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Nov 15, 2024 14:40:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 13:45:32 GMT -5
[December 26-Coninuing from Final Preparations-Open to Lady, Tramp, Casey, and Merlin for the start. Then we'll open it to all AVs wishing to participate.]
Now that they had arrived at the very edge of the Outlands, Tramp's light-hearted levity had faded, his features locked in a determined expression he'd worn twice before. Once when he'd snuck inside a strange house after a rat, the other when he'd raced beneath a firework-filled sky to rescue his son from the city pound. As Casey maneuvered to hook up to the Autorack, the grey mongrel's gaze was fixed on the Outlands. Even if all of Scar's followers had been standing ready before them to bar their way, Tramp wouldn't have been deterred.
While he had been lying on his side, or occasionally his back, during the journey out here on Lady's suggestion, now he was standing in the back of the Baldwin's cab, too high-strung to relax any more. He glanced at Merlin, who had dismounted the cab, then back towards the horizon. There had been no signs of anyone watching them as they skirted the edge of the Outlands, and Tramp suspected much of that had to do with Casey's passage being more or less routine to the Outlanders.
Even though he knew they would be moving far faster than he could ever hope to manage on foot, he was still itching to get moving, and cursing the bullet that had grazed his leg. And the man who had fired the gun. This would have been enough dangerous enough if he'd been fully fit.
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Jan 29, 2020 7:30:11 GMT -5
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Post by Lady on Aug 4, 2014 14:01:54 GMT -5
Lady sat ridged in the engineer's seat. Chocolaty brown eyes glued to her own reflection in the glass of the cab window. The sight of her furry face was slightly skewed thanks to a crack that spiderwebed out from an obvious bullet hole. Outside she saw the locomotive slowly approaching the railcar. She closed her eyes and sighed. Bowing her head slightly. This was it. The final push, they could not fail. For it did not take a genus to realize that upon returning to the Pridelands a less then lukewarm greeting awaited.
The spaniel opened her eyes, and turned her head. Looking over her shoulder at her former mate. While she sat in pensive contemplation, he seemed to be rather antsy.
Her mouth a thin frown set across her muzzle. She had not been this nervous in such a long time. There where only two other times in her life in which she could compare. Seeing that rat running along a rain gutter and being helpless to stop it, and riding in the Taxi, knowing that they may have been too late.
“Is your leg bothering you?” She asked, eyelashes batting.
Her gentle paws moving to pad her closer to the edge of the seat-box, her body turning to face him. Concern spread across her maw. She found that be focusing her mind on something small, the task that lay ahead did not seem so daunting. In this case, it was fretting of the Tramp's injuries.
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Feb 27, 2016 18:30:57 GMT -5
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Post by Casey Jr. on Aug 4, 2014 15:07:38 GMT -5
Casey had tip toed over the old rotten bridge that spanned the river. The river itself being the border, once on the other side, they where in Scar's territory. The Baldwin slowed down to a creep. Tossing a puff of white smoke into the air across his shoulder. The rails groaned under his weight. Having not seen a train in generations. The iron rail heads just poking out of the dust.
Parked just ahead of him, stood Casey's prey. A warren type Autorack. Typical of the circus. It's long flat bed and bridge like sides gleamed in the sunlight. The sides of the car where festooned with the faded paint of the WDP Circus. When he first saw the car, it brought back a flood of memories to the former circus engine. Once upon a time, his train had been full of these, loaded down with wagons, calliopes, and all the poles and fabric needed to erect a big top.
Like the paint on the side, these memories where nothing but a fading past.
Casey had left the car on this siding. Rather then drag it all the way to Priderock, and back again. Not too far beyond where the car sat, handbrakes applied, the two black ribbons of iron ended. Far off in the distance, one could just make out the barren landscape of the Outlands themselves.
Cocking his mouth to one side, he slowly rolled slide forward, his front coupling open like a welcoming hand. Engaging the coupling on the flat car with a solid “Clunk”. The pin dropping home. The steam locomotive held tight against the other railcar, the rack bouncing on it's spring slightly from the force of the coupling.
“Right deