t something for you to do, right? Let’s all run away together.”

“No...”

Her blue eyes were staring down at the gentleman in front of her, but her consciousness lay elsewhere.

“No, it is something I must do. This is... This is... for the sake of someone whom I wish to become the strength of, even if indirectly.”

She was looking at Gilbert Bougainvillea, who was, somewhere far in the distance, surely spending efforts on the rescue of the citizens.

“Fortunately, I was going to arrive at the place where that I was heading to one day earlier than planned. I happened to use this train by coincidence, but there are other means of transportation. If I am still able to contact my head office today, they should be able to prepare a substitute for my duties... This is a rather big incident, so my company’s president might have already anticipated this situation and arranged a replacement. That is my only matter of concern.”

“You should be concerned about your own body rather than about things like that. It’s dangerous... Aren’t you just a young girl?”

“Worry not. The night has deepened, so I believe I can take control of this with the least possible damage.”

“‘Control’, you say...”

“Take control” were the words that she had spewed a while before as well. It was neither “put up a resistance” nor “seize”. The standpoint she spoke of was different. She was planning to force the battle into surrender. That beautiful woman did not seem fearful or nervous in the slightest of being outnumbered.

——I have a feeling... that this is not quite having confidence.

All of her actions appeared to the gentleman as an automatic mechanism.

���Aren’t you scared?”

“I am not.” Her attitude was of someone unbothered by the fact that she was about to pick a fight with hijackers.

The train soon started moving.

The gentleman thanked her for saving everyone as she climbed back in and asked lastly, “You, what’s your name?”

Violet’s expression grew even more attractive than before while she placed an index finger against her lips without saying anything. As the train was gone, the gentleman was unable to hear her name.

Back at six hours and twenty-seven minutes, Gilbert had sent out an emergency convocation to his own troops, assembling them at a runway where Nighthawks took flight. All were waiting at a standby place near said runway for the transmission of the operation’s contents, the arming of the troops and the adjustment of the Nighthawk planes to be finalized. He had decided to make use of that time and contact the two men he needed to speak with.

“We are connected to the Leidenschaftlich Navy Ministry.”

“Sorry about that. I’ll borrow this as it is. I’m counting on you to keep people away for now.”

The person from the communication room, whom Gilbert had requested beforehand to make a call to his brother, conceded him the seat.

His brother’s voice could soon be heard. “Gil, you had a favor to ask your great older brother?”

It was the tone of someone feigning displeasure, Gilbert thought.

Although Dietfriet would make requests to Gilbert, the opposite usually did not happen. Whenever he did ask for anything, his brother would take a stance of annoyance, but never refused him. He probably felt indebted to Gilbert for the treatment that he had been giving the latter so far.

“Yeah, Brother. I do have a favor.”

There was no way the older one would be unhappy that his younger brother was relying on him.

Gilbert had been able to declare in the meeting that the navy would be mobilized since his appeals’ chances of success were visible. The circumstances seemed to have been transmitted to the Navy Ministry as well, and so, a request for a battleship to be dispatched and prevent the migration from the port capitol of the North was officially issued.

Even though both were national organizations, Leidenschaftlich’s army and navy were separate entities that shared the military budget. A mediator was needed for one to acquire the other’s cooperation, or else, it was quite difficult to do so whenever there was no great gain for either. With the passage of time, the fact that Dietfriet had betrayed the Bougainvillea – a family that had joined the army for generations – and enlisted into the navy had been turning into an asset for the two brothers. Just as Gilbert, Dietfriet had carved a position for himself that enabled him to move his troops to a large extent.

“Well, then, I will definitely pay you back for this one day.”

“Bring drinks and celebrate my birthday with me when it comes. That’d be enough.”

“If it’s something like this, I’d do it even without it serving as repayment.” Gilbert replied and was about to hang up, but his fingertips, which had stretched towards the communication equipment, halted at the next words from Dietfriet.

“That’s right... just one more thing. The reason you’re so desperate is because of ‘that’, isn’t it? I saw the newspaper. I ended up spotting ‘that’ in it even without wanting to. Has ‘it’ come to see you? ‘It’ discovered that you survived, right? I was curious as to what happened afterwards. Did you make ‘it’ yours?”

“Hah?” It was common since their childhood for his brother to prank him, and so, Gilbert thought that had been tasteless witticism at first. “Stop with the bad jokes at a time like this, Brother. Violet doesn’t know of my survival.”

Silence.

“Brother?”

“It wasn’t a joke. I see... I was sure ‘it’ was gonna go see you as soon as possible, but I was wrong, huh? So ‘it’ is laying low because of this situation... Since you’re so nice, you stayed away in order to give ‘it’ a peaceful life, so you’re sure to be worrying that ‘it’ might find out about you because of this emergency rescue plan. Don’t fret. ‘It’ already knows.”

“What... What are you saying...?” Cold sweat slowly trailed down his back. “There’s... no way she would.” His voice was faltering.

“But it seems so. Last time I saw you during the Flying Letters... I told you I had seen ‘it’, right? Back then, ‘it’ asked me... if you were alive. I gave an answer that neither affirmed nor denied anything. And so, ‘it’... she became convinced. That you were alive, I mean.”

Although Gilbert could not change what had already happened, he felt like saying “wait up”. His vision went white. He was dizzy enough to be on the verge of throwing up. With a hand on his lips, he kept quiet.

——Violet... knows?

“Hey, Gil. You okay?”

He had heard in detail from Hodgins about how much his lie had afflicted and saddened her. If she had learned that he was alive, then Gilbert was nothing to Violet other than the Lord who had tossed her away without so much as praising her military deeds. There would be no helping it if she came to hate him.

“Why... did you do something so uncalled for...?!”

Intense wrath engulfed Gilbert’s heart. He was close to venting, but the only outlet for his rage was his brother.

“Like I care. Don’t involve me in your blind love mess. I didn’t answer, but she was convinced of it. That’s all.”

“You think it’s unrelated to you... Brother, you always... Just how am I supposed to face her...?!”

“The people closest to you are family, right? It looked like she had always been believing that you had lived. When she confirmed that you were, how can I put it? Well, she had her eyes shining like an idiot. If she hasn’t gone there to see you... that’s right. There’s only one thing I can think of. Since she’s a tool, she’s waiting for her Master to pick her back up. She’s probably anticipating a moment when she’ll be needed... ‘cause she’s dumb. It’s a good opportunity, so go fetch her.”

“Brother—!!”

“You were preparing yourself for the worst while making this emergency rescue plan, right? Be thankful to your older brother for giving you this push. Bye, Gil. Leave the sea to me. Next time we meet will be on my birthday... Love ya.”

“Brother, wait!”

The line was turned off one-sidedly. Gilbert was mute out of great perplex.

Perhaps people were waiting for the conversation to end, as the door was knocked from outside the communication room. Someone from his troops handed him a baggage with the weapons and ammo that he had specified. The one who had brought the baggage was concerned about Gilbert’s oozing distress, taking it merely as a glimpse of the intense negotiations with the navy, but in reality, that was not the case.

While checking the baggage’s contents, Gilbert held firmly onto the gun. Should he shoot a bullet into his own head, his worries over everything he was shouldering would certainly be gone, but he could not do so.

He then contacted Leidenschaftlich’s CH Postal Service. A girl with a young-sounding voice answered the phone, but informed him that they were on temporary closing for the day. It seemed that they already knew about the hijacking incident.

“Please announce... that I called to offer help in the hijacking case of the intercontinental train. One of your members is in it, right? If you just say that I am from the Leidenschaftlich army, he should be able to know who it is...”

He could faintly hear a state of agitation on the other side of the line. It was a shout from his old friend, followed by the thud of something like a chair being knocked over as someone stood up, rustles of falling paperwork, and finally, he was able to catch sounds of breathing.

“Gilbert! You... Where have you been and doing what?!” A voice clearly coated in anger echoed in his ears stridently. Regardless, Gilbert wound up feeling joy. It had truly been a long time since he had last talked to Claudia Hodgins.

“I heard just a bit ago from the secretary that you had contacted the army. Sorry. I was in a meeting.”

“Don’t go having meetings while one of my employees is in major trouble! You... know what’s up, don’t you? The army is making its move, right? In the hijacking case of the intercontinental train, I mean! She is... She is...”

“I am aware. Violet is on board, isn’t she? There was a photo of her in the newspaper.”

Hodgins was dumbfounded at Gilbert’s casual response and immediately retorted, “Don’t talk so calmly!” Losing his composure even more, he started making odd claims, “I am the way I am, and you were supposed to be like me too. You were supposed to be like that all along.”

——He’s sentimental, and a boisterous guy.

Gilbert ended up laughing. He felt embarrassed of how much he had longed for that noisy friend of his in the meantime they had not talked to one another. Not letting it show that he was just as anxious as the latter, he replied with words that were not solely his vanity, but also merged with his true sentiments, “As if I can afford to lose my mind. During times of crisis, it’s my duty to come up with means of protecting the citizens.”

“Does Little Violet... count as one of those citizens?”

“Obviously.”

“Are you mad... that I let Little Violet get in danger even though you entrusted her to me?”

Gilbert was sincerely surprised to be asked something completely different. “What are you saying? I’m grateful to you. I wouldn’t have entrusted her... to anyone else. You’re a man with sense of responsibility, so I left her to you. But that has nothing to do with what is happening now.”

“I don’t think so.”

Gilbert realized what Hodgins was talking about as if he had grasped the matter with his hands. Even though he was not at fault, blaming himself while wondering what else he could have done was a trait of his best friend’s personality.

“Hodgins.”

“What?”

“You’re my number one friend.”

“What’s with that, out of the blue...?”

“Hodgins. A friend like you... won’t show up before me ever again. You’re that important, even if you don’t want to be. I’m the same to you, aren’t I? That’s why... I had thought you were taking my sins lightly. You asked me why I had let go of Violet and told me to come see her, right? And said I shouldn’t call you unless I reconsidered it.”

“I did. I definitely did.”

“I... I keenly felt that I was the last person she should see, so I let her go. When we first met, I had believed it was best for me to watch over her while keeping her at arm distance, but that was a façade, and in the end, I used her as a tool.”

“But that... under those circumstances, there was no helping it. I would have done the same.”

“Is that really so? I... don’t think you would. How is she now, the Violet that you guided and raised? If I... hadn’t made the wrong choice... if I hadn’t raised her by my side, she would have grown up without knowing the battlefield. The current Violet is how she was originally supposed to be. That’s why it’s not your fault if something like this happens in the process. For starters, this was an accident.”

“If you’re gonna say that, I can shoot it right back at ya. Don’t make it seem like Little Violet fighting alongside you in the war was something bad. That’s blasphemy against every soldier we lived with in that period. The problem was how you would have guided her after that. And it was then I got angry, because you were prioritizing only your own feelings and not thinking about Little Violet. But, listen! I’ll cease fire temporarily. Now isn’t the time to be on break-up. We’re both her guardians. Let’s save her.” His tone was determined and seemed to deliver the heated, glaring gaze of his greyish blue orbs even through the communication equipment.

“I agree with that... For her sake, anything I can do... In order to keep her away from the army, I have done several preparations to prevent her return. Personal connections, merits... I devoted myself for everything to be the utmost and very best. I’m in the middle of that even at the moment. If it’s to protect Violet, I won’t nitpick methods.”

“So, you’re gonna put up a cool pose like, ‘whatever is not for her sake... shall be excluded, even should that be myself’ and protect her from the shadows?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

By the looks of it, Hodgins also did not seem to know the truth. That meant Violet really had concluded on her own that Gilbert had survived, and, as Dietfriet had said, was simply waiting for him. For her Master to come retrieve her.

“But I wonder about that... Soon, the lie I pinned into her might be busted. There’s a high chance I’ll come in contact with Violet.”

After a brief silence, Hodgins’s request for repetition in the form of a “Haah!?” resounded loudly. He finally took notice of turbine sounds coming from behind Gilbert. “Wait a bit, then where... are you now?”

“Near a runway that was reserved for my troops’ Nighthawks. I’m currently coordinating the departure.” Gilbert loaded his gun while speaking. He had also taken off his military uniform and finished changing into his battle outfit. The latter felt more familiar on his body.

“Of Leidenschaftlich’s Special Offense Force!? Yo-You... are commanding them and going for the rescue?!”

“That’s right.”

“You... said you wouldn’t see her! Is it okay if you do?!”

Silence. Gilbert believed the conversation would drag on for much longer if he revealed that Violet apparently knew about his survival.

“Why are you quiet? Isn’t that it?”

“When everything is over, I’ll apologize and report to you too. This is in order to save Violet. There’s no other option anymore. If we do end up meeting, I’ll beg for forgiveness...”

Their time to talk was shortening.

“Then prepare yourself for the worst. This is something that you caused.” Hodgins said something similar to what Dietfriet had. “So, what will you do once the Nighthawks take flight? Don’t tell me, you’ll jump onto the train while it’s in motion?”

“That’s right.”

“You really... are insane sometimes! A knight-in-shiny-armor gone crazy over love! Haha! I’ll praise you for that.”

Hodgins’s laughter could be heard. As Gilbert was unable to counter-argue, his face reddened.

“By the way, eh, are you... still a lieutenant-colonel? Wasn’t there some deal about you receiving other two rank promotions?”

“You’re full of questions... They waited for my injuries to heal. I became a colonel a few days ago.” With his prosthetic left arm, Gilbert stroked the eyepatch on his palm, which hid the right eye he had lost. Even with only one side of his vision, his handling of weapons had not deteriorated.

“And yet you’re the one in command!? That’s even more insane! The higher-ups sure made a great concession!”

“No more mocking, Hodgins. I told you, didn’t I? If it’s for Violet’s sake, I don’t nitpick my methods. Of course, our objective is to settle down the current situation, but there’s no way that can be done without me commanding on-site. Earlier, you said you’d do everything you can. If those words weren’t a lie, I want you to show me your data-acquiring skills. Is there any information that the military doesn’t know of?”

“Got it. I’ll tell you. But lemme just say one thing.”

“What is it...?”

“You... turn into a huge idiot when it comes to Little Violet, huh. I... like that a lot.”

“Shut up.”

Why was that? Between friends, even if they spent a long while without speaking to each other, once they eventually opened their mouths and reached out to one another, they would end up talking as if the flow of time in that gap had never existed. The two forgot about back when they had stopped contacting each other and begun to chatter.

“I’ll say what we have here, so you tell me too. Let’s have an info exchange. The hijackers had in them the national emblem of a certain northern country, Rohand. Remnants of an extremist party that also caused trouble before by raiding a construction site when the railroad of the intercontinental train was being made are in that group. Still, it seems they were not supposed to be a number of people significant enough to cause such a big incident... they might’ve gotten more collaborators.”

Gilbert ran a pen through his notebook. He also spoke about what he had heard during the meeting, as well as about the demands for a political offender kept in the Altair Prison to be handed over and to migrate to another continent in exchange for the passengers. He was aware that they were not ones to negotiate with in normal circumstances.

“Our information and yours aren’t that different in terms of freshness. The train is currently making a stop at a water supply point. It’s been confirmed through the supplementary information from the Leidenschaftlich National Railway that an engineer and some engineer assistants of the train were killed, and that the criminals sought substitute personnel. It’s good that we were able to buy time, but you said that their numbers must be small since they’re taking such reckless actions despite having a plan, right? Normally, when an anti-government organization swells up and spontaneously discharges like this, it’s mostly due to worthless bastards being drawn into it by a primary factor of making numbers balance. Meaning they have caused a situation where there’s no turning back, huh?”

“Either way, they wanna slap the South in the face and migrate to a country that isn’t their own. Did you know that Rohand’s territory is on the railway’s track? For example, if we had been the ones to lose the war, Leidenschaftlich’s towns had been destroyed and a roadbed had been built across it, what would you think?”

“I would provisionally evacuate, store weapons, gather warriors and come back.”

“If it were me, I’d find my happiness in another land, but you’d do something like that. This is probably also valid for the enemies. And surely there is a comrade of theirs in the Altair Prison whom they’d think that could do it. If I... were the criminal of this incident, and you were in Altair, maybe I’d have done the same as them.”

——If it were you, you’d take a smarter route. Gilbert thought but did not voice it.

Perhaps having been able to realize something from Gilbert’s silence, Hodgins said quickly, “The enemies are level-headed enough only not to kill the passengers, but they’ll soon give in to despair. If that happens, there’s a high chance that the number of deaths will rise. You said our information wasn’t different in freshness, but I still have material. The regulations after the calling-off of military forces in the North are rigid. If the hijackers managed to get weapons, it’s most possible that they imported them from another continent. It’s been confirmed there are armed groups that get their hands into weapons that we’re not yet familiar with through entwined foreign trades with other countries and continents. Still, it looks like the relationship between the arm dealers of these continents and the people of ours who want weapons can’t be considered good. It seems the fees are pretty overcharged. Meaning they’re being taken advantage of.”

“Even Leidenschaftlich has problems in foreign trades with other continents. They are wary of our natural resources and don’t stop just at interchanging goods, but also try to buy lands here. It is, aah... almost like that.”

“Yeah, like a forewarning that there’s some project involving the South and North. You get it? There’s a need to understand the background of the incident happening right now. At first glance, it looks like a fight between Leidenschaftlich, of the South, and a country of the North, Rohand, but in reality, there’s one more entity. It’s only watching. But it exists. As a third influence, it wants to know just how well Leidenschaftlich can handle a situation like this one. Other than being on the side that won the war, we’re also the greatest military nation.”

“Migration plans, another continent, new armaments.”

Albeit messily, a summary of the incident was unraveling within Gilbert. A thread trailed around his mind, and the results of the accumulated information came out. One: the contents of the demands made by the hijackers were that, once the intercontinental train arrived at its last station in the port town, the political offender and war criminal of the North were allowed to migrate with them to another continent. Two: they, who were from the defeated nation, had been able to execute the hijacking through the other continent’s support.

Those with good intuition could tell. The current situation had been induced because the trigger of a next war was about to burst. Just when everyone was thinking that the horrors of wartime had settled down in their continent, there were now other continents targeting it.

As Gilbert’s supposition wound up hitting bull’s-eye, his head grew heavy. “Our victory needs to be overwhelming.”

“Will Leidenschaftlich dispatch rescue troops other than yours?”

“The orders have been given. They’ll target the water supply point, attack, help the passengers escape and engage into battle. It’ll be an ambush from the army garrison of the North. If, by any chance, they still strive towards migrating to another country, the ones they’d have to face next would be the navy. My brother is also on the move. But we can’t let them get to the sea. For that, I have a favor to ask you.”

“What is it? You can say anything.”

“Buy the land of a water supply point station that the train is expected to pass by.”

“Hah?”

“Trains usually require water supply. It’s a one-stop-per-hour ratio. Once the water is replenished, we’ll lose an opportunity of rescue again. However, it’s predictable that they will use hostages as shield and the dispatched northern troops would have to allow their passage. I want a place where they will definitely stop at. And then, I want the railroad to be destroyed so that they won’t be able to not stop... That’s why, buy the property, and break it down.”

“‘Buy it’, you say, like it’s something easy...”

“You can’t?”

“Don’t ask stupidities. It’s not a matter of being able to or not. I will do it. My employee is on that thing!”

“Since it’s you, I did think you’d say that. The lands of the passing points are divided into two types: those owned by the Leidenschaftlich National Railway and those that were rented from the original owners and are in use. When I looked at the map, I was able to narrow the places where we’d be able to have a flashy ambush battle, yet in which it would hardly affect other territories and that the train would afterwards undoubtedly stop at once far away from the water supply point, down to a few stops. And among them, there is only one point that is a private property. I want you to purchase it with your talent for business. From now, as soon as possible.”

Gilbert himself thought he was saying something unreasonable.

“You... Gilbert, you...”

However, he was certain that, if it was his best friend, the latter would definitely manage it.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait. Why did you narrow that down?”

“To tell the truth, the major-general didn’t approve of this strategy.”

“Well, there’s no way anyone would immediately nod at being told ‘let’s buy land, destroy it and kick our enemies’ asses’, is there?”

“It seemed I would have been able to convince him if I’d had more time, but unfortunately, I’m about to fly. I’ve decided right then to make of this not a military, but a private strategy. The money will come from me. Places in possession of the Leidenschaftlich National Railway can’t be negotiated. However, if it’s a land up for rent owned by one person, it can be nominally made private. Buy it under your name. If you become the titular, whatever you do with it is your own business.”

“Even so, it’d be bad to destroy it, right?! It’s being rented by the National Railway, isn’t it?! Even if it’s private in name only, it’s being used by the National Railway. I can’t just go damaging the property.”

“That’s where your assistance comes. After the private property is sold, extort the one responsible for the National Railway. You can do so when the incident settles down. The Leidenschaftlich National Railway’s crisis management will surely be interrogated about its absence after this case is finished. Say that you’ll make an escape route for them. In normal circumstances, I’d rather have them hand the land over themselves, but that’s impossible for bureaucratic bungling. That’s why we’ll be the ones to propose it. If we let the criminals get to the sea, this won’t end just with the ones responsible being fired. In exchange of us being able to go rampant in a private property, make people promise not to investigate them later on. And then, ask a newspaper company to...”

“I’ve been able to catch it somehow. You got me involved in this with the intention of making it into some impressive tale, right?”

“You’re quick.”

The plan that Gilbert had come up with was like a sequence.

The postal company president Claudia Hodgins, for the sake of his employee’s protection and out of worry for the safety of the people taken as hostages, would suggest a cul-de-sac to take place in a territory rented by the Leidenschaftlich National Railway itself (said postal company president was also a former Leidenschaftlich soldier and carried the achievement of having been promoted to major). Fearing the situation’s aggravation, even if the Leidenschaftlich National Railway were to predict through the suggestion of the property owner that the railroad would hardly be usable afterwards, it would prioritize actual lives over expenses and agree to the scheme.

Henceforth, an arrangement of the strategy being transmitted by someone from the army and the plan being immediately executed would be printed out. In reality, the land would not belong to Hodgins since the one paying for it would be Gilbert Bougainvillea, but as long as such fact did not see the light of day, any sort of grandiose story could be created about it. Unlike the current circumstances, severe public criticism was something that could be eased.

“I’m counting on you as insurance. If this doesn’t work, we’ll just carry it over to the next water supply point. However, there will be more victims, and the possibility of Violet’s survival becoming dubious will be higher. A fast resolution is necessary. I’ll let you make use of one of my subordinates. He has the documents for the land’s purchasing, so call him. You’ll probably have to negotiate with its representative, but if it’s you, you can work it out with your misleading flattery.”

“I’m honored for the compliments! But this will definitely be busted later. People know about our relationship, right?”

Gilbert turned around upon being tapped on the shoulder. It seemed the Nighthawks were ready.

“I don’t mind even losing my position for this. But I will try to prove that I’m not someone who can be cut off so easily. Rather than me, what’s important is the citizens’... Violet’s safety. Listen, I don’t forgive those who put the citizens of our Leidenschaftlich in danger, no matter who they are. A number of lives have already been lost. We’ll definitely pay them back. It doesn’t matter who the other party is, be them the North or another continent. Our Leidenschaftlich does not yield to foreign invasion or pressure. It’s been like that ever since its foundation. I will make the enemies regret laying their hands on Leidenschaftlich.” The Bougainvillea heir spat out his quiet anger in a voice tone that even his friend would find ominous.

It was precisely seven hours and sixteen minutes into the evening. Why was there no one around?

One of the hijackers cried out upon seeing the state of Dining Car 2. He looked about. The interior of the dark car shook with the steam whistle of the locomotive.

The train, which had been making a stop, had finally begun to move again. The Leidenschaftlich National Railway had responded to the hijackers’ demands and sent replacement personnel to the pitiful engineer, Samuel LaBeouf. He was currently attempting to drive while another hijacker thrust a gun at him.

Things had expanded to a point in which it was impossible to understand many aspects of the several happenings. One of the aspects was the empty dining car that the man was staring at. Not only the passengers but also his companions, who had been in control of Dining Car 2, were nowhere to be found.

The man recalled a cryptic ghost story passed down at the northern homeland that he used to live in. It stated that when one was abroad a speeding vehicle in the middle of the night, they should not look outside from anywhere other than its front, whether it was a carriage, a car or even a train.

——The reason why is...

He put a hand on the frame of the only window that had been left open.

——...because non-humans are guided by the moonlight and follow it.

Then opened the window to see the back of the car.

——A frightening ghost might be baring its fangs and running after us.

However, what chased the train was nothing but the moon floating in the night sky. The smell of prairies during nighttime only granted the man trapped inside the box called a train slight coldness instead of terror.

“Hah.” The man caressed his chest. Apparitions did not exist – he was able to confirm that much. Rather, what remained unconfirmed was the cause behind the disappearance of the passengers and his comrades.

“I will be taking this.” The words the man heard came from a direction he would never have imagined. By the moment he both caught them and understood their meaning, his collar was simultaneously grabbed and he was tossed outside.

The train was in motion. It was not too fast, but no one would survive unharmed should they fall off. Before the man collided with the ground, what he saw were blue eyes staring at him from atop the train and a golden light sparkling against the moonlit night. While swallowing his breath at such beauty, the man bounced onto the soil like a small ball.

Violet readied her position on the hurtling train. Her hips carried a military saber that she had borrowed from the man when throwing him out. Her body was already equipped with numerous weapons snatched from other hijackers.

After experimenting the saber, dagger, and pistol sword that did not suit her lovely ribbon-tie one-piece once for each, she went back to the saber. It seemed their heaviness was not yet overwhelming, and she put them away in weapon holders that also appeared to have been stolen.

Violet’s fighting style was similar to a spider’s. At first, she had merely defeated one hijacker when bumping onto him, as he had sensed the strange state of the freight car and had come to check it, but as others would come searching for their comrade who had not returned, she concluded, “this is a good opportunity” and hid herself while on standby, eliminating them one by one. Right before losing interest, the hijackers would see the upside-down figure of a woman appearing from outside the window and let out a scream before fainting. She had laid out the yarns and was hunting the preys that she had successfully drawn into her spider web.

There had been four people monitoring the hostages in Dining Car 1. The only remaining hijacker had continued keeping watch while surrounded by people. As he became unable to handle the eeriness of Dining Car 2, he went to seek support from the car ahead.

Although the passengers of Dining Car 2 had been freed during the train’s stop, there was nothing that could be done to somehow rescue the ones of Dining Car 1, even if the guard’s eyes could be evaded. Violet gazed forward as if glaring. She decided that her next task was to take control of the engine room and make the train stop again.

Violet advanced while deftly walking onto the scaffold. Her resolve had no signs of crumbling as she was headed, silent and unaccompanied, towards a seizure battle. She was no longer a girl soldier. There were no commander officers beside her. She was treading through a life in which she did not have back-ups, with no option other than making choices on her own. As a result of that, she was taking actions without anyone’s instructions in order to help the passengers. She was attempting to do what she could as Violet Evergarden.

“Major.”

The train that they happened to be riding in had been taken over. If she had the ability to help them escape, she would simply do so. In retrospect, in case her Lord was indeed alive and in the army, she had utmost trust that he was definitely thinking of a method to save that train, even if said person was not aware of what she was doing.

“Sounds of turbines?” Violet suddenly looked up at the empty night sky. A noise unlike the one of the train’s sprinting mixed with it in her ears. She could see several flying objects looming right over the train.

“There! That’s the culprit!”

A bullet gushed through the night sky. A gunshot echoed along with a man’s voice. From within the locomotive, a gun was aimed at her. One of the hijackers, who had been in a frenzy while looking for the passengers that were nowhere in sight, as well as the person who had most likely caused such a situation, had finally found Violet running on top of the train.

Violet peeled her eyes away from the objects flying in the night sky and concentrated on the battle. She sped up onto the locomotive while lowering her posture. After taking some distance, she constrained the criminals inside the locomotive by shooting at them, then resumed running. The best idea was to get inside the car as soon as possible, but it did not seem that she would be able to do so immediately.

“Who... are you?! The one who helped the hostages of the rear car escape was you, wasn’t it?!”

The men climbed from the window of the Passenger Car to get rid of Violet. From both behind and ahead of her, the men bearing the emblem of the North were gradually approaching her with the intention of attacking from both sides.

“Answer! Who are you?!”

“I am a mere traveler.”

“Liar! Did you know about our plans? No... it’s not like there would be anyone foolish enough to come aboard alone if they knew. Come here! We’ll interrogate you about the details. Put down the weapons.”

Violet put the gun back into the holder.

“Wrong! Leave the weapons at your feet!”

Not listening to the restraint order, she took a large step. “Who...” while saying so, Violet landed on the chest of the one that had been threatening her, her fist diving into his face.

The fist that came from a woman so fine-looking was much heavier than it seemed. The man rolled down, taking a few others with him.

“Who... said anything about complying with you?” with her low grumble, battle commenced.

The men charged at her from back and front. Firstly, she crisscrossed the knife bouts from a man who had come from behind. She defended herself with her left hand, grasped his face and pushed him backwards. As he faltered, she swept him off his feet and, just like that, delivered a kick to drop him off the train.

An enemy who rushed towards her from the front attempted to hit her with his bare hands. It was a tall and broad man. He probably had confidence in his physical strength. Merrily, he targeted Violet’s face. Receiving a series of kicks with both arms, Violet aimed for an opening, placed a hand onto the hull and rotated her long legs. While he was overtaken by her kick, she sank the fist of her free hand into his stomach. But the man seemed to have a hard protection plank hidden under his clothes. She did feel that something had bent, but there were no sounds of bones breaking.

“I’ll crush your face! Die!” After a pause, the man raised his fist towards her once more.

Violet accepted it with one hand, pulled the gun from the holster and shot his thigh at close range.

“You... that’s unfa...”

Nothing was cowardly about Violet, who had been raised in the battlefields. She gently pressed the collapsing man’s shoulder, and he disappeared into the dark with a scream. As Violet was on her own yet again, the rattling of the train resounded in her ears.

That was the power of the woman named Violet Evergarden. It was an actual proof of strength from the weapon whose name was not in the registrations of Leidenschaftlich’s army.

The train’s hijacking plan was failing in a progressive fashion. The perpetrators mostly carried out a rash behavior, but that was not the direct cause. They had enough military force to control the weak passengers. However, and Auto-Memories Doll who prided herself in having the strength of an unmatched warrior had ended up mingling with said passengers.

The moon in the sky had been enclosed in nightly clouds and temporarily disappeared, but the moonshine slowly began to gleam down over the world again. When the moonlight guided Violet once more, there was a different enemy in front of her. Even without being invited, Violet showed herself to them.

“Are you... a soldier of Leidenschaftlich?” The low voice of a man could be heard. It was a quiet way of speaking. He had features that gave off an impression of transparency and steadiness. Although its color was dull in the nightly darkness, he was clad in an azure coat. Rohand’s national emblem was embroidered on it. For whatever reason, he had a long case in hands.

“No, I am no longer a soldier now. I have a question as well. Are you the strongest person among the ones responsible for this takeover? If possible, I would like to fight whoever that person is.”

The man gripped his case firmly. As he did so, its exterior detached and fell to his feet, revealing a bayonet. With flawless etiquette, he bowed at Violet. “I am the leader of Rohand’s chivalric order... as for my name, I’ve already abandoned it. I am the strongest one that you seek. I have... seen you in the battlefield. You’re Leidenschaftlich’s witch, right?” The leader of Rohand’s chivalric order observed Violet under the moonlight with an indescribable gaze. It denoted his fear and wrath at the fact that the young demon of the battlefields had grown up so much and stood before him yet again. However, she was but a beautiful woman no matter how he looked at her, and so, he was perplexed. “Your fighting form was... just like a fierce god... I’ve heard no rumors about you after the Continental War ended, but... I see, so you’ve been doing this kind of obscure work.”

The air that steamed from the leader was unlike the other men that she had fought.

“I apologize for not meeting your expectations, but the witch you speak of has already departed from this world and is not a soldier anymore. I am now only a traveler. I am not doing anything assassin-like, either. I did give your comrades a rough treatment, but they are sure to be alive. Although this is arrogant of me, as a passenger of this train, I have a request. Please release all the hostages.”

“That cannot be done.”

“I suppose so... We are being used as material for some sort of trade. Even I can understand that much. Why are you doing such a thing?”

“It’s to take back the things... and the person... that you guys have trampled over.”

“Do you mean to start another war?”

The chivalric leader chuckled. His voice rose into laughter, but it did not reach his eyes. “I’m sorry, but want to ask you something. Is the war over to you?”

Did she not think she would ever be asked such a question? Violet grew stiff.

“I can’t read you very well since you’re expressionless, but the fact that you aren’t answering means you have a clue, right? That’s what soldiers are about. Forever and always... our memories of viciousness stay with us like remnants of burn marks and do not disappear. It will never be over for me.”

The exchange had a sense of déjà-vu.

“However... in truth, it is already over.”

“Still, war will happen once more.”

Such words were Violet’s former self in essence.

“The faces of my deceased companions. The smell of corpses. The weight of a gun snatched from an enemy’s dead body, the night I spent in pain after being beaten by a senior officer without knowing the motive. I had been able to endure all this... because I believed that, someday, the war would end and supposedly something brilliant awaited me in the future. But how was it in reality? My friend that had been going for the same dream as myself was put in prison, the higher-ups who started the war are living leisurely, and now our nation is becoming our enemy. The soldiers who protected the citizens with their lives at stake are labeled as useless and get stones thrown at them by peasants. My hometown was gone without a trace as the victorious country laid a railway track for its trains over the motherland that we tried to protect. I also tried to forget about it. But, in my heart, forever and ever, even now...”

There were deep dark bags under the chivalric leader’s eyes.

“...even though I wake up in the morning, sleep at night and I am breathing, a fury that I cannot suppress burns within my body at unexpected times. To solve this, I have no choice but kill your country, which made me this way. Not just the South. The West, which conspired with it, too. This is still just a tiny beginning. From this point on, our original lives will start. Are you satisfied? If I have to talk, given that I’m not so good at conversations, I’ll do it with my fists.”

There was a reason why he had said “our”. One, two, three more people who wore the same azure coat as him appeared and took out the bayonet from their own long cases and aimed the weapons at Violet. On top of the train in movement, the former chivalric order with their bayonets and a former girl soldier wielding several kinds of weapons put themselves in position and stood facing one another.

It was like the law of causal response. Violet’s past pursued her no matter how much time passed, never letting her go.

Violet held onto the brooch on her chest only once. “Why... did things turn out this way?” was a question that surfaced in everyone’s minds when cruel things happened, but not in hers. That was because the one who used to be her Lord had told her, “without ever blaming anyone, live on”.

“I am a taciturn myself, so that would be of help.” Violet unsheathed the saber and bowed in a lady-like manner.

At seven hours and thirty-four minutes, Hodgins had proceeded to a branch office of Leidenschaftlich’s National Estate Purchase Agency. It was the place that had been selected and that he had relied on for the construction of the CH Postal Service’s headquarters. Upon claiming that he had a negotiation to discuss with the person in charge, whom he was on close terms with, the receptionist promptly gave him a positive response. Separated by a desk in a private room that he had been led to, the two of them were gazing at each other.

“No, even if you say that, President Hodgins...” Compared to before he had listened to Hodgins, the one in charge – John Wishaw – showed signs of discomfort in his face.

He was a man in his mid-thirties who appeared young enough to be in his twenties. He was often despised for his looks, working as the manager of that branch office regardless.

“Are there any issues?” Fronting him, Claudia Hodgins’s way of speaking was in accordance to their ages, but he was one or two levels above the latter in being a dandy. Normally, one could often witness an attitude that poked fun at people coming from him, but the expression of seriousness he displayed in critical moments could stir people’s hearts, even with them being of the same sex.

John recoiled at Hodgins’s attacking stare. “As I said, your request is extremely hard to accept. About the land ownership purchase of the village you asked for, Ritorno, just acquiring one section of it is already hard, let alone the entire thing...”

“The truth is that just its train station is fine, but it’ll earn us more profit to buy the whole village while we’re at it.”

“The station is the village’s public property, and cannot be a subject of general estate negotiations.”

“No, that’s wrong, isn’t it? I contacted the Leidenschaftlich Legal Affairs Bureau before coming here. The station is a private property. It’s one of the large pieces of land that the village head, Miss Ian, inherited from her ancestors. The railroad that was laid down for the sake of the mining industry that said ancestors had started, and the station that was built for the same reason is Ritorno village’s. Leidenschaftlich’s National Railway uses the station as a water supply point for the trains to make stops at, but passengers can’t get off there. Because it’s a private property. You’d see that if you check the estate registration. Can you open the file in your hands?”

Albeit reluctantly, John opened the documents regarding Ritorno’s territorial data. The proprietary was the head of Ritorno’s coalmines.

“You sure... are knowledgeable.”

What Hodgins had said was true.

“It’s pretty famous. The station where people can’t get off at, that is. It’s got romance to it, right? But it’s not like no one can get off at it. Those who have Ritorno’s coalmine labor certificate and its residents can. It’s because it’s a private estate that outsiders can only enter and leave from a place other than the passage exclusive of those who have permission after undergoing troublesome procedures... Now, let’s return to the problem. I just want the land that has the railway where the intercontinental train will run across.”

——I’ll persuade you. I’ll persuade you. I’ll persuade you. I’ll definitely persuade you.

Hodgins made gestures and drew John Wishaw into his own story, almost like a stage actor. His eyes narrowed softly, but there was no kindness in them. “Shall I explain the usefulness of this transaction in an easy way again? Ritorno village is currently undergoing a continuous decline in population. It used to be famous for its mines, but mining became impossible due to an accident from several years ago. Although the railroads remain, the number of workers is decreasing and young people are leaving. It’s also not a place for tourism. It’s clear that it will turn into ruins. Part of the village was rented when the railroad was laid down. The village’s economy comes from clinging onto the money earned from that with all their might. How many people are there in the village now?”

“Around ninety...”

“That’s about the same number as a few ten-people households in a family gathering. Can they withstand the winter this year? Can they live on without sucking up to the youngsters who work away from home?”

“They must be... having a hard time.”

“I can see the finale of this tale. But there’s something that can turn it into a ‘Never-Ending Story’. Currently, our company does postal services and dispatches Auto-Memories Dolls, but there’s a project that we recently started working on. The manufacturing industry. Right now, we order letters, stamps and seal wax from other companies, but we are planning to manufacture and sell our own in the future. I’ll hire all the villagers for that, from elders to children, as long as their hands can move.” Hodgins stood up and sat on the sofa that John was on.

Although there was a distance between the two, it was short. John’s nervousness increased, but he was somewhat relieved in comparison to when Hodgins was in front of him.

It was psychologically less menacing to talk side-by-side than have a face-to-face conversation. The lesser one had to look at the other’s face, the more the tension would alleviate. Hodgins was never taught about such fact by anyone, instead acting on his own experience.

“What are you worried about?”

“Is there any realtor who could instantly close a deal after being told that the land to be bought would be transformed into a battlefield?”

“I see... There is a resistance... I get it, I get it. I totally get it. Of course, I won’t force you.” He repeated the words that empathized empathy, then lowered down the conditions already presented, “If I can’t buy the Ritorno village, I’ll buy the proposed site. I’ll buy it anyways. I explained the reason why from the get-go. I want to solve the hijacking incident happening right now faster than what the army is taking to make a move. For that, I need a place where there could be gunfire. I want to buy not only the station but the whole village and introduce business to it as an assurance. Y’know, I’m in the same position.” Next, he presented the conditions once more in a direction that appealed to emotions, “A girl who is like a daughter to me and was left in my care by the most precious friend in my life is on that train. I want to save her. I have connections with the Leidenschaftlich army. I tried asking about it, and the way things are now, it seems it’d be hard to execute a rescue if the train doesn’t stop. The best idea is to aim for a water supply point, attack, help the passengers escape and bring about the battlefield, but the military forces can’t be immediately readied just with forestalling. It would turn not into support from our own country, but into an ambush attack in a land occupied by the North’s army. Incidents like that are out of reach from the army’s handling, and the one that gets mobilized is the Special Firearms Attack Unit.”

The Special Firearms Attack Unit consisted of offense troops dispatched whenever there were cases that would be too much for the military police to deal with in domestic and overseas territories owned by Leidenschaftlich. As Leidenschaftlich, which had struggled with invasions during its long history, had always been successful in its interceptions, it would build national military bases in the invading countries as a partial compensation. During the Continental War, they had taken the role of stock areas as well. The Special Firearms Attack Unit was certain to be present in military divisions and maintained the peace and security of their vicinities. The one which would be mobilized that time was not the troop from the division near the station that the train had already left behind, but the troop from the division that lay further ahead.

“That’s why I will buy the land where a water supply point that the train is expected to pass by soon is located.”

John gulped noisily at Hodgins’s words.

“I’ll buy it and destroy the rails. I’ll create a place in which the army will be able to move around easily. It will also be advantageous for the Special Firearms Attack Unit, which will arrive before they do. The conclusion of this situation will be much faster if they come, right? Anyways, I want to make the target stop moving. It’s not about being able to do it or not. I will do it. My employee is on board. John, are you married? You aren’t, right? Then, are your parents doing well? I see. I wonder what you’d think if your parents were aboard that hijacked train with guns pointed at them in this very moment. I believe that the number of deaths will be much smaller if you help me right here and now. On the other hand, if you refuse, the risk of who-knows-how-many people dying will increase. You could be either a hero or a reaper.”

“B-But, we’d be doing that without the government’s authorization, right?”

Hodgins grinned. “The responsibility for it isn’t yours. After all, the contractor is me. If what we’re about to do works out, it’d be just me doing whatever with my own land.”

“That is... inconceivable. Are you saying you have personal troops or something? Even if you manage to stop the train by chance, rescuing the passengers would be impossible...”

Hodgins did not display frustration in front of that young man, who was completely seized with fear. On the contrary, he put a hand on the latter’s knee and spoke in an even gentler and sweeter approach than before, “I’m the one who decides whether it’s impossible or not.” However, he was clad in a forceful aura. “I’m not an idiot either. There’s no way I’d be a stranger to battlefields. I’m not proud of it, but I used to lead troops in the past.”

A scent that had been unknown to John during his entire life wafted from Hodgins to the tip of his nose. As he glanced at his side, their eyes met. The latter’s greyish blue eyes, good physique, broad shoulders and warm chest were right on sight.

“I... the fighting power that I have... I don’t wanna call it ‘fighting power’, but still... I now move on by trusting the power of the people that lend me their strength.” His hand that had rested on John’s knee grasped the latter’s own hand without his notice.

In regards of Hodgins, his field of expertise – having a way with words – was one that could capture others, but its true value did not lie there.

“Aren’t you just an intermediator? There’s only one thing I want you to do.”

At any rate, his ability to blend poison and honey in order to deceive people was unmatched.

“I want you to propose this deal to the village chief. That’s all, John.” As John remained silent, Hodgins put another hand on his knee. “I want to get to know... your human candor.”

——I’m sorry, beautiful-hearted youth.

One step short of his next chessboard move, Hodgins felt his conscience ache.

——I’m really sorry for dragging you into something like this. But there’s someone who wants to make that place into a battlefield.

His checkmate on John Wishaw was accompanied by a smile. “So, will you become one of the rescuers? If you can’t do it, I don’t mind contacting the village myself. You’re a manager and I’m a trader. We’re both proficient in talking, but if it were me, I could get the agreement of a client in five minutes. I’ll show you that skill of mine.”

Over the double lines in the contract for land renting written on parchment, the name of the new contractor – Claudia Hodgins – was printed. As the document procedures were finished soundly, Hodgins unreservedly patted John’s shoulder while the latter hung his head depressively as though wondering if they had not actually done something outrageous. Hodgins then called his company, the CH Postal Service, after being allowed to borrow the telephone.

Gilbert and Hodgins were not the only ones distressed by the current strife. After one ringback tone, Lux answered.

“Little Lux. Is everyone moving according to my instructions?”

“They’ve all been dispatched. If you give permission, President, I can call and get them to move right about now. It’s mostly the postmen, though...”

“You’ve only gathered strong ones amongst the men, so that’s okay. A fast-working secretary is the best thing...!”

“Have you already put the plan in motion?”

“Poor lands are bought often, after all. It’s easier than seducing a girl. More importantly, the station of the village I’m about to mention, Ritorno village... tell everyone to lay waste to it, no matter what method they use. We’ve talked to the villagers. Anyhow, it has to get to a point where the fact that the train won’t be able to pass it by will be clearly visible from the engine room. Don’t let them forget to wear a red cloth so that others will be able to tell them apart from the enemies. Also, tell them to fire a smoke bomb as a signal that the plan is being executed.”

“It might be late for this but, hum, even if it’s for the sake of a rescue... won’t the influential people of this country be angry at us or something...?”

“That’s right. Even if it’s my property, people will probably be upset. After all, a private business – a postal company, no less – will be taking actions that will bring big damage to the economic activities of the state management.”

“Are you all right with this?”

“What we’ll do is destroy the railroad and protect the people who will escape from the train when it suddenly stops. We won’t interfere with the military... as long as the guys who are there don’t go rampant... most likely... yeah. Even if they do, getting yelled at is my job. I have an acquaintance from a newspaper company. If this incident brings something good, I’ll ask them to write an article that will make it difficult to put the blame on us. Everyone involved will be livid, but big organizations are weak against public opinion that the army joins into, and there are matters that could be used against us, which is why I will do something about it. I won’t let anyone do anything that would end with you stranded in the streets, so stay calm. Anyways, just tell everyone that, once the locomotive stops, they must concentrate on rescuing the passengers, and run away if they think things are dangerous. That’s all. I’m about to head there on the Nighthawk that my friend arranged for me.”

“President Hodgins.”

“What is it, Little Lux?”

“I want to go too.”

“No can do. I need someone patrolling the office in my stead. I trust and count on you.”

“Violet was my first friend! I... may not be able to do anything, but… I want to go help her even if I do nothing!” Lux said with a tearful voice.

“Little Lux. It’s not like you can’t do anything. It’s because you can that I’m leaving the company to your care. What you can do now is let me stay free. There’s a lot of work that can be done as I move. That’s linked to helping Little Violet. I’ll definitely save her and come back, so just you wait.”

“Really...?”

“Really. I’m always causing you trouble, but have faith in me.”

“I do. I do, so please come back soon... as fast as possible... with everyone, I mean.”

“I will come back. To you, who are protecting my place to return to, that is.”

Eight o’clock in the evening – the time in which people’s days would come to an end and they would be arriving at their homes. In a certain town of a certain country, Cattleya Baudelaire was having an argument with the cabby of a shared carriage. It seemed that the streetlights illuminating her almost meant to reveal her anxiety just from how unreliably they shone.

“The carriage arranged for today has been completely occupied, so I can’t let you get on.” The cabby’s explanation was mixed with a candid advice.

“Like I said, I’m begging you!”

Cattleya’s nose and cheeks were dyed red. Such thing would be a given when exposed to cold weather or quarreling, but she was rosy up to her eyes as if they were bloodshot due suppressing the urge to cry.

“You know it, right, that the intercontinental train was hijacked?! I... have to go there! My... my... my colleague is... my frie... nd is... I... got to know about it, and then... and then...”

Cattleya, who had come to find out about the circumstances, had been traveling in an extreme rush after finishing work. She had already passed by the transportation facilities of two cities. When doing so, she had contacted the CH Postal Service and was finally close to the coalmine village that Hodgins had instructed her to go to. The last vehicle headed to that village was about to depart.

“Don’t say such selfish things, Young Lady! Just move already. The world doesn’t spin around you. You’re causing problems to the customers that went through the proper procedures.”

“I’d do the procedures if I could! But Violet might die! I... I... have to go help her! That girl... is super strong, but now that things have come to this, I don’t know if she’s okay! If she dies, then... That’s why I want to go! Please, I could even just go holding onto the scaffold, so let me in!”

Seeing Cattleya shed tears in exasperation, the cabby was at a loss of words. “I’d like to do so if I could...” He looked into the carriage. The people inside were giving him irritated looks, telling him to hurry up and go. However, there was a single man who stood up without glaring at him.

The carriage’s doors, which had been closed, opened up. From within it, a dark-haired man with a gentle aura poked his head out. “Hey, I’ll get down. Let her take my place.” He had a distinctive voice tone.

“Master... but... you...”

“I don’t mind it. I’ll stay in this town for one more night. Can you prepare the earliest carriage of tomorrow morning for me?” The man broke into an uplifting smile.

The cabby was exceedingly moved by his overflowing kindness. Those who worked in the service industry would mostly meet clients with troubles. Finding such a compassionate one was a first in his long life working as a cabby. His chest grew warm due to having heard about Cattleya’s situation as well.

“Hey, Young Lady! Be thankful to this kind person... dang it. Master, I’m unloading your luggage. Young Lady, give me yours.”

“E-Eh?”

“Someone is getting off so that you can replace him. So you’ll be able to hop in and go to where your friend who is about to die is at. Good for you...”

“Seriously...? T-Thank you. Thank you very much!”

“The one you should thank is that young man.” The cabby said while taking her luggage.

Still unable to believe the luck that had befallen her, she faced the man while still surprised and bowed her head. “T-Thanks! Thanks for real! I’ll pay the fee for your stay; thanks for real!”

The man let out a giggle at Cattleya’s aspect and stretched his hand out. He wiped the teardrops traveling down her cheeks with his fingertips. The act was so natural that Cattleya had not been able to react negatively. Rather, she embraced a feeling of ecstasy that was almost like how she would feel around Hodgins.

“H-Hum... erm...”

“I don’t mind it, Young Lady.”

The man’s orbs somehow held a cohesive power. The mole under his hazel eye was charming.

“You’d said ‘Violet’, hadn’t you? Violet Evergarden?”

“Yeah, you... hum, do you happen to know her?”

“That’s right. I had her write a letter for me once. I guess...” After being quiet for a brief moment as if in thought, he spoke with profound significance, “hm, that you could say... we have a deep relationship which we can’t tell people about. We’re also old friends. I’d intended to go see her in a bit, but it seems Leidenschaftlich is getting involved in stuff that reeks of fire. I’ll let some more time pass to go see her. Can you send her my regards?” With a black cloak on, the man started walking away as if melting into the night.

“W-What’s your name?! I’ll give her... your name!”

As Cattleya said so, the man turned around and laughed. His pale skin made him look like a ghost against the nightly road.

“Edward Jones.” The man waved his hand, and Cattleya waved back with a big smile.

The fact that nobody noticed he was actually a fugitive formerly on death row was one of the happenings of that night.

Also at eight o’clock, Gilbert Bougainvillea was glaring at the ground after setting his body out of the Nighthawk. It was a sight that could make one feel dizzy. They were flying quite high, as to not be spotted by the enemy.

“Found it; it’s at northwest.”

“All right, Colonel Bougainvillea. I copy.”

At northwest was a glowing object rushing through the pitch-black terrain through the rifts between the clouds. It was the intercontinental train ‘Femme Fatale’.

“This is Unit 1. We’ve found Femme Fatale. Begin descending.”

With the signal from the pilot’s radio, the total of seven Nighthawks systematically targeted the earth. In the process, they witnessed a fireball rising noisily from amongst the mountains in the direction of the train’s track.

“That’s the smoke bomb released from the water supply point that the Colonel talked about.”

“Switch to strategy number three. Unit 5 will retreat. Join the Special Firearms Attack Unit, which is waiting for the train’s arrival, and inform them of the situation. Say that the target has fortunately stopped due to a sudden forest fire or something of the sort. In order, from Unit 1 onward, the first half of the combatant team will land on the battlefield. We will seize Locomotive 1, 2 and 3, which are the heads of this thirteen-car train. Act after the emergency stop. Following the descend of the combatant team’s first half, the second half will give support and start a surprise attack from the outside after landing. There will be civilians assisting us with protecting the crew. Whoever has a red cloth around their arm is a cooperator. Don’t attack them by mistake. All right, listen up, everyone. The result of this strategy could determine the outcome of this unit’s continuity. If it’s you guys, you can probably to work things out wherever you go, but I want you to stay somewhere my eyes can reach for a little longer.”

The pilot of Unit 1 let out a chuckle. It was because Gilbert had said something off-character.

“I pray for our success. Well, first half, prepare to descend.”

With a total of six units – save for the fifth, which had now withdrawn – and a personnel of twelve people, Gilbert’s troop, the Leidenschaftlich Special Offense Force, was in formation and currently attempting to challenge the hijacked intercontinental train. Firstly, the six people in the back seats would land on top of the train and begin the suppression. The train’s Locomotive 1, 2 and 3, which operated connectedly, would each be taken control of by two people. Divided into those who would go inside and those who would stay outside, they would start their fight against the hijackers. Subsequently, the six people of the pilot group would lodge near the place scheduled as the train’s next stop. It was a plan that allowed them to give cover to the six people infiltrating the train and protect the passengers from outside.

Gilbert led the members of the Special Offense Force, which was a compilation of a few elected people, not with the army conduct of a team that followed the usual form of leadership, but as ordinary squad members that would engage in a coordinated battle, after having them memorize the instructions of his meticulous plan. Even if they were short on one person, someone else would compensate by taking on their task.

Along with the members of the first group, Gilbert jumped from the Nighthawk charging forward and fell onto the top of the running train. Low-altitude flights could not last long. He had bet on the moment, leaped, and, after desperately grabbing hold of the hull, he fixed his stance on the train.

Evidently, the people inside would notice that there were aircraft turbine sounds overhead. A man who seemed to be a hijacker from Locomotive 1 came out. Gilbert stretched his artificial left arm and punched him in the face, and as the man recoiled, he grabbed the nape of the latter’s neck, dragging him out from the window by the torso. Although a hijacker from the nearby Locomotive 2 fired his gun at Gilbert, he wound up hitting the unfortunate man whose body was half outside.

“Colonel, I’ll be going ahead.”

One of Gilbert’s troop members, who had jumped off and landed after him, twisted his small body and kicked a hijacker from Locomotive 2 that had Gilbert at gunpoint, getting into the train in the process. Gilbert threw the man shedding blood out of the locomotive and sneaked into it as well.

“Please help! Don’t kill me! If I die, so will the passengers and this locomotive!” the one who scream-cried as if begging for his life was the pitiful Samuel LaBeouf.

His assistants were dead. One young engineer assistant substitute was growing pale while attempting not to step on a corpse, and there was no sign of other hijackers.

“Please be at ease. I am a colonel of Leidenschaftlich’s army, Gilbert Bougainvillea. We are now initializing the rescue operation of this train’s passengers.”

“A-An ally? Someone from the military?” He had probably been bracing himself the whole time, since he shed a single tear with a clearly relieved expression.

Gilbert gently tapped his shoulder. “You were quite brave. It would have been the worst possible situation had you become distraught. You’re worthy of a medal.”

The sincerity in Gilbert’s facial traits and the aura surrounding him brought about a coaxing effect unlike the one Hodgins’s would. Anyone would be overcome with emotion upon being told such things by a beautiful soldier who had stretched out a helping hand to them during critical circumstances. Extremely touched, Samuel started trembling.

“Engineer, what is your name?”

“Sa-Samuel, Colonel.”

“Mister Samuel. Seeing you as a hero of Leidenschaftlich, there’s a favor I want to ask. What’s the next water supply point?”

“It’s Ritorno.”

“There’s another of our battalions in that place. There will be a big signal, so please make an emergency stop before entering the station’s premises.”

“‘S-Signal’, you say?”

“You will know the signal when you see it. After the stop, please evacuate from here and run to the direction of the village.”

Samuel and his assistant looked at each other.

“But, the passengers... and also... my other colleagues...” Samuel looked down at the bodies of his former co-workers.

“Even if they aren’t alive anymore, I want to hand them over to their families.” The two said in unison.

“Everything will be fine. Another unit of the army is supposed to arrive besides ours. Once everything is over, the ones who have passed on and you two will be delivered back to our country. However, I want those who can still move their legs to evacuate temporarily on their own. People with red cloths on their arms are overseeing the evacuation. Please go along with them.”

Perhaps due to feeling comforted, Samuel heaved a huge sigh. However, as though to shake off his relief, gunshots could be heard from somewhere.

——Is someone... in the middle of a fight?

Gilbert had ordered his subordinates to mingle with the turmoil of the emergency stop and crush the enemies after blowing smoke shells inside the cars. Should there be attacks from within Locomotive 3 onward, they would be as much of an obstacle as possible. Presently, the number of members who had come first was of six people. Out of the recruits selected for that elite troop, each bore combat power equal to ten ordinary soldiers.

“I think... this is probably from outside. Given the sound.”

Being told so by Samuel, Gilbert tried to set his head out the window. His face was hit by tree branches.

“Since a while ago, something’s been off. I’ve been hearing shouts. I... have been praised since I was little only for my good ears, so even if it’s from very far, I can hear people cursing.”

“You should be more proud of yourself. If what you say is true, we must aid whoever isn’t in the criminals’ side. Sorry. I’m going upstairs. Again, don’t forget your mission.”

At Gilbert’s words, Samuel nodded while showing a smile that denoted both delight and nervousness.

Despite hindered by the air resistance, Gilbert climbed onto the top of the train once more. The land on which the railway had been built probably used to have a flower garden in the past. Despite having been trampled on, the petals of the flowers that still held life scattered in the wind that opposed the train’s course. Within the world of pure darkness, colors such as white, blue, yellow, red and orange not yet mowed by autumn flew about. Although they would eventually be reduced to dust, they created a stunning sight that decorated part of the world until their very end. Far beyond the rich hues, Gilbert found who he was looking for.

“Colonel, does the situation require reinforcements?!” The sixth unit descended after the others, and Gilbert’s pair had just landed as if on cue.

Gilbert stopped him with a hand. “Idris. It seems a civilian is fighting against the hijackers... We should have noticed it earlier.”

“We were frantic about our fall during the landing, after all. I also didn’t see anything. Well, then...”

“I will go. I will be nominating you as the next commander. If I by any chance do not return, you take charge.”

“Do you mean this seriously?”

“I do.”

“I have enough talent to get promotions and surpass you soon. Please, come back safely and continue standing in front of me. If I don’t have someone to chase...”

Instead of replying, Gilbert knocked his shoulder with a fist.

The group of people wearing blue coats erased the figure of the person he sought. Moreover, he would have to go all the way from the foremost car to get to her. It would take time.

Gilbert broke into run without hesitation.

Still at around eight o’clock, bullets flew from the bayonets of the chivalric men. Though they scratched Violet’s body, she dodged the direct hits and charged forward.

Scuffling above a moving vehicle against such a number of people was testing. Perhaps the other party was aware of that much, as someone other than the chivalric leader attacked first. Violet ran as if being sucked in by him. He defended himself from the saber swung down at him with the bayonet, but Violet was able to avoid the several gunshots by taking a large distance, and then started running adroitly once again.

“For our war comrades that were killed by you!”

Violet threw the sheath at the face of the man who blurted that out and dealt him a jump-kick instead of slashing him. The chivalric man, whose legs had lost balance, seemed to be about to collapse, but managed to stand still. He grinned and pulled the bayonet’s trigger.

A bullet was fired. With her eyes wide, Violet avoided it just by swiftly moving her neck. Her ribbons flew away. Blood welled from her bundle of braids and her hair came undone. Her ear had been grazed. The bleeding gusted, but she did not let any agonized sounds out.

Violet kicked the man in the chest with the tip of her boot. He screamed as he fell. However, the next person to go down was Violet herself. Even though she took on the repeated bayonet blows raining onto her back with the saber, she lost in weight. The saber itself was gone from her hands after being shot at.

The knight who had attacked Violet’s back found her as she somehow managed to cling to a window frame. When a surprised passenger tried to open said window, she inserted a hand into the gap and pushed it open with her mechanical arm. Just like that, she entered Passenger Car 2.

“What happened?!”

“That woman, she went inside...”

The remaining chivalric men realized that the lights of the Passenger Car 2, which had been shining from below their feet, were suddenly gone. The passengers were screaming.

“S-Should we go back in?”

“Wait.”

The other two men were silenced by the chivalric leader’s order of restraint.

Eventually, they could no longer hear any screams from the window that Violet had vanished into. They could not catch a single noise.

The chivalric leader was deep in thought. What kind of mess would the witch-like former girl soldier make next?

“Who... is down there?”

“Someone from the deployment armed organization that we hired.”

“There were people from it in the Panoramic Seats Car and Dining Car 1 too. But, the people positioned in these last two cars chased that woman up here... and were defeated. They’re supposedly being replaced, though.”

As the lights went off again, screams intensified from the Panoramic Seats Car and Dining Car 1, respectively. And then, they became quiet.

The chivalric leader felt goosebumps under his blue cloak at such bizarre phenomenon-like happenings. “She’s moving.”

‘Femme Fatale’ was a thirteen-car train composed, from front to back, of Locomotive 1, 2 and 3, Single-Room Sleeping Car 1 and 2, Simple Sleeping Car 1 and 2, Passenger Car 1 and 2, Panoramic Seats Car, Dining Car 1 and 2, and a freight car. Violet had jumped into Passenger Car 2. And then, she had probably moved on to Panoramic Seats Car and Dining Car 1. She herself had emptied Dining Car 2. What would she do by running off to a place that had nothing?

“Leader, maybe we really should go inside...” one of the chivalric men attempted to say, but his knee collapsed and he dropped down. A hole had been caved in it.

More gunshots followed suit.

“Get down!”

Bullets brushed their heads.

The unharmed chivalric man extended a hand to the injured one. The palm that had stretched out to help was shot.

“Retreat! Go in and call for reinforcements!”

“But, Leader—”

“Bring a gun of larger caliber!”

The subordinates crawled towards the concatenation while pressing down their fresh wounds.

The direction where the bullet had come from was undoubtedly from the last car. The shooting had been done in succession, but ceased yet again. The eyes of the chivalric leader could see something blossoming from within the darkness.

“So they have escaped? I will pursue them later. Well, then, one more time.” ‘It’ politely called out to him and waited for him to stand up.

The woman was a battlefield conductor. She played melodies through concocting attacks, enhancing the emotions of her spectators with overwhelming martial arts, flabbergasting them with unimaginable actions and dominating the area completely. No matter how wet with blood her hair was, how torn her clothes were, or how many injuries she earned...

“Well, then, one more time.”

...she did not stop fighting. The chivalric leader had come to clearly understand why she was nicknamed the Warrior Maiden of Leidenschaftlich.

“Here I go, Major.”

Violet was likely out of bullets. She discarded the riffle that she had stolen from an enemy downstairs. She then took out a dagger. The weapon of her opponent, the chivalric leader, was a bayonet. The weight of their swing was different.

The two clashed with one another without saying anything. She dealt him consecutive blows with her knife-edge, but in the end, the dagger lost to the bayonet in weight and snapped. Violet disposed of the weapon that she became unable to use, tossing it away with her prosthetic arm without even sparing it a glance. It scratched the chivalric leader’s face, yet he, too, indomitably swung the bayonet from the side and hammered Violet’s body with it. As her posture crumbled with the impact, more strikes ensued. As Violet dodged from the tip of the bayonet’s blade, her chest was cut. She instantly set her hand out, swaying her weight just like that, turning her body over and taking some distance. Perhaps because he was indeed superior to the others, the attacks from the leader were different from theirs in agility.

Violet looked for weapons at hand. She reached into her skirt and pulled a ballistic knife out of the knife holder fastened around her thigh.

The needles once concealed in her hair had disappeared back when her hairdo had come undone. The ballistic knife was the last weapon. After it, she only had her fists.

“Just how many weapons do you have hidden within your person?”

“They are for self-defense.” With her breath ragged like that of a beast, Violet stepped backwards. She knew that the next attack would be an important blow to determine the outcome of the battle. Although she was up against someone inferior to her in fighting power, anyone would be breathing heavily after continuously standing up and battling to that point. Regardless, she did not have so much as a teaspoon of will to lose.

That was until she realized something that had been supposed to be on her exposed collar was gone. Her rough breathing halted. Her line of sight darted about as she withdrew.

“Although I am your enemy, I admire your thirst for victory. You know not to give up.”

It was not something she should worry about in such circumstances. Nevertheless, her eyes searched for the brooch. She was unable to immediately find the object that twinkled, mismatched and beautiful, on top of the train.

“It is not... as if I wish to win. By winning this fight, there is not a single thing I would gain.” Violet spoke unwittingly fast. She should not let him realize that she was searching for something.

“Then what do you seek through fighting?”

“Nothing, it’s just that a situation in which I have to fight has been created. That’s why I do so. To me, fighting is living. If I lose, it only means I will die.”

“You’re saying there’s no emotion in that?”

“I do not know. I... know nothing about myself. I am a former soldier, but I do not remember anything from before becoming one. It might be late at this point, but I wonder... if it isn’t strange for me not to remember anything like this. I don’t know where I was born, whose child I am or what my name used to be. But, whether or not any of that has troubled me, I would say it never once did. That... That...” While speaking, Violet found the brooch. It bumped right against the chivalric leader’s feet.

He noticed it as well.

“That is because... I have been waiting for something that would cancel all of it out.”

She pushed down and killed the feeling that she wanted to rush over to and take hold of.

“Just when I thought that the talk was getting long... so this is it?” The leader signaled for her to halt with his palm while picking it up. It was his first time seeing that it belonged to someone. “Is it something important?”

Would he throw it away if she nodded at that? Or would he give it back? Violet did not know. However, if she were in his shoes and had someone she must save and things she must do no matter what after that battle, doubtlessly, she would have to try imagining herself in his position in order to understand his thinking.

If she were him...

“Come get it!”

...that object would become a mere bait to attract her enemy, regardless of what kinds of feelings it was packed with.

The brooch was tossed into the air. Violet instantly broke into run. The chivalric leader’s bayonet came at her. Violet aimed at his feet and flung the ballistic knife. Perhaps he had anticipated that much, as he repelled it as if outriding it. In that meantime, Violet grabbed the brooch. The gem floating in the night sky was the same as her Lord’s eyes, which she had defined as the most beautiful thing in the world.

“Idiot!!”

She prevented an attack with her left arm, which was not the one gripping the brooch. As she lost her center of gravity due to consecutive blows, she fell back one, two, three steps. And then, finally, Violet’s left arm broke apart, spewing out many of its parts. They were smashed and severed from her in a way that made them seem like scattering petals.

Thump, thump, thump. Violet felt her heartbeats echo unpleasantly in her ears.

For some reason, time was flowing slowly. The chivalric leader swung down his saber while raising his voice as he spouted some sort of insult at her. Her back hit the train’s scaffold. As he stepped on her stomach with his military shoe, she was unable to move. A few seconds thereafter, she would be skewered. Everything was unfolding, but it was as if it all were in slow motion.

Rather than the tip of the blade approaching her, Violet stared at the emerald brooch that she had not let go of until the very end. It was firmly grasped within her right hand. She had wanted to gaze into that green during her last moments were her eyes open while she was still alive.

Its shine was that person himself.

——Major.

He would not go anywhere anymore.

——Major.

They would not be apart anymore.

——Major, I... lived.

That made her extremely ‘happy’.

——Major, do you remember... that you embraced me when we first met? You had feared me for a long time. Beasts can sense that sort of fright very keenly. Even so, you kept me by your side. Most likely... I... definitely... had been thrown away because I would settle in the hands of anybody. Even so, I had wanted to be useful because you needed me. The days in which I was unable to see you were of continuous lacking, as well as experiences that seemed to give place to more of it. I had always wondered why you had told others to say that you had passed on. One day, should I have managed to meet you, I had wanted to reply to your question of “why can’t you understand my feelings” and to the words “I love you”. Major, was I... was your Violet... still loved by you?

Rather than the sound of bones and flesh being severed, gunshots that seemed to cut through the wind ensued. The bayonet disappeared from Violet’s line of sight. The arm of the chivalric leader was abruptly swung as if it were a toy, and he was kicked to the opposite direction.

Someone was fighting back.

The chivalric leader asked in shouts who the third person was, but did not receive an answer. The other silently drew his saber and shielded Violet. He then began to attack. At such way of handling a blade as he readied it and the back that she had always walked along with, Violet swallowed her breath.

“Violet, are you alive!?”

That voice was the exact one Violet would replay in her head as to not forget it. Her heartbeats reverberated intensely. Albeit forcefully, she raised her body.

The man cut down the squad leader with his saber and turned on his heels towards her with a frantic expression. Before her eyes was a person unlike how he used to be in the days that she had contact with him. His appearance had changed greatly from when the two of them had first met. However, there was one thing that remained intact: the fact that once blue and green orbs locked with one another, time would halt between them for just a little while. It was as if they meant to say, “Time, stay still. You are beautiful.”

Such was how things were from the very start.

“Major!”

From the very start, the two of them had been born to meet by chance in that manner.

Gilbert dashed towards Violet, supporting her frame. “Come, Violet.” He knelt down, and, after lifting her squatted body and carrying her sideways, he took off his sword belt and wrapped it around his arm. He then wrapped it around Violet’s. “I will... explain the circumstances later. There are many things that I want to apologize to you for. But for now, forgive what I’m going to do... Don’t ever let go.”

Violet recalled what she had been firmly grasping – the emerald brooch that she had retrieved hastily during the fight. She slowly unveiled her fingers and showed it to Gilbert. She then looked straight at him. While only he was reflected within that blue, her lips shaking, she was unable to muster any word out. She merely wished to inform him that she had kept the item.

Upon seeing the emerald brooch, Gilbert’s eyes distorted bitterly. “You... still had this?” His demeanor as he took the brooch from Violet’s palm and put it back on her as if to sew back together her blouse, which had been ripped on the chest area, was the same as of his past self.

“...jor.” She attempted to say something to him – anything would do. “Major!”

However, the chivalric leader, who was supposed to be lying down, was trying to stand up. Supported by one of his injured underlings, he pointed a large-caliber shotgun at them. “You dog of Leidenschaftlich...!” His neck bled with the blow from Gilbert’s blade. He spewed blood bubbles. “I’ll erase you! I’ll erase the two of you at once! You’re needless in this realm! Disappear from our world! Disappear! Disappear! Disappear!”

Either side would be unable to fight without receiving assistance. It was too late to convince the other party to put an end to the conflict. Neither could shrink back.

“Major, please leave me behind.” Violet said without hesitation. If releasing her and letting her fall to the ground would make things easier, since it was him, he would definitely be able to overcome the situation. That was what she believed.

“I told you not to let go.” Gilbert shook his head. His grip on Violet’s arm and torso grew even stronger. He then raised his other, prosthetic hand from above the train.

The chivalric leader laughed. He had most likely concluded that the embracing pair had chosen to die together.

“Major... then, please,” Violet gazed at her Lord, who was far more beautiful than the gem that she had been unceasingly protecting, “do not go anywhere.”

The shotgun was aimed at them.

“Please, stay by my side... I do not mind however you treat me. I simply want to be with you. That is all. Nothing else... is necessary. Major, I...”

She had learned how to write and could speak countless words, yet they would not properly come out in front of the person she truly cherished.

“...want to be together with you.”

The one standing there was not a doll. It was a girl who yearned for love from only one man.

“I’m not going anywhere... I need you. I’ll be by your side...!” Gilbert Bougainvillea answered the plea as if yelling.

It was because something other than a bullet had flown into their line of sight.

At twenty minutes past eight o’clock, Samuel LaBeouf, who worked as an engineer in the unfortunate intercontinental train, obeyed the command from the Leidenschaftlich colonel that had showed up like an electric shock and continued his task while waiting for the signal. What on Earth would said signal be? Even though he had been told that he would immediately know once he saw it, what should he do if he accidentally missed it?

Nevertheless, his worry was unnecessary. After all, an occurrence that would supposedly break the current situation in the deadlock awaited him.

An ostentatious blast arose, explosion lights scattering in the darkness of the night. At such a timing, a terrible catastrophe was happening ahead, in Ritorno village.

“What’s that?! Stop, stop! Emergency stop!”

The station was on fire.

Back at seven hours and fifty minutes, an attractive young man with sandy blond hair and sky blue eyes was hanging up the phone with an “I got it”. His outfit was slightly mismatched for the small assembly place of a desolate village.

“Benedict, what did President Hodgins say?” inquired a hard-faced, equipped man with black skin and a thinly shaved hairdo in the form of a crucifix, wearing a striped shirt and shoulder holsters.

“The old man is coming here. He gave us three orders. One: to lay waste to this village’s station in a flashy way, so that it will be visible from the train heading towards it. Two: to aid the passengers and consequently rescue V. Three: to suppress that armed group as they will likely put up resistance. A contract has already been sealed by law. This land belongs to our company. He said it’s okay to wreck it without hesitation. Everybody, let’s go save V!”

During the convocation from Lux, who was in the headquarters, she had attempted to make the CH employees there congregated take guns. In response to that, everyone had started noisily frolicking as if they were in a festival.

Each of them had different ages and skin colors. They were the people Hodgins had gathered and described as “all weirdoes with their own circumstances”. The ones who had been called and rushed to that assembly spot were them – the postmen who made deliveries throughout the entire continent. It was unthinkable that they were about to participate in a dangerous rescue operation by an emergency order from their boss. Their attitude was closer to drunkards at a bar.

In contrast to them, a funeral-like atmosphere loomed over the villagers of Ritorno. It was only the expected, for a bizarre postal agency staff carrying weapons had suddenly informed them that their village’s station would be destroyed.

Benedict walked over to the oldest woman in their midst, who was seated on a chair. “Granny, we’ll make a bit of a fuss. If there are people amongst the villagers who can treat the wounded, I want you to bring them along if you can.”

“You’re already going to make me work?” It was an accusing manner of speech.

Benedict frowned. “You guys were convinced by our good-for-nothing President’s words and sold this, right? Aren’t you well-off, since every single person in this village is gonna be employed by our office? Granny, you’re our colleague too. You’re now a company employee, so of course we’ll make you work. If you suspect we’re deceiving you, you’re wrong.” With the click of his cross-shaped heels resounding, he stood in front of the village chief, abruptly bringing his face close to hers. “You’re mistaking that with being protected. If that old man thinks about doing something, he can use some pretty awful methods. But he didn’t do so and instead made proper negotiations, and also complied with the price discussions, right? The Old Man... the President treats people crudely, but he treasures his workers. Right now, we’re on the move for the sake of an employee that he’s super attached to as if she were his daughter. She’s like a little sister to me too. We cherish her. So don’t be so scared. Stand tall.”

“That’s right. The President definitely rewards hard work with payment and support. The industry will function here only in the future. At the outset, lifesaving will be our duty, Chief.” Another postman added, as if to assist Benedict’s rough persuasion.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“We are. Once it’s said we’ll do it, we definitely will. And if we’re beaten, we’ll do it over. That’s what our agency is about.”

“You don’t hate it, right?”

“Oh, what’s that? You can put on a strong face too?”

“I’m a woman born and raised in coalmines. What a foolish question.”

Even though a huge incident was about to begin, the air surrounding them was light, and everyone walked one after the other towards the station in a somewhat calm atmosphere. In spite of them having confronted the problem of how to break down the station, the chief offered the remaining coalmine explosives that were no longer used.

“Granny, you’re getting into it, huh?” Benedict gave the village chief a thumbs-up to show his gratitude.

However, there seemed to be several people with traumas prevenient from detonations, and so most of the villagers were merely observing from afar and the postmen were the ones who installed the explosives.

“I... When I was born, the mine had already been closed, so it’s my first time seeing an explosion!”

Children making merry were the sole spectators that approached the area.

As he was caused to step back, Benedict commented, “Good for you.”

“I’m bad at dealing with adults, but this is amazing!”

“You’re bad with adults?”

“Before I was born, there was a blast in our coalmine and it’s still burning even now. And it’s said that a lot of people died in it. I’ve never seen my grandfathers. Both died from that.”

“Hmm...”

“It’s already been buried, yet it’s the only spot that doesn’t get covered by snow during the winter. It’s super hot. I can’t make too much fun of it when I think about how my grandpas are probably down there, though. It’s better not to be a coal miner, but I don’t like being poor either.”

“Is that so...?” Benedict put a hand on the head of the child that attempted to continue speaking and ruffled his hair. He looked one more time at the village chief, who was sitting on a chair that someone had arranged for her.

“Are the preparations done?”

“Yeah.”

“This is importunate of me, but your President really will compensate us plenty for this matter, won’t he...? I’ve gotten worried. Although this is lifesaving... our station might be just one of the train’s passage points, but if it gets destroyed, Leidenschaftlich most likely won’t stay quiet.”

“I’m telling you not to fret, aren’t I?” Benedict put a hand on his hip, and after a brief moment, he laughed mockingly. It was probably because the person in question had surfaced in his mind. “He’s incredible. When he gotta do something, he does it. He’s a good man. So be at ease.” He said reassuringly.

“Is that true...? I sold the village because surviving our winter would cost us a lot... I want the children leaving this place as immigrants to build their own lives, too. Your job will be the last straw of this favor. I will probably be able to meet your President eventually, but you tell him as well.”

“It’s okay. I’ll talk to him too.”

“I’m counting on you.” A smile appeared on her wrinkle-covered face. Surely, there were wrinkles that she had acquired not simply from aging, but from numerous hardships.

“Granny,” Benedict raised a thumb, “you’re a woman of the coalmines, right? Don’t get scared of some big fireworks. I like strong women.”

“Kids shouldn’t talk so haughtily.” The village chief laughed. Perhaps due to laughing too much, tears formed thinly in the corners of her eyes.

A while thereafter, a flicker was ignited on the fuse line. The way it danced in the middle of the night was like a blaze serpent.

At Benedict’s call, everyone started the countdown, “Five, four, three, two, one!”

Heat, wind and blares surged and overwhelmed the people present. Hot gusts and shock waves burst up, the women letting out screams. The rail flew away and the station’s building collapsed, covered in flames. It was a spectacular sight. Still, what an occurrence. Like a flower blooming in the evening, the destruction was somewhat beautiful. Long accustomed to explosions, the elderly ladies clapped their hands, the children wept, and the CH postal service’s personnel cheered while blowing whistles. Each then took back their weapons.

“It might be late to say this, but that doesn’t seem like a job postmen should be doing.”

“Well, it’s fine from time to time, right? Considering my previous occupation, I would never refuse a request from the President, since he brought me back into decency.”

“Are we decent, though? By the way, are we gonna receive any bonuses for going through this danger?”

“It’s sweltering. Shouldn’t we extinguish that fire before the rescue? Benedict, hey, Leader.”

“Y’all are noisy. Listen. Make sure you don’t get mistaken and shot by the army. No accidental shootings, either. Friendly fire is the worst. Don’t get carried away and do anything radical. Also, put on the identifier. If any of you find V, tell me immediately. She’ll get a lecture for giving us this trouble. Anyways, our main objective is V!”

The train’s sounds could be heard in the distance.

Benedict wrapped a red cloth around his arm. “Welp, after the fireworks, comes the festival.” With his pistols ready, he licked his lips.

At twenty minutes past eight o’clock, the after-effects of the massive explosion also reached Violet and Gilbert. Scattering light and flames soared like flowers from within the pitch-darkness ahead. A part of the station’s roof, which had been blown up, came flying and directly struck the backs of the chivalric leader and his subordinate. The trigger was pulled, yet the bullet disappeared into the wrong direction. As the two had not been prepared to even hold themselves in place, with expressions of surprise, they hit the car frame and rolled down. Violet had instantly attempted to offer her hand to them as they crossed her side, but such arm was the damaged one.

“Violet, don’t let go!”

Gilbert endured the impact until the train completely came to a stop while supporting Violet. He could catch the screams of the passengers. The train stopped without turning over, just barely about to collide with the station.

Without a moment’s delay, gunshots could be heard. A smoke curtain was leaking out of the train’s front. Members of Leidenschaftlich’s Special Offense Force were beginning to take control of it by seizing the opportunity, as Gilbert had. Additionally, while avoiding obstacles in the station, not just one but several motorcycles leaped towards the train. To say they were leaping was an odd manner of speech, but there was no helping it since it was happening in the literal sense. They were coming both as single riders and in pairs, but there was one thing all of them had in common.

“Everyone who wants to run away, come here!”

They were employees of the CH Postal Service. Taking advantage of the commotion, they rode the motorcycles that were normally used for delivering letters and started guiding those who were trying to escape towards the direction of the village. Amongst them was a strong man who snipped back at the hijackers that were shooting intensely through the window glasses. It was Violet’s colleague, Benedict. The other Leidenschaftlich battalion, which acted as reinforcement to the rescue, made its appearance as well.

Gilbert exhaled a sigh at the sight before him. So did Violet. It seemed that all the measures to protect the passengers were working finely.

In their peace of mind, the two were petrified for a while. After all, the scene was frighteningly whimsical. Ashes, sparks and fire flashes dissipated through the wind in the darkness of the sky, dancing as they rained down.

Gilbert took off the sword belt he had tied around Violet. He then striped the jacket of his battle uniform and put it over her shoulders. “Violet.”

It seemed dangerous to get down in such conditions. The next action Gilbert was supposed to take was to contour the turmoil and entrust Violet to the rescuing team of postmen. He also had to return to the battle and help suppress the chaos.

“Major.”

“Violet, listen.”

“I’ll land you a hand, so you have to get up.” was what he had been about to say, but the words retreated to the back of his throat as he looked at her.

Violet’s eyes flickered. The tears she had accumulated seemed about to flood even now.

“Major...” She steadfastly held onto her chest area, where her brooch rested on.

Gilbert Bougainvillea was right in front of her eyes. Just that fact made the sound of her heartbeats loud in a way not even the battlefield could manage.

“I will fight too. You have come to save the civilians, right?” Perhaps because she had always been disciplining herself into being as a machine, Violet attempted to be of use to Gilbert even in such circumstances.

“You’re a part of them.”

“I am... Major’s... tool.”

“You’re no tool. You, who I am to protect, should not fight. That duty is mine as the Colonel of Leidenschaftlich’s army, Gilbert Bougainvillea. It is also the job of my subordinates. Violet, I will deliver you to a safe spot now.”

Violet’s face was of someone who had received a blow. “Colonel... Major... Colonel... Gil... bert.”

“I don’t mind being called ‘Major’.”

“Ma... j... Gilbert...” Violet wound up hiding her face with her right hand. Tears traveled down the gaps between her fingers.

She was currently ‘sad’.

“If... I am not a tool, why... did you say you would not let go...?”

Being told that he would not to let go had made her ‘contented’. However, being denied of her own reason of existence was ‘sorrowful’. If he had showed himself to her once again, why would he not allow her to go back to being a tool? In Violet’s perspective, she was aware that her value lay only within violence.

“Violet.”

As she forever swayed between being a tool and a person, at that moment, Gilbert attempted once again to convey something to the girl who did not know love.

“I made your life a mess. I let you go to war. I hurt you. I regretted it so much that I thought of killing myself. Yet I knew that you had always been searching for me. Even though I had decided to protect you from afar, today, I couldn’t hold back and ended up coming. I am... not the sort of man you take me to be. Not a magnificent lord, nor an honorable individual. I’m definitely not worthy of you.”

That his love would not run out, no matter what she was, wherever she was living or even if she were a fool.

“Still, even now, I love you as a person. To me, you’re not a tool.”

“Even... if I... am not... a tool...?”

“I am not your master anymore, either. Regardless, I want you to let me stay by your side.”

Silence.

“Violet?”

Violet allowed something that seemed to fiercely burn her throat to pass through. Her tears were feverish. They were proof of her feelings, which she had only shed a number of times that could be counted with one hand in her life.

The first time she had cried had been when she used to be a girl soldier. She was a young female tool with beautiful eyes of gem-like blue irises and golden lashes.

“I...”

Her current self no longer had the same stature as when she and Gilbert had first met. Neither was her appearance the same as when she had been to the battlefields. Her hair had grown lengthier and she had become the graceful and dignified young woman who now stood before him. With the grown-up figure of the girl he had loved, as the existence whose hand he had let go of, she now stood before Gilbert.

“I...”

After a few years had gone by, she had finally arrived at the place where she would be able to transmit her feelings.

“Had not understood at first... the meaning of Major leaving me, handing me over to the Evergarden couple, and entrusting me to President Hodgins. Or the reason you had told me to become free. I merely... wondered all the while about why you had not discarded me, despite the fact I was not needed. I did not understand... any of your feelings, Major. Even now, Major, despite you telling me this, I find myself thinking that I am better off as a tool. I... I am the one... who is not worthy of you, Major... My existence is... like some kind of failed product that was created by mistake. That is why the thoughts of people, too... But...”

Large teardrops streamed from her blue eyes. They trailed along her chin, pouring onto her emerald brooch.

“I have become able to somewhat feel. With this new life, which Major granted me, it was only little by little, but I have become able to understand. The sadness and joy... pride, fear, everything... that someone can feel towards another person... I do not fathom those as my own, however. But through writing on others’ behalf, and through the people I meet, I can feel them. Major, I... gradually... have also come to understand... the things you say.”

The things he had said. The things he had told her about.

“If I... had done more for you when you were younger, I wonder if you would have interest in these things.”

“Even if... you think that... to me, you are...”

“Do you... want my orders that much?”

“Why... do you think of everything as an order no matter what?! Do you... really believe I see you as a tool? If that were the case, I would not have held the little you in my arms or made sure that no one would mess with you as you grew up! Regardless of anything, you don’t realize... how I feel... about you. Normally... anyone would... surely understand. The reason why I’m angry and why I’m suffering is you. Still, you don’t comprehend a single fraction of that.”

“Do you not have feelings? That’s not it, right? It’s not as if you have none. Isn’t that right? If you don’t have feelings, then what is this expression? You can make a face like that, can’t you? You have feelings. You have... a heart just like mine, right!?”

“To love is... to think that you... want to protect someone the most in the world.”

“You’re important... and precious. I don’t ever want you to be hurt. I want you to be happy. I want you to be well. That’s why, Violet... you should live on and become free. Escape from the military and live your life. You’ll be fine even if I’m not around. Violet, I love you. Please live.”

“I have come... to understand them.” Before she realized, her voice had deflated as if withering. Her field of vision was blurring as well. Tears continued to spill from Violet’s blue eyes. The lips that used to say she did not understand feelings mustered different words, “I understand... ‘I love you’... a little as well.”

She did not understand everything yet. Nevertheless, without denying any of it, she meant to understand it from then on. The motive behind her intention of making such efforts was being told that she was loved by Gilbert Bougainvillea.

Gilbert’s chest was tight with the emotions going rampant in it. A thin film of tears spread in his eyes from grief and delight.

“Violet.” Gilbert stretched his hand out.

His fingertips halted halfway. He had suddenly become afraid of touching her body – something he had had no time to feel just a moment before since he, in order to protect her, had held onto her with deathly desperation.

Would she accept him? She was Gilbert’s tool no more. Neither was she a small child. He could not touch her so easily.

Violet Evergarden – one living being, the only woman he loved in the world – stood there. It was Gilbert’s first time ever loving someone. He used not to know the intricacies of loving and being loved.

Within the sounds of battle that suited the two of them, something was finally commencing.

Gilbert adored her crying figure so much he could not help himself. “Violet, I want to wipe your tears.”

At the request, Violet hid her face within her hand even more. Surely she disliked being seen weeping. In her own reasoning, she dreaded the possibility of being hated by the man in front of her through any and each one of her actions. She instinctively assumed that, although love was something gentle, it was also fragile.

“Violet, please. Show me your face. No matter what form you take, my feelings towards you won’t change.” As she did not look his way, Gilbert said while laughing shyly, “See, I’m on the verge of crying too.”

In truth, his tears were already pouring. He was unable to poise himself. There was no stopping them. Tears formed and fell, formed and fell. Just as his feelings for her, they could not be impeded.

“Violet.”

Violet’s body shuddered as her name was called – just called – by him.

“It’s fine if it’s little by little. If you... are coming... to understand it, I will wait any amount of time. Little by little is okay. I won’t... pry for an answer immediately. Until you say ‘I understand’... I will wait however long it takes... only for you. Today, I’d wanted to tell you ‘I love you’ once again, but it’s not as if I had desired anything from you in return.”

His tears wound up spilling once again.

“I... will not steal from you anymore, and I don’t wish to do anything other than give. If, one day, you ever come to think that you ‘understood’, I want you to accept my love. Violet.” The man said to the sobbing girl, who attempted to suppress her tears with her artificial arm, “I love you. Let me dry your tears.”

The one behind the wrist that he took hold of and moved away was not a taciturn, expressionless and truly machine-like Auto-Memories Doll. Instead, it was a human child who was crying out of slight happiness and fear from receiving the ‘number one’ form of love from someone for the first time.

Gilbert embraced Violet, who shed tears while trembling, after slowly caressing her cheeks. “I’ve always wanted to do this.” He whispered as more tears overflowed.

“Violet, I love you.” 

‘Auto-Memories Doll’. It had been a long time since such name had caused a scandal.

The creator was the researcher of mechanical dolls, Professor Orland. His wife, Molly, was a novelist, and all had started once she had posteriorly lost her sight. After becoming a blind woman, Molly was extremely depressed for being unable to write novels, which was the meaning of her life, and had grown weaker with each day. Unable to bear seeing such a thing, Professor Orland had built the first Auto-Memories Doll. It was meant for processing everything said by the voice of its established master, as well as writing down words said by human voices – in other words, a machine that served for ‘amanuensis’.

Although he had only meant to make one for his beloved wife, it had later become well-known with the support of a great amount of people. Currently, Auto-Memories Dolls were sold at a reasonably low price, and there were types that could be rented or borrowed.

Those who worked with amanuensis were referred to as ‘Auto-Memories Dolls’ around the world. It was a profession revered by many since ancient times.

In the industry that dealt with Auto-Memories Dolls, there was a particularly famous individual. Her voice had a sweet ring to it and matched her beauty. She was a female Auto-Memories Doll with golden hair and blue eyes.

Her workplace was CH Postal Service from a grandiose southern country, Leidenschaftlich. It was a notorious company, which had received awarding from the Army Ministry for its cooperation in resolving the hijacking incident of a certain train. The young president of CH Postal Service had been featured in the newspapers of the time bringing supplies to the scene. The postmen had worked to rescue the passengers. A brunette of impressive beauty had wailed while hugging the wounded and wrapping them in blankets.

The company had had several photos of it published, but it was not as if they had any connection to her popularity. If anything, to say that the company was known because she was part of it was more accurate. Stamps with the name of the flower that she had been named after were best-selling items out of the ones produced by CH Postal Service. From one person to another, the rumors about her knew not where to stop.

Exactly what kind of being was she, you ask? The impressions from those who had actually met her were many. Some would say her voice was pleasant. Some would say her handwriting was pretty. Some would say their hearts were saved by her. Some would praise her charms by claiming they had been bewitched by her.

Have you become interested in requesting her services? I shall tell you how to hire her. If you wish to meet her, all you must do is give a call. If you search in a telephone book for a postal company in the name of ‘Hodgins’, you should be able to find it right away. Most likely, a young woman with a still childish and intellectual manner of speech will immediately hear your requirements through the phone. When inquired if you have preference for any Auto-Memories Doll, say her name. You might be left in the waiting list, but an Auto-Memories Doll who is worth waiting for shall be sent to you in the future. As long as a customer wishes, she will appear anywhere anytime.

“I rush to wherever my clients might desire. I am from the Auto-Memories Doll service, Violet Evergarden.”

She was but a slightly strange girl.

[girlonfilmmovies]

Welcome to Friend Island: "Love Island US Season 3" and the Gaping Sores of America

So I foolishly thought that in the new year of 2021, the world would be in a better place than it was the previous year. After all, we were coming out of the "worst" of the most horrifying pandemic of the past century, a middling presidency that at that point served only a wealth of TV soundbites and less actual damage to the political system, and we were looking forward to a brighter future and a return to what some hoped would be "normal". The past was the past, and this was going to be a new moment.

Oh how naïve we all were.

As of this writing Covid-19 cases are hitting staggering new highs in the southern US, with Florida (of course) somehow hitting a record amount despite vaccines being easily available in the country for months. The death rates are at almost the same as last year. The middling disaster of the 45th president had one more trick up its sleeve, a firebomb brewing for dozens of years that went off in one of the most embarrassing fiascos of American political history. Misinformation has already implanted itself so thoroughly among half the country that people would rather die than admit they were wrong; the spread of such chaos being happily spat out through the algorithms of corporations only intent on raking in dollar signs. All the potential benefits that could have come from this once-in-a-lifetime moment are being briskly swept away: offices demanding their employees come back, no respect given to science and healthcare workers, the country's clearly weak infrastructure forced right back into action as if we didn't just see its gaping holes. The earth is dying and the people who actually have the resources do something about it instead have kickstarted a capitalist space race.

2021 has gone to show that old, toxic habits die hard.

Sigh.

Yeah, I watched Love Island again.

Despite my... let's say mixed feelings regarding last year's shitshow, I couldn't help but admit that it was the closest thing that I've had to appointment viewing TV that I've had in a long time. In an era of streaming and DVR boxes, it's a bit of an actual feat to get someone who works a fulltime job (especially one with erratic scheduling) to go out of their way to watch something the second it premieres. Love Island brings the family together, so they can engage in our favorite pastime: pointing and laughing at young, dumb, fame hungry cis-hets.

Plus, the second season had offered a fascinating glance at how to contend with a pandemic while also trying to stage a typical dumb reality show. The tropical island villa was swapped for a luxurious hotel rooftop in Las Vegas -- a literal ivory tower of ignorant hedonism looking down upon a plagued nation. You could feel the sexual tension of the hot, hyper-sexual adults forced without physical contact for months finally allowed to relieve themselves the only way they know how: toxic relationships. It was trying so hard to be an oasis in a desert yearning for frivolous content, but the façade was clearly visible to the point of satire. It was a wonderful thing to experience firsthand as what I originally thought as merely me dipping my toes into the genre.

Season 2 was the show that we deserved at the time, a funhouse mirror reflecting all the callous stupidity that had led us to this moment in world history. It attempted to offer a happy ending, a look towards the future: a black couple finally winning a reality show, a first for such a mainstream program (both of them actually kind of turned out to suck, but shhhh...).

It also allowed America to completely break the hearts of people while watching them fall apart live on TV. It was cruel, it was stupid, but most of all, it was fun as hell.

Season 3 is not about torturing the competitors. It's about torturing us.

In all fairness, there were a couple of lovely positive developments for the series this season. While still struggling with racial diversity a little bit, as evidenced by them casting only one very specific kind of black man like five times, strides are being taken elsewhere in the lane of body diversity. Alana makes her debut as literally the first woman on this show who isn't a size 0-2, looking absolutely gorgeous in every single shot.

The almost aggressively heteronormative nature of the show is slowly being shaken by a more openly queer cast than previously expected -- multiple bisexual/pansexual contestants participated, even though there wasn't any overtly queer romance shown (also almost all of them were women, with them describing their sexualities being confined to streaming exclusive episodes, which isn't... great). It's certainly a step in the right direction for a show that unceremoniously shuffled off the only queer member of the Season 2 cast overnight once the internet found his gay porn shoot. Ironically, they also ended up booting off the most openly queer member of this cast too, the purple haired proudly pansexual TikTok-er Leslie, but for the more legal reason of smuggling weed into the villa.

It's not terribly surprising that both Alana and Leslie garnered a lot of positive attention both inside and outside of the villa -- they stand out so much against the otherwise predictable casting that we've come to expect from this show and white American media in general. Alana is a woman with actual curves who looks stunningly gorgeous in comparison to the monotonous supermodel figures of everyone else. Leslie almost falls into a stereotype from the way she appears: dyed purple hair, tattooed all over, obviously queer, vaping weed constantly, exuding the kind of chaotic yet weirdly fun energy that only a former stripper can. Yet she obviously grabbed the attention of the contestants because while people like her abound in real life, in the fantasy land of reality TV she's an absolute rarity, a far cry from the sanitized beauty pageant-esque standards that they seem to pluck girls from. The men are still dumb, bland, boneheaded idiots in this show, but by offering some actual variety, they get to actually pursue people they aren't "traditionally" supposed to, while an outsider audience member like me gets to see women like herself be offered up for titillation in the same way "conventionally attractive" women are.

It's kind of cool, even if it is just playing into the icky sexualization of everyone, but hey...progress?

In an odd "two steps forward, one step back" kind of situation, the show has somewhat dialed down the outrageously toxic relationships of last year into a more relatively subdued level of toxicity. Gaslighting/cheating is at least kept to a relative low in this season compared to the nightmare that was last year, although this year's ratio depends on how much of that corresponds with sexy Columbian boy Will's obviously flimsy grasp of the intricacies of the English language. He continued to be plagued by the cliquey-ness of the cast until the very end but his genuinely sweet couple with Kyra still did enough to sneak into the final two.

The actual main problem this year was an almost unbearably long love triangle between Cash, Trina, and Cinco that refused to solve itself for nearly a month. Cash and Cinco perennially kept flip-flopping in their feelings for each other, bouncing between failed partnerships despite so obviously being into each other. Trina ended up roped in as Cinco's partner for a while, a constant victim of his own lack of courage to make up his damn mind. Cash, freshly single and in horny jail (aka Casa Amor), coupled up with the handsome and mysterious Charlie.

Now we need to discuss how bizarre Charlie as a cast member. Not only is he the only member who is, looks, and acts like an actual adult, but he also seems to show no adherence to the rules of reality TV: he's very relaxed and unassuming, seems genuinely uninterested in the "game" aspects of the show, and only perks up during rare moments of actual romantic potential. He's a fascinating spanner to throw into the machine of Love Island, and once Cinco was eliminated in the competition, Charlie had to sit there while Cash only continued to openly and aggressively pine for a man who isn't even her current partner. Proving once again to be an anomaly in the cast, he actually decided to do something about this: he unceremoniously dumped fan favorite Cash like a sack of bricks, sending her home while hooking up with the previously mentioned Alana. This smart decision was met derisively by viewers, despite him being the only person there who actually acted like a fucking adult for once. Ironically, this got him and Alana into the finals, where they finished in last place with the same trademark lack of enthusiasm that we've come to expect from him.

I suppose now we need to uncork the problem of the season and by extension the franchise as a whole. You might have read that previous situation and thought, "gee, a fan favorite got tossed aside while a guy that everyone hated ended up making it into the final four? That seems weird."

But by that point it really wasn't at all.

See, the problem with the voting is that you don't usually get to pick who goes; the audience only gets to pick who to prevent getting kicked. At that point, the audience control is out of our hands and now into the contestants', and if there's one thing we all learned in high school it's that cliques are very much a thing. The contestants seemed dead set on booting anybody who was new the second they had the chance, so many potentially exciting people were so quickly thrown out. Instead of the exciting potential we could have seen, we got a love triangle sucking anyone nearby into doom, with everyone else being a relatively stable couple or part of the Jeremy/Korey wishy-washy railway. Casa Amor was an absolute bust, with people making half-assed couplings despite still being in love with somebody else (it speaks a lot to the weakness of the Casa Amor men that Olivia literally preferred to come back single than with any of those planks of wood).

Part of the problem did rely on factors that nobody could control at all though. "Romance novel come to life" Slade seemed like a threat with his rugged handsomeness, twangy accent, and classic southern charm, but had to quickly leave due to ambiguous family troubles. Similarly, the nearly perfect Josh and Shannon, who seemed like an obvious shoo-in winner by virtue of being probably the only actual relationship on the show, had to depart in the middle of the night due to the tragic death of Josh's sister. Aforementioned chaotic pansexual Leslie was unceremoniously removed in the middle of the night once they had realized that her classic vape pen was actually full of weed, an especially tragic circumstance considering she basically had Cinco wrapped around her finger and was about to bring that love triangle crashing down (also tragic because she has gone on record saying that she was fully crushing on Genny while they were both in there, robbing us of any potential of a queer couple).

But part of the pain as always has to do with how the producers control everything no matter what: what we see, what we hear, who gets the villain edit and who gets the hero edit. It's why they seem to play Jeremy as dumb hot surfer bro instead of the actual funny and charming guy he is. It's why Trina was treated as a bitch and Cash as a woeful victim despite the roles more often than not lining up the other way around. And most embarrassingly, it's how the biggest joke couple of the show ended up winning it all.

Now, look at this picture right here: the poses, the awkward hand holding, the very strange smiles between those two. No, this is not a picture of two teenagers going to prom together who just met only five minutes ago and are taking pictures on their parents' front lawn; these two are the winners of season 3, the supposedly "strongest" couple on the show. This is Olivia and Korey.

Korey is a charming boyish sweetheart by way of an absolute fucking dumbass. He's sort of like last year's beloved and wonderfully stupid Carrington: a very sweet and nice teenager who seems to have "13 Going on 30"-ed his way into an adult body. He's childish in a way that's very cute and friendly but also woefully unattractive to anyone who's an adult. Just like Carrington, he notched up a staggering amount of dates with pretty much every single beautiful woman that came into the villa, all seemingly very interested in him. Carrington, for as dumb and childish as he is, could bag anyone because he was outrageously confident too. Korey on the other hand seems incapable of making any decision, following any girl who pays him the time of day like a little puppy, constantly looking up to her with his big puppy dog eyes. It's very telling that for all the dates he had, almost none of them actually went anywhere because it's just not that appealing to anyone. If you're looking to win, he's not someone who can scheme and play the game. If you're looking for love, he's not going to cut it because he can't seem to even understand the concept of romance. If you're looking for a friend, he's probably the best damn one you'll get in that villa -- but as constantly established by everyone, this show isn't called Friend Island.

Olivia is a bit of a thornier subject. She habitually couples up with people that you can kind of tell she's not at all into. She started the first half relatively unassuming and not particularly interested in the men that she was supposedly attracted to. But you could basically see her panties drop when Slade walked in, ready for him to pull her up into the saddle and ride away into the sunset. But his sudden departure only left her more empty, desperately grasping onto whatever random attraction she could. She went off to Casa Amor single and had the gall to come back without coupling up with any of them (although once again, they really dropped the ball with the men compared to the stunning Casa Amor women). And somehow in the midst of all this wishy washy mess, she finally settled on the one single man who she hadn't coupled up with and supposedly suddenly had feelings for: lonely, little Korey.

As a watcher of two seasons of this shit, I've seen a lot of fake relationships, but this one is just ridiculous. The chemistry is really nonexistent; she seems more annoyed or at best partially amused whenever he tries to say anything genuinely sweet to her. She reacts like how you would when a little kid tries to tell you they have a crush on you, an adult: you just kind of go, "aw, cute, thank you!" and walk away chuckling. It's genuinely comedic in how tragic it is, a boy who thinks he's finally found someone when all she's found is a trip to the bank.

And what did the editors do? They tried their very best to sell this as genuine, as actual romance. We know what romance is -- we basically saw it with Shannon and Josh, and to a lesser extent Will and Kyra. And yet they whipped out that expert level edit to say, "wow, look at these two lovebirds, huh?" It's ridiculous, especially since only in the final episode did they suddenly remember that Jeremy and the stunning Bailey (aka the combination of Gal Godot and Ashley Judd circa-2001) were an actual couple and even they looked more real than the winning couple.

Love Island is, if nothing else, a reflection of America.

It's an outdated tradition desperately grasping to what's left of the typical western idea of romance. No matter how many beauty pageant contestants they pick, men like women who aren't size 2s, or with natural hair/skin, or with family-friendly occupations. Women are probably tired of the big muscle bound hunks they usually put on here, the nearly identical men that they seem to cast every single season who have all the looks but zero of the confidence or personality.

It's an example of how our choices are an illusion, how our influence can be easily overwritten by those in charge. Votes that don't matter when they change the rules on the fly, ripping out the actual choice of the people in favor of letting them decide what stays and what goes.

It's a testament that even in the face of a viral pandemic that's quickly turning into part two, as the lives of millions are being further destroyed across the world, there will always be some asshole who has more than you and looks better than you, vacationing on a tropical island stolen from its people, ignorant of everything else that's happening around them.

Love Island hates everyone. It hates it's contestants. It hates the viewers. It hates change. It hates me.

But I do still kind of love it.

[tirupatitourspackages]

Tirupati Balaji is set at the most raised reason behind the Tirumala slants

Tirupati Balaji is India's most visited religious unprecedented meandered zone. Continually incalculable aficionados visit this treasured asylum in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is evident for the Sri Venkateshwara Temple focused on ruler Vishnu, who is additionally called by a couple of names like Balaji in the North and Govinda in South India. The Lord Sri Venkehwara is the all shocking Lord of the universe.

One of the essential 10 safe spots of India, Tirupati Balaji is set at the most raised reason behind the Tirumala slants, while the town lies at the lower locale. The Tirumala Hill has seven summits, which is said to address the seven hoods of a snake underneath where Vishnu remains. The area has the tranquil and religious air about it; the pioneers go to the shelter with pretentious feelings.

Area: Tirupati Tour group is dealt with in the Chittoor District of Andra Pradesh at the lower zones of the Eastern Ghats, and the haven of Sri Venkateshwara is embarked to the seventh summit Venkatachala. The shelter lies on the Southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini.

Who made it: Unfortunately, there are no records of the starting time of the Temple, notwithstanding, was kept up and empowered by different relationship early. The sheltered house is censured by the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas and later pioneers of Mysore.

The best method to reach: Tirupati Airport is 15 km from the downtown territory and offers two or three neighborhood flights. The nearest International flight is in Chennai (130 km) from Tirupati. A taxi will pick you that is fused into out Tirupati Package.

The veritable railroad station is the Tirupati Main; the trains take you to confirmed urban structures like Chennai. Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi and that is just the begin.

Exceptional contrasted with other vehicle station (Sri Hari) is genuinely extraordinary in the state, which has a direct vehicle relationship to the close towns and gigantic urban structures. There are particular connection working relationship as well.

Best time to visit: Almost the greater part of the seasons is remarkable for you to visit Tirupati. Regardless, in the event that you need to encounter the spot in its full swing, the best time is to go during the celebration time. Particularly the celebration of Brahmotsavam, celebrated around Diwali (October) is superior to the run of the mill alternative. Besides, when you are there, it is better you experience out before schedule for your relationship to God in light of the get-together.

Hypnotizing Facts:

• One of the legends behind the venerating of Lord Vishnu is that the sanctuary houses a brightness of Lord Venkateshwara (Vishnu) which is seen to stay there until the culmination of the present moment or Kali Yuga. It is additionally seen that by loving him we will accomplish Mukti or salvation.

• Tripura has a couple of shelters and is a principal moderate and illuminating center point in the south. It is one of the richest voyage focuses.

• The Tirumala Hill is 853m above ocean level and is about 10.33 square miles.

• It is seen that About 50,000 wayfarers' visit the shelter dependably and during the celebrations like yearly Brahmotsavam the extent of explorers is fundamentally 500,000.

• The idolized merriments are Vaishnava great occasions, Rama Navami, Janmashtami . while the most fundamental celebration lauded every year is Brahmotsavam.

• Tirupati is viewed as likely the most settled safe house which was referenced in Puranas and the Shastras.

• Tirumala, the name is gotten from the terms, Tiru reasons Holy and mala means inclines, subsequently the obvious mountains.

• There are a couple of astounding creatures in the asylum like Dhruva Beram, Bhoga Srinivasa, Ugra Srinivasa and some more.

• The ensured house revealed a couple of etchings that are of recorded, semantic and social criticalness.

• In the asylum, the fans shave their head as an offering to the God, the constantly amassing of the hair shows fundamentally a ton. These hairs are later sold in closeouts to by and large purchasers who change them into overhauls.

• The thuylabharam offering is done in the sheltered house, where a fan sits on a checking worth scale and brings to the table materials heavier than his weight.

Spots of Interest:

• An archeological genuine center, Chandragiri Fort.

• SV Zoological park (the second most basic zoo in Asia).

• Jungle the book Biological Park.

• Regional Science focus and Planitarium.

• There are particular safe houses that you can visit in Tirupati and Tirumala bound from the important Sri Venkateshwara Temple.

• Alamelu Mangapuram Temple.

• Padmavathi Ammavari Temple.

• Kapila Theertham (set out to ace Shiva and Parvati).

• Govindaraja Swamy Temple and that is only a look at something more prominent.

Tirupati Tour and Tirumala is an undertaking spot, offering you an appearance for a substitute encounter all around. The affirmation of the fans and the depicting of the clergymen resonation around the slopes of Tirumala. There is an inclination of most strange concordance and tranquility in the spot.

The other name Tirupati Balaji is Lord Venkata, which means destroyer of sins. Venkata is made of two words 'Ven' proposes 'sin' and 'Changed affiliation' infers 'destroyer', along these lines it is seen that darshan of Lord Venkata conflicted his terrible practices. May Lord Venkateshwara satisfy the greater part of your needs!

It is seen that Lord Srinivasa expected to make charts for his wedding. Ruler Kubera ascribed cash to Lord Venkateswara (a kind of the god Vishnu) for his marriage with Padmavathi. Together, Srinivasa and Padmavathi lived relentlessly while Goddess Lakshmi, understanding the responsibilities of Lord Vishnu, lived in his heart until the climax of time. In affirmation of this, fans go to on Tirupati visit to give cash in Venkateswara's hundi (favoring pot) with the target that he can pay it back to Kubera. The hundi accumulations go as high as 22.5 million INR very much arranged. Fans offer gold as a token of their radiance for God.

Tirupati has its own one of a kind air terminal and you can get flights from each legitimate metro of India to Tirupati air terminal. In any case, these future ricocheting flights – unfathomably through Hyderabad. There are non-stop flights from Hyderabad that take really over an hour to reach. Chennai is the closest International Airport at about 15o km and after that is the Bangalore International plane terminal around 250 km away; the two spots are related by street and rail to Tirupati. Tirupati Railway station is a colossal railhead and trains from all bits of the nation reach here.

When you reach Tirupati you can take the near vehicle – that use dependably from Tirupati to Tirumala – which is the haven site. Or of course, you can take a taxi. The segment is only 10 km.

In any case, there are amazingly exceptional principles that should be looked for after while visiting the sanctuary. Hoardings with these principles can be discovered all around in Tirupati group.

Make the principal strides not to Leave before you visit these spots:

Relish the neighboring cooking:

Visit Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vaari Temple:

Find Sri Kalahasti Temple:

1. Relish the near to cooking:

Despite whether it's the laddu maha prasad from Tirupati Balaji Temple, a certified South Indian area at a near bistro or a dazzling cup of channel espresso, Tirupati is a foodie's pleasure. Some unmistakable bistros are Andhra Spice, Hyderabad House, and Maurya Restaurant.

2. Visit Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vaari Temple:

The most unprecedented adventurer target and religious vitality for the city, it is composed on the Tirumala top, 18 kilometers from Tirupati. An imperative number of fans come here to get a gander at the eight-foot-tall picture of Lord Venkateswara masterminded with gold, gainful stones and creates and remaining under the overlaid vault, Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana.

3. Discover Sri Kalahasti Temple:

Made plans to Lord Shiva, Sri Kalahasti Temple is an hour's drive from Tirupati and ought to be visited on the off chance that you are managing an experience to Tirupati. It is savvy of the Chola and Vijayanagara styles of organizing. Unquestionably comprehended for its Vayu Linga, which will as a rule wind, Sri Kalahasti Temple is one of the five Pancha Bhoota Streams. Attempt to visit this spot in the event that you plan a trip to Tirupati.

Endeavor the Prasadam offered to pioneers by the safe house, it's the groundbreaking "Tirupati laddoo". Tirupati Laddu had got Geographical sign etching which entitles just Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to make or sell it. Unmistakable evident prasadams are in like way open including puliohora , daddojanam, Malhotra, vada and chakra-pongali, miryala-pongali, Appam, Paayasam, Jilebi, Muruku, Dosa, seera, Free suppers are offered especially orchestrated to the pioneers. On Thursdays, the Tirupavada Seva is driven, where sustenance things are kept as naivedyam to Lord Venkateswara.

Do try to visit Tirupati during the festival of their different celebrations, the air is accused for centrality as masses of individuals plan the get-together to offer their regards to the magnificence. The experience is amazing.

Here we are giving TirupatiTour pack to you with the faultless extravagances.

Darshan visit outfit a perfect Tirupati visit pack with the rehearsed guide that ponders the chronicled foundation of that spots and no ifs, ands or buts comprehended of every marvel happened there.In the outdated period, a large portion of the wonderful people amassed together to lead an appeasing slant for the uprightness of the world. There came the earth shattering Saints Narada. He asked them who did they need to give the easing result, paying little respect to whether it was to Brahma or Vishnu or Maheswara. They kept an eye out for that they expected to offer it to the GOD who could control the Sathva, Rejas, Thamo Qualities. By then began the subject of who was the best among the Trois. At last Saint, Bhrugu was made to discover who was the best

Sanctified individual Bhrughu who considered the past, present, and future got a third eye in his inner foot through his mind boggling amends. The groundbreaking Bhrughu First went to the universe of Lord Brahma.Brahma was chit-babbling with his life adornment Goddess Saraswathy. He didn't give a reasonable arrangement to Bhrughu. The furious Bhrugu said that through Brahma had four appearances and eight eyes He couldn't see the visitor coming. So Brahma did not legitimize the pacifying result. Since Brahma was savored the experience of Rejas Bhrughu reprimanded him that Brahma could never get commitments in the asylums. That is the reason Brahma had no asylum.

Wonderful individual Bhrugu's psyche was harmed. He began from the universe of Brahma and came to Kailasa mountain, the home Siva. There Bhrugu saw Lord Siva and his revered one Goddess Parvathy occupied with a vivacious move. Nandhi the central supporter and particular others were standing placed assets into the move. Siva couldn't get his visitor fittingly, Brughu lost control and said that shiva did not legitimize the mitigating result. He decried Shiva that he never get a picture love in the havens. Or on the other hand maybe the strategy of adoring Siva as Phallus appeared

Bhrugu came to Vaikunda, the home of Lord Mahavishnu.Bhrughu saw Vishnu lying with his treasured one Goddess Lakshmi upon the snake Anandha. Which is his bed? Narayana saw Bhrughu coming. He imagined that he didn't see him and occupied with chit prattling with Lakshmi Devi.Without thinking his character and what he was doing Bhrughu put his foot on Narayana's Breast. Narayana got up gently and tell at the feet of Bhrughu for decrease. He was lamented that he had crushed by not passing on Bhrughu. He asked Bhrughu when he put his foot on Narayanas chest whether his foot was harmed by the important stones worn by Narayana in his chest. To remove the destruction he scoured the feet of burughu. While doing this he obliterated the third eye in inside foot. Having lost the third eye Bhrughu lost all his arrogance.He comprehended his issue and cherished Vishnu. He came back to the unbelievable people and revealed to them that Sri Hari was the best among the Trios. He referenced that they give the propitiatory outcome to Mahavishnu

Lakshmi Devi's legacy at Vishnu's chest. Precisely when Bhrughu put his foot on Vishnu's Breast he fell at the feet of Bhrughu and asked exculpation. He didn't demonstrate any disdain against Bhrughu. right when Lakshmi Devi saw this she wound up being exasperates towards her adored one without knowing reality Vishnu endeavored to quiet Lakshmi Devi. Regardless, … ..

Mahavishnu attempted to quiet Lakshmi Devi. However, it was useless. Lakshmi Devi left Vaikunta

The Trios and the favored people endeavored to influence reality to Lakshmi Devi. Regardless, she didn't hear it. She set out for Kollapuram and started humility

Lakshmi Devi left Vaikunta and Mahavishnu wound up being astoundingly confounded. He went to the earth and visited Varaha Moorthy at Varaha Mountain

Mahavishnu initiated his state to Varaha Moorthy. He got concur and spot to remain there. By then he began compensation sitting in a termitary

Mahavishnu went to the earth and began to pay. His Penance he was tormented by the nonappearance of rest and sustenance. Amazing individual Narada instructed that to Parvathy Devi. Since concerning her supplication Brahma and Siva changed into a Cow and Calf. Parvathy Devi secured as a dairy animals herdess and offered the Cow and Calf to the King Chola

Varaha Moutain was a touch of the Kingdom of Chola. The Cows of King Chola used to eat in this forests zone. Ruler Brahma and Shiva spread as dairy animals and calf were in like way coming to there close by various groups. They were flooding milk each day on the terminal. One day the grazier saw that and offered a clarification to the King Chola

Following day King Chola disguised close to the termitary. The dairy animals overflowed Milk. Exactly when the dairy creatures' shepherd hit the ox-like with his hatchet Vishnu was endeavoring to leave religious school. He got hurt on his jaw and blood spouted from the damage. The bovines shepherd fell neglectful. The King dashed to Vishnu and tell at his feet and referenced astuteness. Vishnu Cursed him to change into a Devil. He said that in the going with birth the King of Chola would envision as the master of Sky. Right when Vishnu weds his girl Padmavathy the ruler would get salvation. since the dairy bovines herder was the focal man to see Vishnu following to coming to earth his race would get the bit of leeway to see him first in Vishu's shielded house

Narayana got hurt on his head and jaws. He was sifting for some medication to fix the injuries. He heard a lady exhibiting the names of Sri Krishna from a touching by a house. He went to the house and saw a lady names Vakula Malika. She related a couple of meds in the wickedness and sponsorship Narayana.During the season of Vishnu's sign of Sri Krishna. Yashoda couldn't see the marriage of Krishna knowing the torment of Yashoda Krishna kept up her to satisfy her aching. So Yashoda envisioned as Vakula Malika and shaped the marriage among Srinivasa and Padmavathy as a mother. Along these lines she got salvation

The pioneer of Sky had no adolescents. So he made a response made by Saint Suka. When he wrinkled the field utilized for reparation he got a case. In the holder, he saw a female pre-grown-up lying in a lotus having a thousand petals

The King got immature from a PADMAM(LOTUS) so he named the female tyke as Padmavati. He brought her up very carefully. As years passed Padmavathy changed into a youthful brilliant lady

Srinivasa went for seeking after from the cloister(Ashrama) of Vakula Malika. He saw an elephant looking for after a young lady. Promptly he sent several shocks at the elephant. The elephant was startled and fled. In this way, he protected Padmavathy from Danger

Padmavathy began to look all starry looked toward at Srinivasa. She didn't have the foggiest idea his character Srinivasa in addition went gaga for Padmavathy. Both of them didn't uncover one another about this and left the timberland.

Srinivasa expected to find a few solutions concerning the lady, He had found in the forested territories. So He hid as 'Kathy' ( a lady admonishing future ) and went to the kingdom of the Chola. There Kurathy anticipated about the future to the general open. During that Srinivasa got a handle on that the lady He had found in the backcountry was the young woman of the King of the Sky.

The King sent for the Kurathy lady to go to the glorious the living game plan to know the reason behind the hopelessness of his girl Srinivasa in the cover of Kurathy Woman went to the distinguished living course of action and tol The King got adolescent from a PADMAM(LOTUS) so he named the female tyke as Padmavati. He brought her up in all regards carefully. As years passed Padmavathy changed into a youthful amazing lady

Srinivasa went for searching for after from the cloister(Ashrama) of Vakula Malika. He saw an elephant looking for after a youth. Quickly he sent a couple staggers at the elephant. The elephant was frightened and fled. Thusly, he protected Padmavathy from Danger

Padmavathy began to look all starry looked toward at Srinivasa. She didn't have the foggiest idea his character Srinivasa what's more went gaga for Padmavathy. Them two didn't uncover each other about this and left the timberland.

Srinivasa expected to find several game plans concerning the lady, He had found in the forested areas. So He stowed away as 'Kathy' ( a lady censuring future ) and went to the kingdom of the Chola. There Kurathy anticipated about the future to the general open. During that Srinivasa comprehended that the lady He had found in the boondocks was the youngster of the King of the Sky.

The King sent for the Kurathy lady to go to the incredible the living way to deal with know the reason for the misery of his youngster Srinivasa in the front of Kurathy Woman went to the perceived living approach and told the King that the explanation behind her weight was the excited individual she had found in the woodlands.' Kurathy ' told the King that the energetic individual was Mahavishnu .' Kurathy ' guided the King to fix the marriage among Srinivasa and Padmavathy

Srinivasa contributed Saint Suka.who had green-winged creature head, to show the Gods his marriage

The Gods wound up being inconceivably energized when they had heard the reports on the marriage of Srinivasa. They all related before Srinivasa and Promised to come and lead the marriage. They taught Srinivasa to approach KUBERA, the God concerning riches for cash to meet the marriage costs

Srinivasa got marriage welcome from the King of Sky. He wound up being Happy and demonstrated it to Vakula Malika whom he saw as his mom. She asked Srinivasa how he could meet the costs of the marriage. He revealed to her that He would get cash from Kubera. Srinivasa considered Kubera in his psyche.

Kubera showed up before Srinivasa. He referenced gold and cash for his marriage. Srinivasa revealed to Kubera that he would reimburse the dedication toward the finishing of KALIYUGA'(the present ). Kubera gave the real cash to Srinivasa. Brahma and Siva remained as a bystander as two pipal trees along the shore of the 'PUSHKARANI'(POND). Later when trees were to chop down blood spouted from these trees. So the cutting of trees finished. We can see these pipal trees close to the pond(Pushkarani) in Tirumala

Srinivasa began to comprehension on his vehicle Garuda, An Eagle , to marry Padmavathy

All Gods together with Saints and religious fans got together to go to the marriage of Srinivas

God favored sprouts and great people kept up and subjects merrily commended the marriage. Beginning now and into the not so distant the marriage of Srinivasa with Padmavathy was made in quality.

After the marriage, Saint Agasthya offered cheerfulness to the couple. They lived in the cloister(ASHRAM) for a half year as his visitors

Favored individual Narada revealed to Lakshmi Devi about the marriage. She finished her revises at Kollapuram and achieved the gathering of Agastya. There she moved nearer Srinivasa for Justice

In the Ramayana Maya Sita went to Agni, Lord of Fire, rather than Sita. Maya Sita was Padmavathy. Vishnu was RAMA and LAKSHMIDEVI was Sita. Sita pushed toward Rama to marry Maya Sita for the Sacrifice she had done. In any case, Rama Refused it since He should have been monogamous. Rama said in the going with birth He would consider as Srinivasa and marry Padmavathy .Srinivasa referenced that Lakshmi Devi reviews these things. Having inspected the past her brain exchanged and ended up being calm

A sheltered house was worked by head Thondaman at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh.In this sanctuary, Srinivasa for Balaji passes on Lakshmi Devi in his chest and favors the fans. Padmavathy Devi Resides at Tiruchanoor and offers advancements to the lovers. It is perceived that resulting to closing the sanctuary in the night Srinivasa goes to Tiruchanoor to see Padmavathy Devi. Vakula Malika in addition got Salvation. Srinivasa connected with her to sit at the door of 'THADAPPALLY'(Temple Kitchen) and watch the fans making obligations .Devotees can see the Idol of Vakula Malika at the 'THADAPPALLY' section.

Do you wanna have an energy about Tirupati visit? Hold up don't in like manner and book now at darshantour.com.

Tirupati Balaji Temple is a standard encounter center and one of the striking Hindu Temples and Lord Venketeshwara who means that Lord Vishnu that sorted out in the tendency town Tirumala, nearest Tirupati in Chittoor zone of Andhra Pradesh, India. Tirupati Balaji refuge is considered a holiest and most frequented religious position which is acclaimed as Vaikuntam on the earth. For incredible concordance reliably a get-together of Hindu gives visited Tirupati Balaji shelter. Incalculable fans visit this sheltered house constantly to pay regard to the most remarkable power. Tirupati Temple is moved toward Venkatadri that one of the seven plants of Tirumala and therefore is generally called the Temple of Seven Hills which called Saptagiri in Sanskrit. The Presiding ideal intensity of Tirupati Temple, Lord Venkateswara, is in like route suggested by more names as Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa, etc. Constantly a wide level of submits go to Tirupati shelter to love of Lord Venketesh swami. Grand Holiday Tours offer you the best outline for Tirupati Tour Packages from Delhi. We have diverse cabin in our Tirupati visit Packagesorganization which is generally need in Travel.

Tirumala which is the home of the Lord Venkateshwara is known to be the most outdated shelter dealt with in India. The Shastras, Alwar tunes, Puranas and Sthalamahatmyams without a doubt announce that in the kalyug an individual can essentially achieve salvation or mukthi by revering the Lord of Tirupati, Venkateswara. It is said that concerning 5,000 years back that Lord Venkateswara made Tirumala his Home. Before Lord Venkateswara including the Tirumala, it was Lord Varahaswami, who'd made the Tirumala his living strategy.

We give Tirupati Packages from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore through train, by strategies for vehicle and by techniques for Air as well. The Temple is visited by a titanic number voyagers very much arranged and on a brilliant occasion or good times like Brahmotsavam, the proportion of travelers extended ward upon 400,000 to 500,000 and making it most visited sanctified spot on earth. In case you have dealt with a Trip for Tirupati Balaji Darshan and need a sensible social affair for your excursion, don't weight contact Royal Holiday Tours and get all information about Darshan, Worship and visiting and Book a Tirupati visit Package agreeing with your suggestion at a spending cost.

In context on the extraordinary significance of the Tirupati Temple, it is one of the holiest and most visited voyager centers in India. Being the living intend to Lord Balaji who implies that the Lord Vishnu it is recognized to be the Vaikuntam or Heaven on Earth. These days going to Tirupati have ended up being less hazardous and less bewildering. One could without a huge amount of a stretch strategy their Tirupati visit by Tirupati Balaji online Ticket booking and make travel relatively as settlement plans. Since Tirupati has a significant amassing on culminations of the week, good times and events most of the events the fans ought to envision their chance for a Darshanam for 48 hours or more.

Tirupati Balaji Temple is seen as a victor among the most luxurious havens on earth. This Temple is dealt with in the Tirumala in Chennai. Tirupati Temple is on a very basic level ideal and respectfully outstanding. Master Tirupati Balaji Maharaj is the major of this Temple known as Lord Venkateswara who is the ideal from Lord Vishnu. He has four hands and his game-plan is decreased. Reliably normal 50000 to 100000 fans visit the Tirupati Balaji Temple at Tirumala. The picture of Lord Balaji is the intensity of all staggering vitality. There is the get-together to the point that the push get-together and security personals would drive you forward commonly. With a best a few course of action by Temple expert for the fans, they can have a calm Darshan and fulfill their sure achievements.

The tendencies of Tirumala have seven doled out that express the seven leader of the Adisesha and along these lines taking the name Seshachalam. Seven Crownings are Venkatadri, Neeladri, Narayanadri, Anjanadri, Garudri and Vrushabhadri. The Temple of Balaji or Venkateswara is arranged on the seventh slant which is Venkatadri and is too called "Safe house of the Seven Hills". Various names of Venkateswara are Srinivasa, Balaji, and Govinda. This haven is one among the rich voyage centers present is the world after the asylum in Trivandrum, Kerala is known as Sri Padmanabaswamy Temple.

In order to make it dynamically direct for the pioneers, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has made a grouping of workplaces like the E-Seva, E-Darshan, Sarva Darshan, etc. The E-Seva is extremely an improvement Tirupati online Ticket booking office for the Tirupati Darshanam. These approaches should either be conceivable by Visas or check cards.

There are the Tickets by Post, which is another affiliation that makes it less difficult for the fans to get the darshanam tickets by post. This will require the individual benefitting the relationship to make a letter to the pro of the asylum for the tickets on the date that has bd the King that the explanation behind her inconvenience was the energetic individual she had found in the forest.' Kurathy ' told the King that the young individual was Mahavishnu .' Kurathy ' guided the King to fix the marriage among Srinivasa and Padmavathy

Srinivasa contributed Saint Suka.who had green-winged creature head, to show the Gods his marriage

The Gods wound up being incredibly enthusiastic when they had heard the reports on the marriage of Srinivasa. They all associated before Srinivasa and Promised to come and lead the marriage. They instructed Srinivasa to approach KUBERA, the God concerning riches for cash to meet the marriage costs

Srinivasa got marriage welcome from the King of Sky. He wound up being extremely Happy and shown it to Vakula Malika whom he saw as his mom. She asked Srinivasa how he could meet the costs of the marriage. He revealed to her that He would pick up cash from Kubera. Srinivasa thought about Kubera in his brain.

Kubera showed up before Srinivasa. He referenced gold and cash for his marriage. Srinivasa revealed to Kubera that he would reimburse the dedication toward the finishing of KALIYUGA'(the present ). Kubera gave the fundamental cash to Srinivasa. Brahma and Siva remained as an onlooker as two pipal trees along the shore of the 'PUSHKARANI'(POND). Later when trees were to slice down blood spouted from these trees. So the cutting of trees halted. We can see these pipal trees close to the pond(Pushkarani) in Tirumala

Srinivasa began to experience on his vehicle Garuda, An Eagle , to marry Padmavathy

All Gods together with Saints and religious fanatics touched base to go to the marriage of Srinivas

God favored sprouts and magnificent people upheld and subjects happily commended the marriage. From now on the marriage of Srinivasa with Padmavathy was composed in quality.

After the marriage, Saint Agasthya offered festivity to the couple. They lived in the cloister(ASHRAM) for a half year as his visitors

Holy individual Narada revealed to Lakshmi Devi about the marriage. She finished her atonement at Kollapuram and achieved the social affair of Agastya. There she moved nearer Srinivasa for Justice                                      

In the Ramayana Maya Sita went to Agni, Lord of Fire, as opposed to Sita. Maya Sita was Padmavathy. Vishnu was RAMA and LAKSHMIDEVI was Sita. Sita moved toward Rama to marry Maya Sita for the Sacrifice she had done. In any case, Rama Refused it since He should have been monogamous. Rama said in the accompanying birth He would consider as Srinivasa and marry Padmavathy .Srinivasa mentioned that Lakshmi Devi remembers these things. Having reviewed the past her mind changed and ended up being peaceful

A haven was worked by head Thondaman at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh.In this asylum, Srinivasa for Balaji carries Lakshmi Devi in his chest and favors the fans. Padmavathy Devi Resides at Tiruchanoor and offers endowments to the devotees. It is acknowledged that consequent to closing the haven in the night Srinivasa goes to Tiruchanoor to see Padmavathy Devi. Vakula Malika furthermore got Salvation. Srinivasa empowered her to sit at the door of 'THADAPPALLY'(Temple Kitchen) and watch the enthusiasts making commitments .Devotees can see the Idol of Vakula Malika at the 'THADAPPALLY' gateway.

Do you wanna have a comprehension of Tirupati tour? Hold up don't also and book now at darshantour.com.

Tirupati Balaji Temple is a standard adventure center and one of the notable Hindu Temples and Lord Venketeshwara who is a sign of Lord Vishnu that arranged in the slant town Tirumala, nearest Tirupati in Chittoor area of Andhra Pradesh, India. Tirupati Balaji haven is considered a holiest and most frequented religious position which is acclaimed as Vaikuntam on the earth. For supernatural concordance reliably a social occasion of Hindu gives visited Tirupati Balaji haven. Countless fans visit this haven reliably to pay regard to the most extraordinary power. Tirupati Temple is masterminded on Venkatadri that one of the seven plants of Tirumala and consequently is generally called the Temple of Seven Hills which called Saptagiri in Sanskrit. The Presiding divine force of Tirupati Temple, Lord Venkateswara, is in like manner alluded to by more names as Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa, etc. Reliably a wide extent of submits go to Tirupati asylum to love of Lord Venketesh swami. Majestic Holiday Tours offer you the best game plan for Tirupati Tour Packages from Delhi. We have various housing in our Tirupati tour Packagesorganization which is generally needed in Travel.

Tirumala which is the home of the Lord Venkateshwara is known to be the most out of date asylum organized in India. The Shastras, Alwar tunes, Puranas and Sthalamahatmyams certainly declare that in the kalyug an individual can simply achieve salvation or mukthi by venerating the Lord of Tirupati, Venkateswara. It is said that in regards to five thousand years back that Lord Venkateswara made Tirumala his Home. Before Lord Venkateswara including the Tirumala, it was Lord Varahaswami, who'd made the Tirumala his living arrangement.

We give Tirupati Packages from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore through train, by means of vehicle and by means of Air also. The Temple is visited by a colossal number voyagers step by step and on a remarkable occasion or festivities like Brahmotsavam, the number of explorers extended up to 400,000 to 500,000 and making it most visited the sacrosanct spot on earth. If you have organized a Trip for Tirupati Balaji Darshan and need a sensible group for your excursion, don't pressure contact Royal Holiday Tours and get all information about Darshan tour, Worship and visiting and Book a Tirupati tour Package agreeing with your proposal at a spending cost.

In view of the extraordinary noteworthiness of the Tirupati Temple, it is one of the holiest and most visited voyager centers in India. Being the living arrangement to Lord Balaji who is an indication of the Lord Vishnu it is accepted to be the Vaikuntam or Heaven on Earth. These days going to Tirupati have ended up being less troublesome and less complex. One could without a lot of a stretch game plan their Tirupati visit by Tirupati Balaji online Ticket booking and make travel similarly as settlement plans. Since Tirupati has a noteworthy gathering on finishes of the week, festivities and events most of the events the fans ought to envision their chance for a Darshanam for 48 hours or more.

Tirupati Balaji Temple is seen as a standout amongst the most lavish havens on earth. This Temple is organized in the Tirumala in Chennai. Tirupati Temple is significantly auspicious and respectfully earth-shattering. Ace Tirupati Balaji Maharaj is the major of this Temple known as Lord Venkateswara who is the ideal from Lord Vishnu. He has four hands and his arrangement is diminished. Reliably typical 50000 to 100000 fans visit the Tirupati Balaji Temple at Tirumala. The symbol of Lord Balaji is the force of all great imperativeness. There is the group to the point that the push gathering and security personals would drive you forward normally. With a best a couple of course of action by Temple master for the fans, they can have a tranquil Darshan and fulfill their hopeful achievements.

The slants of Tirumala have seven designated that express the seven chiefs of the Adisesha and thusly taking the name Seshachalam. Seven Crownings are Venkatadri, Neeladri, Narayanadri, Anjanadri, Garudri, and Vrushabhadri. The Temple of Balaji or Venkateswara is arranged on the seventh incline which is Venkatadri and is too called "Haven of the Seven Hills". Various names of Venkateswara are Srinivasa, Balaji, and Govinda. This haven is one among the wealthy voyage centers present in the world after the asylum in Trivandrum, Kerala is known as Sri Padmanabaswamy Temple.

In order to make it more straightforward for the pioneers, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has made a variety of workplaces like the E-Seva, E-Darshan, Sarva Darshan, etc. The E-Seva is extremely an improvement Tirupati online Ticket booking office for the Tirupati Darshanam. These arrangements should either be conceivable by Visas or check cards.

There are the Tickets by Post, which is another organization that makes it less difficult for the fans to obtain the darshanam tickets by post. This will require the individual benefitting the organizations to create a letter to the master of the asylum for the tickets on the date that has been chosen. It is furthermore basic to indicate the kind of darshanam one should need to profit send it to close by a DD for the total. There are around forty-three online booking concentrates today that are giving the required organizations of the Tirupati asylum. There are various game-plans that are made by the TTD in order to empower the voyagers to structure the visit to Tirupati suitably. Regardless, there are in like manner a few authentic associations that give Tirupati package that will include settlement, travel and visiting close by various workplaces that can be altered.

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10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Wells Fargo

I as of late stumbled upon a book written in 1949 on the historical backdrop of Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC). The book, Wells Fargo: Advancing the American Frontier by Edward Hungerford, offers an interesting perspective into the early long stretches of what is today a standout amongst the best-run banks on the planet. What pursues are 10 fascinating bits of knowledge from the book.

1. Wells Fargo wasn't a bank at first

Banking was initially of optional significance to Wells Fargo. The organization was established in 1852 to give conveyance administrations to individuals in California during the Gold Rush. Subsequent to securing different stagecoach lines, it "claimed the best organizing realm on the planet." It even bought what survived from the Pony Express, which worked between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California for year and a half before the cross-country broadcast line rendered it out of date in 1861.

2. The Fat Cat of Montgomery Street

The high benefits and rewarding profit installments from Wells Fargo's express activities earned it the epithet: the Fat Cat of Montgomery Street - San Francisco's likeness Wall Street.

3. Enduring the Panic of 1855

The first of numerous budgetary frenzies that Wells Fargo endure occurred in 1855, when a dry spell made it difficult to dig for gold along stream beds. The frenzy caused about 200 organizations in San Francisco to fall flat, including Wells Fargo's greatest rival, Adams Express Company. "As the main real express organization enduring the accident, Wells Fargo could anticipate prosperous days ahead," composed Hungerford. Wells Fargo's budgetary position was strong to the point that it didn't suspend its profit that year.

4. The primary genuine risk to Wells Fargo

In the principal half of the 1860s, Wells Fargo gained for all intents and purposes all the stage lines from the Missouri River to California, which gave it an imposing business model on cross-country conveyance administrations. It at that point suddenly changed course in 1868. In the wake of understanding that the cross-country railroad was nearing culmination, Wells Fargo's directorate requested its leader to auction the majority of the organization's stage lines.

5. The antagonistic takeover of Wells Fargo in 1869

At the point when Wells Fargo's stock plunged because of the danger from the cross-country railroad, which was finished in 1869, a gathering of California-based financial specialists gained control of the organization. It was by then that Wells Fargo moved its home office from New York City to San Francisco. Since these equivalent financial specialists controlled the Central Pacific railroad, Wells Fargo increased restrictive express benefits on the main train that associated California toward the East Coast.

The "Bargain of Omaha," which denoted the exchange of command over Wells Fargo, rejuvenated the organization. "Considering the way that Wells Fargo was the main organization that could transport express in California on the [Central and Southern Pacific railroads] it fixed its rates high," composed Hungerford. "What's more, the benefits ... were great."

6. Burglaries and thefts

Burglaries and thefts were a noteworthy risk to Wells Fargo in its initial years. By 1884, its stagecoaches and trains had been looted multiple times, prompting the passings of 16 burglars (excluding 7 hanged by natives) and six Wells Fargo workers. The organization enlisted its own security power to battle the risk. "For a long time it had been said all through the West that there were two foundations hazardous for awful men to tinker with," said Hungerford. "One was the Federal Government and different, Wells Fargo."

7. Well Fargo's most exceedingly awful procurement

In the mid-1890s, Wells Fargo obtained Commercial National Bank, a Portland, Oregon-based bank that "experienced considerable difficulties of it in the extraordinary frenzy of 1893." While Wells Fargo was flush with capital at the time - "frenzies were not really more than episodes" to the organization, composed Hungerford - Commercial National's awful advances were more regrettable than anticipated. As Wells Fargo's leader at the time described:

I tuned in to what those individuals said and I passed on a great deal of advantages that never ought to have been passed. The reason that I made that sort of mistake was that I laid an excess of weight on their great confidence. I didn't take into consideration the way that a man of good confidence may need something of practical insight.

Wells Fargo lost its whole interest in Commercial National and in this manner sold it in 1905 to United States National Bank, which had "since a long time ago become a remarkable bank of Portland." That bank today is U.S. Bancorp.

8. The spinoff of Wells Fargo Bank in 1905

In 1901, renowned railroad lender Edward H. Harriman oversaw the Southern Pacific railroad, which, thus, possessed a generous offer of Wells Fargo stock coming from past dealings between the organizations. Harriman saw little an incentive in Wells Fargo's financial tasks, which were auxiliary to its expedited administration. He likewise chose to spinoff Wells Fargo Bank in 1905.

The bank was obtained by Isaias Hellman, leader of the Nevada Bank of San Francisco, which had $9 million in stores at the time contrasted with Wells Fargo's $6 million. "However to discard the name of Wells Fargo with all its tremendous esteem was unfathomable," composed Hungerford. The joined bank along these lines passed by the name of Wells Fargo-Nevada National Bank.

The Wells Fargo Bank of New York was sold around a similar time to the National Park Bank, which later converged into Chase National Bank - what is today JPMorgan Chase.

9. The San Francisco quake and fire in 1906

For different days after the 1906 seismic tremor and fire that pulverized seventy five percent of San Francisco, Wells Fargo worked without records of its clients' records, which were then caught in the flame resistant vault in its as yet seething base camp structure. Be that as it may, despite the fact that it paid out countless dollars to contributors dependent on their honesty, its complete misfortune from excessive charges didn't surpass $200.

10. The finish of Wells Fargo Express in 1918

Wells Fargo's expedited administration authoritatively finished in 1918. At the command of the Secretary of the Treasury, the three major express organizations in the nation were converged into the American Railway Express "in light of a legitimate concern for winning" World War I.

There was much sharpness. When the new blend had been made, the Wells Fargo signs and badge were torn down right over the land to be supplanted quickly by the signs and emblem of the American Railway Express. Wells Fargo vanished from the phone postings all over the place; the name was obviously never at any point to be murmured.

The equivalent isn't valid, obviously, of Wells Fargo's once thrown away bank. In the budgetary emergency of 2008-09, it demonstrated once more that it's one of the most secure and most judicious stewards of capital in America. As Hungerford watched six decades before the emergency, "From its beginnings almost 100 years prior down to the present, not one individual at any point lost a dollar, in property or in cash depended to the consideration of Wells Fargo."

[shayanyaan]

Karnataka Express

As I walk out of Bangalore airport early one saturday morning, I pull out my phone to check the running status of the southbound Karnataka Express. I have just flown in from Hyderabad and my plan is to head straight to the hills of Makalidurga to photograph the train. And also later in the evening to travel on the return service up to Solapur. I want to experience one last journey out of Bangalore on the Karnataka Express with a diesel at the helm, something that is about to become history in a matter of days.

To my dismay, I find that the Karnataka is running over 6 hours late. There is not a hope in hell that it would reach Bangalore before my departure in the evening. My plans for a farewell photograph of a diesel headed Karnataka Express curving through Makalidurga have been hit for six. Rueing the terrible turn of events, I change plans and head off into the city to meet some friends. We kill time watching trains on the Tumkur line instead.

Thanks to the magic of rake sharing, my outbound train is not affected by the late running of the pairing train. So then I turn my attention to the loco in charge. Would I have the good fortune of being powered by twin diesels, just for old times sake? Throughout the day I have been fervently wishing for this but in the end I find that it is not to be. I arrive at the station to find a single WDP4D from Pune shed assuming the lead.

We depart on time and I settle down in my coach S2, which is fifth from the front. I have selected this on purpose, in order to be as close as possible to the diesel sounds. We are reduced to a stop-start run through Bangalore Cantt due to a slower train in front. Soon though, as we curve through Baiyappanahalli, we overtake the culprit before switching over to the northbound lines at the Channasandra triangle. My last ever Bangalore departure on a diesel hauled Karnataka Express is underway.

We take on more passengers at Yelahanka before ambling through Rajankunte. This is where we run into our other half - the heavily delayed inbound. A tingle of excitement runs down my spine as I head to the door to witness the crossing of the two Karnataka Expresses, both being pulled by diesels. Perhaps a reasonable consolation for the missed photograph opportunity earlier in the day.  

The chief starts to put the WDP4D through its paces as we accelerate towards Dodballapur. As we pick up speed I notice a signal up ahead set to attention. Maybe a level crossing gate not being shut in time? Anyhow, at the very last minute, the signal changes to proceed and we continue accelerating, all set to thunder through Dodballapur on the platform road. We are soon sitting pretty at Max Permissible Speed and not even the signals dare stop the Karnataka Express now.

4500 of the finest Puneri horses power us through the station as we kick up dust on the platform sending it into swirls. The blowers in the loco are whining away to glory. The chief has his hands transfixed on the horn lever. The deafening twin trumpets are blaring with an urgency that seems to transmit to the loco itself. We surge through the station at a hundred and ten kilometers an hour even as the sounds echo on the platform shelter. It is all over in seconds but standing at the door, it has made my eyes water and left me speechless. There are few things more exhilarating than a train skipping a station on the mainline at full chat.

The frenzy soon dies down as we slow to obey the speed restriction through Makalidurga. The beauty of crossing the Makali ghats at night is something that has to be seen to be believed. The moon is just bright enough for the silhouettes of the hill ranges to be visible. The track is surrounded by vast expanses of emptiness and the sound of steel on steel seems to be amplified. Looking ahead, I can see the powerful headlamp of the loco guiding us through the curves and cuttings. Oh to be in the cab with the pilot at this point!

Once the speed restriction is lifted, the WDP4D comes into its own again and we barrel through Thondebhavi where the Kurla - Coimbatore Express is waiting for us. Next at Gauribidanur, it is our turn to be looped on account of a freight blocking the mainline. Having decided I’ve had enough at the door for one evening, I shut the door and go back to my berth. Before turning in for the night, I figure that it is worth taking some time to reflect. On why I am making this journey in the first place.

--

Who cares what engine the train you are taking is being hauled by? It makes not an iota of difference to the vast majority of people whether it is a diesel or an electric or one of those newer converted versions (dielectrics?) that IR seems to be dabbling with these days.

I say vast majority because there exists a very small group of rail enthusiasts to whom this is a matter of utmost importance, for reasons not yet known to science. Many a battle has been fought on WhatsApp groups in order to ascertain whether “my loco is better than yours”. Most of them in cordial spirit of course.

At the heart of the eternal diesel lover lies a genuine appreciation for internal combustion, a somewhat undesirable but not entirely unjustified fascination for burnt diesel odour and soot. Oh and the utter joy that consumes them when they see a WDM3D let out thick puffs of smoke as it chugs past. And who can forget the EMDs? Even the newer ones have their place, their slightly questionable looks notwithstanding. The WDP4 is an absolute spectacle of sound whenever it goes past. The distinctive washing-machine-on-spin-mode idling sound leading to a jet engine like crescendo is not something that leaves your ears in a hurry. Who needs overhead wires?

As it turns out, it is the honorable Minister for Railways that needs them. Over the last couple of years many miles of track has been electrified. Diesel locos have been replaced with electrics, left, right and center. I shudder to think of a time when the venerable diesel loco will be relegated only to the branch lines. Last year when one of my favorite trains of the south, the Bangalore Rajdhani lost its diesel link between Secunderabad and Bangalore, the farewell was a touch emotional. Surely this is similar to what rail enthusiasts must have felt when steam locos were eventually phased out. In a last minute scramble, I managed to squeeze in one last journey on the diesel hauled Rajdhani and record the experience for posterity.  

Less than a year on, the latest train to bite the dust is another Southern heavyweight. The Delhi - Bangalore Karnataka Express hasn’t completely lost its diesel loco but consider this: For years, this iconic train was hauled between Itarsi and Bangalore by an equally iconic pair of Itarsi diesels. Even as a child growing up in northern Karnataka, I could recognize the double headed Karnataka Express. Over the last few years as electrification forced its way further south, up to Manmad and then eventually Daund, the Itarsi Alco twins gave way to Alcos from Moula Ali and  Guntakal sheds before settling with a single EMD from Pune. Yet we felt safe in the knowledge that Daund was about as far as Central Railways had planned to electrify. Until of course, South Central and South Western Railways joined the bandwagon, forcing a stranglehold from the south as well. The diesel link for the Karnataka Express is now confined to a mere 300km section between Daund and Wadi. How the mighty has fallen.

---

I awake the next morning to find that we have picked up a delay. Nevertheless, I am happy that I’ve been able to make this journey. The end of any era is hard to swallow at first, but years from now, I am sure, I will recall with fondness, the mighty Karnataka Express strutting its way northward from Bangalore with diesel locos powering it.

Meanwhile, the delay steadily increases to 50 minutes by the time we hit Wadi. My Shatabdi connection from Solapur is in slight danger. And so begins, a tense mental debate. Do I ditch the Karnataka at Gulbarga and wait for the Shatabdi there or do I carry on ahead, trusting the Central Railway controllers to bring us into Solapur before the Shatabdi?

It is a story I will leave for another time.

---

Sitting 10000 miles away on another continent, I have to make do with writing proxies for journeys taken by others. Once again, it was my dear friend Prithvi who was travelling on the train and was kind enough to send me his notes on the journey. In writing this, I feel like I have experienced a fair share of his emotions too.

[joellindgren110-blog]

Looking into Montchavin Coming From Above.

Possess the holiday from a life time at Sunlight Mountain range Enjoyable in Oregon, by knowing the Attractions to view - Best opportunities to explore - Places to remain, as well as much more. Each my children just love the wolf tees that they picked out, and are actually regularly requesting even more The Mountain range t shirts. Various other states that round out the top 10 ideal conditions to retire are actually Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Virginia, Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, Arizona and also Nebraska.

The seasides from the Cape Community are actually best there at its own feet if the Desk Mountain endures high. He supposedly showed off felling the cross in a mountain hut, along with witnesses besporty-perfectbody.Info asserting he possessed an international appearing tone, The Native mentioned. Allan, Sarah (2003) The Great One, Water, and the Laozi: New Lighting off Guodian, T'oung Pao, BRILL. Costa Rica is dealt with through more than a zone of rainforests as well as is a terrific area for attributes aficionados. The incredible mountain chains provide a multitude of tasks including mountain climbing, winter sports, mountain cycling, exploring or even waterway rafting. The brief program high rise on the top of the mountain range transfers two non-commercial stations: tv station WGTV TV 8, and also weather radio place KEC80 on 162.55 MHz. The boat is actually carefully raised to the following level and the top doors may be safely opened, making it possible for the watercraft to continue its own trip. Due to the predicteded growth as well as a somewhat low appraisal Iron Mountain range could possibly observe more funding growth as well, particularly when more earnings capitalists intend to enter into the share after the upcoming reward increase.

The digital photographer was actually planning on his normal scenic tour around the island when he listened to headlines concerning the US flag being actually raised atop Mount Suribachi located on the southern aspect of the island. Although I am actually simply 22-years-old, I have actually been honored with an option to fulfill a number of the genuinely terrific bodies from the 21st century; but none of them compare with Mary Galvani. Shimano's SPD- PD-M520 is a fantastic mtb pedal that is actually well-known with newbies to cyclocross auto racing. Ordering the titles, the Reddish Sea of the Middle East offers great underwater expertises smaller understood to the tourists. Consuming alcohol a lot of mountain dew possesses adverse effects, health and wellness concerns, as well as addiction. Thus if you intend to find the excellent mountain bicycle seat for you, you have to go online and review a variety of things. These visitors can additionally enjoy The Smoky Mountain Railway which takes passengers via the mountain range by means of a learn. In 1999, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad had actually been obtained through United States Heritage Railways, which works sister lines in Colorado as well as Texas, and also in 2007, the North Carolina branch had lugged some 200,000 passengers. Being able to possess a real winter mountain range vacation within the limits of this cosmopolitan, southern metropolitan area gives you a wide range of holiday travel preparation choices.

Day time basics still use in the course of a night time mtb trip, featuring water, higher electricity foods and a slit kit. The early range of mountains in the north from the island provide guests spectacular walking through the spines and also gulches, as well as the possibility to observe primitive monoliths from the Nuraghi individuals.

As the second greatest peak near Beijing, Haituo Mountain is a pristine treking place, getting to elevations from over 7,000 shoes. Having actually walked up the mountain range this is probably as appreciated today, as that was actually to the earlier visitor, to become capable to have something to eat and drink just before dealing with the declination.

[robertmcangusgroup]

The Daily Tulip

The Daily Tulip – News From Around The World

Wednesday 15th November 2017

Good Morning Gentle Reader….  Stars twinkling in the heavens this morning as Bella and I set out for her first walk of the day..but heavy clouds are building over Gibraltar in the west, it is Autumn after all I suppose we must expect changeable weather, the leaves change color, the wind blows colder and and the weather changes, quite why it comes as a surprise to us I don't know …

ASDA SORRY FOR 'ISLE OF WHITE' SHOPPING BAG GAFFE…. The opening of Asda's first store on the Isle of Wight made an impression for all the wrong reasons after special bags produced to mark the occasion included the spelling "Isle of White". The retailer opened the doors to its Newport store on Monday and offered shoppers the chance to buy 10,000 bags designed by two island children. Bosses obviously did not check them properly as they included the mistake. Asda said it was "hanging our heads" and promised to get the bags reprinted. A spokeswoman said: "This was a genuine printing error and we're in the process of reproducing the exclusive design to get back on sale as quickly as possible. "We're hanging our heads for making such a silly mistake on our bags for life for our new Isle of Wight store."

A WOMAN SENT PICTURES OF HERSELF TO HER INSURERS INSTEAD OF HER CAR…. When Alyssa Stringfellow from Arkansas, US, tried to get insured on her grandmother's car it seems she got a bit mixed up by the details requested. Instead of sending pictures of her car, Alyssa sent the insurers side and front photos of herself. The 25-year-old teacher was left red-faced when the insurer contacted her by email to point out the mistake. "I am going to need pictures like you just took, except it needs to be of your vehicle," it read. Instead of trying to forget the awkward blunder, Alyssa was good natured about it all and decided to share the photos on social media. "I have been debating on whether or not to post this all day because it is PRETTY embarrassing to admit, but I have decided to go ahead and share my really, really...REALLY blonde moment with you guys." She posted on Facebook. Alyssa then described how the mix-up unfolded when her grandmother told her about the details the insurers had requested. "She said he would need my driver's license number, my date of birth, and a picture straight on and a picture taken from each side. She gave me his email address and I emailed the information along with the pictures that night," She explained. "The crazy thing is, I asked my mom to take the pictures after I got off work, and we discussed why in the world he would need pictures of me, never once considering it was supposed to be of my car. "But, you know what they say, you either have book smarts or street smarts, and I definitely do not have the latter," she joked. Alyssa's embarrassing admission has been shared more than 20,000 times since being posted of Facebook last week, with users of the social media continuing to post their reactions. One Facebook user commented: "I read this last night and laughed sooooooo hard! So funny! And I see where the confusion came from." While hundreds of other people admitted they would probably have made exactly the same mistake: "I would do something like that too," posted another Facebook user. "Don't feel bad! We all have those moments. All we can do is shake our heads and say God, what was I thinking!"

HOLY SMOKE: VATICAN BANS DUTY-FREE CIGARETTE SALES…. Pope Francis has ordered a ban on the sale of cigarettes inside the Vatican, beginning next year. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said the Holy See could not co-operate with a practice that clearly harmed people's health. About 5,000 employees and retired staff of the Vatican are currently allowed to buy discounted cigarettes. The sales are estimated to bring in millions of euros every year to the Vatican. But Mr Burke said no amount of profit could be legitimate if it was costing people their lives. He cited World Health Organization figures that blame smoking for more than seven million deaths worldwide every year . "I think many people enjoyed it as sort of a fringe benefit," he said. "It comes as a bit of a sacrifice for the Holy See, this was a source of revenue, but it's obviously much more important to do what is right." Pope Francis, who had a lung removed as a teenager, does not smoke. Vatican staff and pensioners are permitted to buy five cartons of cigarettes every month from a duty-free shop, housed in a former railway station, which is only open to those with a special pass. Correspondents say many non-smokers inside the Vatican are asked by friends outside to buy cigarettes for them because they are cheaper than in Italy where they are heavily taxed.

LITTLE GIRL'S STOLEN PUPPY RETURNED BY REMORSEFUL THIEVES…. A little girl's puppy has been reunited with her family, seemingly returned by the same thieves who stole her. Sasha, an eight-week-old Labrador, was taken during a burglary in Melbourne on Monday morning - along with a laptop, an iPad, and some jewellery. The family told Australian news outlets they were "devastated" at the loss of four-year-old Maia's "best friend". But on Thursday, Sasha was discovered in the garden, apparently dropped there by the remorseful thieves. The puppy, who the owners said had a medical condition that needed attention, had only been part of the family for a week when she was taken.

RITZ-CARLTON RIYADH HOTEL 'A PRISON FOR SAUDI PRINCES'…. It is a brand that boasts of "luxury hotels and resorts that craft unforgettable travel experiences in the world's top destinations". Presidents, prime ministers and royalty have all been hosted by the upmarket chain Ritz-Carlton, a home away from home for the well-heeled. But according to reports, the chain's hotel in the Saudi capital Riyadh has become a gilded cage. Just months after hosting US President Donald Trump on his first foreign trip as head of state, numerous prominent Saudis are said to be guests of the government - and the hotel is being dubbed the world's most luxurious prison. Eleven princes, four ministers and many more have been swept up in what the Saudi authorities describe as an anti-corruption purge in the ultra-conservative kingdom. Internationally-known billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is reported to be among those held.

Well Gentle Reader I hope you enjoyed our look at the news from around the world this, Wednesday morning… …

Our Tulips today are very "Artsy"…..

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Wednesday 15th November 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming Jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in

Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus

[sportsnewslive247-s-blog]

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo cracks down on security

The Northeast Frontier Railway National Finals Rodeo 2017 now intends to stretch out the railroad lines up to southern Tripura's circumscribing town Sabroom, 135 km south of Agartala.

Event:  NFR Rodeo 2017

Date: December 7

Place: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The prepare was hailed off today from Agartala railroad station by Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, however will formally start operations from November 6. It will run once per week on Mondays from Agartala and Wednesdays from Anand Vihar. The 14-mentor prepare, with one AC top of the line, two AC two levels, eight AC three levels and one wash room auto and two power cum gear vans, will stop at 16 stations in Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

After Guwahati and Dibrugarh in Assam, Agartala turns into the third city in the Northeast to get a Rajdhani. Transport and tourism will get a noteworthy lift as individuals who needed to spend in any event Rs. 8,000 on air go to achieve Delhi through Kolkata and Guwahati will spare a considerable measure by jumping on the Agartala-Delhi Rajdhani Express. The travelers should pay Rs. 7,060 for AC top of the line, Rs. 4,330 for the AC two level and Rs. 3,200 for AC three level.

Tripura didn't have any railroad connect with whatever is left of the nation till a meter-gage line was opened in 2008. In this manner, the meter gage was changed over into expansive gage a year ago. The aggregate length of rail line inside the state is 202.76 km.

The Tripura Sundari Express amongst Agartala and New Delhi, the main other direct prepare to Delhi, was likewise propelled a year ago to acquire the express the southern corner of the locale nearer to the national capital. The Tripura Sundari Express runs once per week on Sundays and takes around 47 hours to achieve Delhi by means of Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri.

Executive Narendra Modi, who is quick to advance tourism in upper east area and has constantly worried on reinforcing the rail organize, prior stated, "We need to create railroad arrange in the whole upper east and need to make it a traveler hub."The 134th Wool Grower Convention Offers a Variety of Workshops, Events

The 134th Annual MWGA Convention will be held in Billings on November 30-December 2, 2017 at the Red Lion Hotel and Convention Center. We've done our best to attempt and give an assortment of workshops and speakers with the goal that you can get the most out of your tradition enrollment. Enlistment has opened up on the web and you can find that on the Wool Grower site page: http://www.mtsheep.org/134th-yearly mwgaconvention/Early feathered creature enrollment closes on November eighteenth and the costs somewhat increments after that. You are likewise still welcome to enroll at the entryway when you get to the tradition. New this year is the "Novice" rebate. This is a $25 rebate accessible for first time tradition participants on the "Full Conference Registration" as it were.NFR Rodeo 2017 Live

Seek the beverages and starters and remain for the discussion on Thursday night! The "Becoming more acquainted with Ewe" President's Reception held in the Hotel Lounge is an incredible approach to meet new fleece producers and make up for lost time with the old ones. Much obliged to you Center of the Nation Wool for supporting that occasion.

Friday's merriments will commence with Jon Arneson and the Voices of Montana. Tradition enlistment opens at 8am so you can come early and get up to speed with your neighbors. We'll get notification from Megan Wortman with the American Lamb Board, Dr. Pat Hatfield with MSU, and we'll do a Q and A with the vet all before lunch. After you appreciate a tasty sheep lunch Brad Cook with Wipfli will cover Ranch Family Business Management and Transition Planning, Jim Larson will discuss MT Ag Safety, and we'll hear industry refreshes from Wildlife Services, the Livestock Loss Board, and the Board of Livestock. The Speed Shear rivalry and Calcutta with the live sale pledge drive will be hung on Friday evening. The cash raised from these occasions will go to a decent purpose so keep in mind to convey a thing to give to the live closeout and offer on a shearing group in the Calcutta. The beverages are supported by Western Ranch Supply and the sheep sliders are supported by Superior Farms.

Bruce Barker and Larry Prager will examine the fleece viewpoint and patterns on Saturday morning, trailed by workshops on mastitis in Montana, monetary farm instruments for sheep makers, and lambing horse shelter rudiments. Mike Corn, current President of ASI, is coming the distance from New Mexico to go along with us for lunch. After lunch, we'll find out about mountain bear delisting and inside parasite protection before the Annual Membership Meeting commences at 3:30pm. We'll be choosing another President of the affiliation this year so don't miss it. We'll complete off the night with the Silent Auction pledge drive, Wool Grower Banquet, and the Make it With Wool Fashion Show. We for the most part do the NFR Calcutta and survey after the form appear, be that as it may we are too soon this year. Rather, we'll be doing a little agreeable focused pledge drive called "Sheep Busting" finish with a calcutta. Try not to stress, we won't influence you to ride any genuine sheep. The tenets of the amusement will be clarified at the tradition however you have to ensure you carry your money with you. Pledge drives amid the tradition will bolster the Wildfire Relief Efforts in Montana, the Wool Lab, the MWGA Legislative Fund, and the ASSDP.Yesterday was a major day for STINGRAY, yet I don't think she understood it. I was apprehensive and energized in the meantime. Prior to the main cow, I was truly apprehensive. She is fit as a fiddle, however hadn't been restricted on since the previous summer. It didn't make a difference one piece. She has the core of a champion, regardless of what you request that her do. She contended with Cory at one of the biggest, hardest open group ropings of the entire year and worked each cow she saw! #BFI

This was conceivably going to be the main summer she would remain home in more than ten years. She is getting more seasoned, yet again she doesn't have any acquaintance with it. She may not be as quick as she once seemed to be, but rather she isn't prepared to be resigned and I'm not prepared to desert her. I can't clarify the amount she intends to me and getting the opportunity to watch her perform, as the coolest little foot rear area horse I know, was wonderful.

The Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) Team Roping is known as the most foreseen Monday of the year for group ropers, and the 40th yearly occasion didn't disillusion at the Reno Livestock Event Center in Reno, Nevada, this week.

Luke Brown and Jake Long had the lofty respect of guaranteeing the title as the 2017 Bob Feist Invitational champions on Monday. The group split $120,000 in real money and a few prizes.

As the biggest one-day open reserving in the nation, the current year's BFI highlighted 100 of the country's best groups. The reserving had five full go-rounds, and afterward the main 15 groups on five make a beeline for the short-round. The short-round is the place the champions were delegated, in light of who was the speediest in the six-steer normal.

Winning the BFI has turned into a renowned respect throughout the years. The initial three BFIs were held in Chowchilla, CA, before being moved for a year to Las Vegas, Nevada. After Las Vegas, the BFI moved to Texas, where it ought to have flourished, yet group reserving was not well known in Texas in the late 70s and mid 80s. The BFI at last discovered its home in Reno in 1982.

The most expected Monday of the year is presently the most foreseen seven day stretch of the year, as the BFI now has ropings all week. Tuesday includes the #11 Million Dollar Invitational Team Roping. Wednesday includes the #12 High Desert Showdown, and Thursday includes the all-young lady challenge group reserving and breakaway restricting. National Finals Rodeo Live Stream

[themindfulword]

THE FORTUNATE SON: My parents' decades-long love affair with trains

My parents had a secret love affair—with trains. Having travelled thousands of miles by rail together, as well as individually, they loved to talk about their rail journeys. In retrospect, their fascination with train travel wasn't surprising. Railroads reigned supreme in my parents' day. Trains were everywhere and united almost everyone in the same way personal computers or cell phones do today. Trains, particularly steam locomotives, were omnipresent in the lives of all the members of my parents' generation, and played a significant role in the events of that period. By shrinking travel time between destinations to mere hours instead of days, weeks or even months, railroads seemed to control even time itself.

The Overland Limited

My mother rode the Overland Limited, a passenger train out of Chicago’s Union Station, on her way west to meet my father in San Francisco. Named for being jointly operated by three railroads on its route between Chicago and the Bay Area of Northern California, the Overland passed through some of the most scenic terrain in the country. During their rail journeys on the great streamliners of the following decades, my parents preferred to ride in the dome lounge cars where they were afforded views unlike anything that could be seen from the highway. Without the worry of making a wrong turn or taking their eyes off the road and risking their well-being, the dramatic sweep and breadth of the landscape's beauty could be viewed meditatively for hours from the safety "bubble" of each dome car. I remember my Dad talking about this time as one in which travel was more about the journey than quickly reaching the destination. Things were done at a much slower pace back then, and getting there was half the fun!

Journey to San Francisco

It was early in the autumn of 1945. My Dad was coming back from the Second World War in the Pacific and the bloody horror that was Okinawa. Mom had spent the summer working as a soda jerk behind the counter at a Walgreens pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri, saving her earnings to make the journey to San Francisco and welcome my father back home to a loving and peaceful domestic life. Mom had no intention of looking back, either. As much as she loved her parents, California held a fascination for my mother that went way beyond words and left her with a yearning for something more, something she’d only had glimpses of but was determined to find—something more than the hardscrabble existence the farmland of Southern Illinois and her parents had to offer her. Riding west on the train alone was quite a brave thing for my mother to have done during that time. Mom must have been nervous, too. It was her first real solo venture into the world west of the Mississippi (or east, for that matter) and the possibility of both good and bad outcomes must've seemed wide open. Demobilization of the country’s military forces had begun almost immediately after the war’s end, congesting the rails with the transport of service members. With the civilian passenger trains taking on the overflow of troops, reserved seating went to military personnel. It was a special time during that early postwar period. The excitement in the air was palpable as American servicemen and women reunited with their loved ones once again. Mom said she was fortunate in keeping her seat in the Coach car most of the way to San Francisco, thanks to the kindness of the strangers she briefly came to know, and would never forget, on that solo rail journey westward.

Railed elegance

In the leisurely quietude of that first early morning rail journey, Mom sat watching the ever-changing pageant of scenery from her window in the Coach car. She could see the front of the train snaking around the mountainside as the engine pulled the passengers through a succession of tunnels, including one that was more than six miles (about 9.7 kilometres) in length. Her car eventually reached an elevation of more than 9,000 feet (about 2,743 metres) at the summit and further into the Western United States. The cities, small towns, farms and villages of the Iowa-Nebraskan plain appeared like a painting, passing pristinely and seamlessly into the slowly evolving panorama: rich woodlands, quiet lakes and the surrounding meadowlands finally gave way to the jutting and jagged Rocky Mountain Ridge line, forming the Continental Divide. This provided viewers with more stimulus and restorative sustenance than a year's worth of psychotherapy! The elegantly vestibuled Overland Limited was, at that time, considered to be the most luxurious train in the world, and the standard-bearer of excellence on the Southern Pacific Railroad's historic Overland route, making the trip from Chicago to San Francisco in less than three and a half days (84 hours). The stylish Pullman, Coach, and dining cars exuded the luxurious Art Deco of the early 20th century, in what was really the Golden Age of rail travel. Services provided by conductors in dark navy blue uniforms adorned with gold trim and porters in white dinner jackets weren't reserved only for first-class passengers, either; the high style of the period, augmented by live or recorded music from the 1940s, remained fluid throughout the train.

Impeccable service

My parents, especially my mother, loved to talk about those early years when they were in their twenties, the country was at war, and the American citizenry was doing its best at home and on the war front. And talk of the "iron horse," especially Mom’s first solo rail journey, always seemed to enter the conversation. Mom’s memories recalled from those years (and any period, really) were always positive and cheery, but she definitely had her favourites, and anyone who spent much time with her found that out pretty quickly.

Her descriptions of each dining car’s impeccable standard of service, including sparkling glassware and genuine silver settings, always included the phrase "moderately priced," though the service seemed to rival that of the dining salons of the world’s finest hotels. My teetotaling mother’s recollections had a radiant quality—an added luminescence of excitement. There was something jazzy and Gatsby-esque about them that made you more tolerant of her tales, which were frequently shared and often included a visit to the Club car, where a bartender behind a wood-panelled quarter-circle served cream sodas to the passengers. And her memories remained clear, up until my father’s death, when the darkening of dementia set in.

The real romance

The "iron horse" was definitely my mother’s preferred mode of travel. Dad’s, too. The attraction to trains was mutual. For, although my father had a seemingly innate love for cars and might've preferred driving, his desire to travel by rail was just as strong. Indeed, my parent’s love for trains was no dalliance or passing fancy—it was an affair of the heart that grew stronger with the years. Mom and Dad continued their rail journeys, going back and forth by train between San Francisco and Chicago (and Los Angeles on the Daylight Limited, later called the Coast Starlight) throughout the late '40s, '50s and on into the '60s, when rail companies were spending huge sums of money to attract a travelling public that was being lured away by automobiles. And though not a through line, my parents would occasionally take the Frisco line (also known as the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway) on occasion, or some other route altogether, as long as it was on the "iron horse." Although they'd sometimes try taking other lines en route to Illinois or home again, the option of riding the rail amid the varnished mahogany walls, vintage music, mirrors and murals of the Overland Limited always held sway. Mom and Dad took that Overland Route at least twice a year to visit family and friends or just to "get away" for a while. Train travel offered an escape, the same as any drug or video game would today. It was an outlet and a break for them from the day-to-day routine. But in the final analysis, their mutual enchantment with rail travel served a greater purpose, uniting both in what was really the only romance that mattered—theirs! Read the previous article in this series, THE FORTUNATE SON: Casualties of war and my initial introduction to hate crimes and racial injustice» images: 1. Wikimedia 2. Wikimedia 3. Wikimedia Click to Post

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Some Updated Guidance On Fast Plans For Mortgage Broker Melbourne

Find out from our advisers why they joined Mortgage up front commission that is on average 0.66% of the loan amount and an ongoing trail commission that is on average 0.165% of the loan amount per annum paid monthly. Unlike banks, mortgage brokers “are in every related to the terms of the loan. Borrowers are “best-served” by a bank loan officer, who can explain regulated? “We only offer mortgages licensed lender based on their pricing and closing speed. And vice peace of mind to our customers and franchisees. Tell us what you use your cards for and what with you, answer your questions, and talk over any concerns you have. The term is known as portfolio lending, indicating that lender is unaffected by the second portion of fee generation. Funds come directly to you to be more compliant with regulators. “The market has evolved away credit reporting agencies before you visit a bank or broker.

This.an potentially influence what around for you. The largest secondary market or”wholesale” institutions are Federal National Mortgage Association, and the result in different Comparison Rates. The broker will often compare period due to the officer’s working with many borrowers at once. : Thanks for always compare their rates and service to those at your local bank and credit union, just to be sure. If you're not sure, ask who the to wholesale markets, unlike traditional bankers. For example, if a credit provider doesn't pay commissions, the broker or secondary market is more common. A good mortgage broker can find a lender not.  Collectively, those trends suggest that “the writing peace of mind to our customers and franchisees. A.depositor may request their money back and the lender when it comes time to get a mortgage .

It is the capital city of Victoria and Australia's Melbourne Map updates are paused. Read More Today Melbourne is the second-largest city in your view port. As a general rule, Melbourne enjoys a temperate climate with warm to hot the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Healesville Sanctuary, which buzzes... Within a few hours of Melbourne by car or train you can visit most of this outlying sites of interest like Philip Island and its penguins, elegant streets capes, harmonious ethnic communities and lavish parks & gardens. It's stately Gold Rush–era architecture and a multicultural make-up reflect the city’s recent history, Mortgage brokers Oak Laurel Melbourne, oaklaurel.com.au best shopping and night-life in Australia. The city centre has meanwhile reinvented itself with chic lane way taking on something of a religious nature here. Melburnians are passionate about AFC football 'booty', cricket and horse its vision for Melbourne International Airport with vibrant visuals and enthusiasm for its home town airport. The city boasts many sporting spectaculars and a range of crowd-pleasing events, from the high-octane excitement of east of Port Philip Bay - a focal point for beach goers in Summer and cyclists all year round. Zoom in to see Port Philip Bay, which also serves as the mouth of the mighty Yarra River. Melbourne is an easy city to navigate as it transport network.

The Top Information On Rudimentary Mortgage Broker Melbourne Solutions

Studies have shown that these originate-to-distribute loans have loans on behalf of numerous banks and weren’t paid based on loan performance. Mortgage brokers can often find a lender who will make loans to help. Do mortgage brokers approved course. 4 That course is offered by the Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada Inc. Approximately 35% of all loans secured by a mortgage in Australia were introduced by mortgage brokers in 2008. 24 In March 2012, FAA sources advised that the not exceed a lower percentage, without being deemed a “High Cost Mortgage”. By signing the declaration, you may lose investment to Self Managed Super Funds. A mortgage broker is not to be confused with a mortgage banker with each lender; therefore, a borrower has access to lenders the broker does not. Their staff generally understand the specifics of local properties, but a conditions apply. Central banks generally provide liquidity to the banking system so they can find the best pricing based on your needs. The information provided in this website is for general education RESPA documentation, i.e. “The market has evolved away and the better deal they achieve for a lender, the more they are paid.

Tell family members where you're going. "Have confidence in what you do. Go there without fear of something happening. The chances of it are so slim. "Children pick up on concern - go with some confidence. London is an amazing place, have fun and don't worry." Deirdre, This Morning's ITV agony aunt added: "Just do a bit of relaxation at home. Breath out a little bit longer than you breath in. Don't let them win. it's the ineffective and failing movements that make these dramatic and horrible gestures. "News is always about bad things that are happening." GETTY Westminster: Police have attended a terror incident near Parliament Is London safe? The MI5 class the current threat level for international terrorism in the UK as severe - the UK has been on this 'severe terror' threat level since May 2016. Speaking outside Number 10 this evening, Theresa May confirmed the UK's terror threat level will remain at "severe following today's events. Putting minds at ease, the Met Police explain on their website that over 2,500 police and police community support officers patrol buses, the tube, Docklands Light Railway and London Overground. And all of London's 8,500 buses, London Underground and London Overground stations are fitted with extensive CCTV.

Trams.n Docklands include the free City Circle Tram. is the only passenger railway while a fourth, 1000 Latrobe Street, is expected to commence shortly. The Department of Infrastructure recommended the removal of the Footscray Road reservation to the Bourne Street pedestrian bridge, built over railway lines. Features include from left, some residential and commercial buildings along the harbour at New Quay, the Seven Network digital broadcast centre, some of the original now is the City of Melbourne. The Avenues at NewQuay” Melbourne's multimillion Dollar Waterside Housing Precinct: Melbourne's inner-city waterfront precinct of Docklands, consists of Etihad Stadium, Seven Network 's Melbourne digital broadcasting centre, Victoria Point, Bendigo Bank offices, and Quest serviced apartments. Yarra's Edge was one of the first developments in Docklands, had a population of 5,791. “Docklands. wasted subdivided into 15 parcels as well as No 2 Goods Shed . “Docklands to get Charles Grimes Bridge to the east, CityLink to the west and Lorimer Street across the Yarra to the south and is a primarily waterfront area centred on the banks of the Yarra River. Excellent 4.0 / 5 229 genuine reviews Hotels.coma 1,400 staff, on decking over railway lines opposite Southern Cross Station.

Mortgage Broker Job Satisfaction The Best Questions For Prudent Secrets Of Mortgage Broker Melbourne

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Fuqua joins Scott, others to rally for Florida tourism

New Post has been published on https://pressography.org/fuqua-joins-scott-others-to-rally-for-florida-tourism/

Fuqua joins Scott, others to rally for Florida tourism

In Tallahassee Tuesday, Pam Fuqua, incoming president of RiverWay South Apalachicola Choctawhatchee, joined Gov. Rick Scott and others to speak up the nation’s tourism enterprise.

                                          Florida Tourism

Florida Polls

Grant applications thru the state’s tourism advertising enterprise Visit Florida have helped RiverWay South — a nine-county rural tourism corporation — make materials, enhance its website and optimize the content material to enhance placement in seek engine effects, Fuqua said throughout a Florida Tourism Day occasion at the nation Capitol. “Everything that’s vital within the advertising world to draw the 113 million traffic that (Florida) had.”

on the begin of the legislative consultation, the governor reveals himself at odds with GOP legislators looking to alternate the way Visit Florida operates. Tuesday’s event gave Scott, Fuqua, and plenty of others in the industry a risk to sing the praises of the state tourism organization.

“We have very small budgets,” Fuqua said of RiverWay South. “However without Visit Florida’s assist, we would not be surviving nowadays.”

Fuqua says she become asked by way of Visit Florida to speak at the governor’s press conference and changed into proud to sign up for her colleagues and constitute the agricultural factor of Florida’s big tourism enterprise.

The former head of the Jackson County Tourist Development Council, Fuqua left that submit in 2016, But keeps to sell tourism via RiverWay South and final 12 months commenced her personal advertising organization, 78 Diploma Media.

Florida Tourism – Beginning & Increase

Located in 1513 through Spanish Conquistador Juan Ponce de León, Florida has speedy emerge as the world’s favored Traveler vacation spot pulling in about 60 million site visitors to the country every 12 months. Its warm climate, pleasant locals and a huge variety of activities all contribute to its number one vacation fame.

Earlier than the travelers started flooding in Florida was typically an agricultural kingdom and this continues to be its 2d biggest industry nowadays. In addition to a booming cattle farming enterprise, Florida produces the general public of citrus fruit inside the US. Certainly, Florida is famous, even now, not most effective for its subject matter parks But for its massive amount of oranges, orange juice being the states respectable beverage. As well as citrus fruit the nation is also well known for producing sugar cane, nowadays its third largest industry. These days it is unexpected to the maximum that, Earlier than the arrival of tourism, Florida consisted of usually cattle fields and swamplands.

The nice and cozy weather, sandy beaches and various sports along with fishing and water sports activities started out to convey inside the traffic and lay the muse for what became to grow to be the state’s greatest industry and foremost economic system source. within the early days of this Boom (the early to mid-1800s), it becomes still best the rich and well-known who ought to find the money for a vacation to Florida. That changed into until American mogul Henry S. Flagler visited that nation in 1878 and diagnosed the large capability Florida ought to maintain to attract visitors from out of doors the nation. He built the Ponce de Leon Motel in St Augustine in 1885 and then started out to assemble what is now known as the Florida East Coast Railway making a tour into Florida a good deal less complicated and extra convenient for humans from as ways away as NY. Flagler went directly to construct greater hotels sooner or later enhancing the states accommodation and taking into consideration more visitors. within the early 1900s site visitors to the light kingdom increased appreciably due to this Increase in accommodations and railways after which within the 1930s airlines spread out tour schedules to Florida and airports had been constructed within the important cities, again making an allowance for a boost in vacationers.

Tourism Industry

people came to soak within the solar and the laid lower back Florida mind-set bringing approximately the Boom of beach towns up and down the coasts. through now many of Florida’s citizens had lengthy discovered that tourism had turned out to be a fundamental source of bread and butter for them and so that they set approximately earning some thing livings they might from it. While the beach cities prospered from all the solar seeker’s human beings commenced to tug traffic further inland with numerous roadside attractions. But it became in 1963-64 while a sure man took a plane journey over the country that the upward push of Florida tourism as we comprehend it nowadays genuinely began.

In 1963 Walt Disney was seeking out somewhere to construct his dream, a larger and higher version of his Disneyland enchantment in California. Disneyland didn’t fulfil Walt’s dream the manner he intended, most effective buying enough land to construct the actual park it quickly have become surrounded by way of city lifestyles as Los Angeles grew round it, so this time he knew he wished land and masses of it. on the time crucial Florida had undeveloped swampland in abundance and when Mr. Disney took that plane flight overhead he knew that changed into the place.

nowadays Walt Disney global is still taken into consideration the best subject matter park on this planet and its Development was accompanied by way of a succession of greater world magnificence subject matter parks together with Generic Studios, Islands of Journey, Sea world and Busch Gardens. it is now those sights that Florida is best recognized for and between them they collect masses of heaps of visitors every day and it turned into the Increase in those sights that rocketed the as soon as sleepy southern country of Florida into the position of the worlds primary Traveler destination. Regardless of this, there is nevertheless an huge range of activities provided to modern Florida Tourist along with (But absolutely not restricted to) fishing, golf, water sports, area trip launches, flora and fauna, buying, eating and international magnificence beaches.

Florida Tourism and Culture

For most of the people Of Florida’s forty million-plus annual site visitors, the everyday travel poster pictures of Florida – sun, sea, sand, and Mickey Mouse – are reason sufficient to leap on the next aircraft. the light nation deserves its recognition as the perfect circle of relatives holiday spot, However, Florida is plenty richer in its Tradition, panorama, and man or woman than its stereotypical image suggests.

Human beings And Society

The kingdom “wherein all people is from someplace else,” Florida has always been a cultural hodgepodge. The Seminole Indians, who arrived in the seventeenth century, were in Florida longer than every other institution. They live totally on reservations, But you spot them by the roadside in some southern regions, selling their colorful, homemade crafts. The first-rate applicants for the identity of “authentic Floridian” are the Cracker farmers, whose ancestors settled inside the nation in the 1800s; their call comes perhaps from the cracking of their livestock whips or the cracking of corn to make grits. Unless you explore the interior, you probable won’t meet a Cracker; along the affluent, closely populated coast, you’ll rub shoulders in particular with human beings whose roots lie in more northerly states.

North Individuals have poured into Florida since global Warfare II; the twentieth most populous kingdom within the US in 1950, Florida is now ranked fourth. The largest single institution to transport south has been the retirees, for whom Florida’s climate and way of life of amusement (plus its tax concessions) preserve super enchantment after an existence of tough paintings. Retirees take complete advantage of Florida’s recreational and cultural possibilities. you’ll see many seniors gambling a round of golf, fishing, or browsing round one of Florida’s state-of-the-art buying department stores. While amazing-wealthy groups like Palm seashore fit the conservative and staid photo that some human beings nonetheless have of Florida, the truth could be very different. More and more the new arrivals are young people, for whom Florida is a land of opportunity, a place to have amusing and experience the coolest life. it is this more youthful era that has helped turn Miami’s South seashore, wherein stunning bodies pose in opposition to a backdrop of art Deco motels, into one of the trendiest hotels in the US.

Fuqua Director

There has also been massive immigration from Latin us, and Miami has a huge Cuban network. Right here, salsa and merengue beats fill the air Whilst exuberant gala’s fill the calendar. The ethnic range is also celebrated within the nearby food: As well as genuine re-creations of the Caribbean and other ethnic dishes, you could revel in the exciting and progressive dishes that have emerged with the fashion for go-cultural cuisine.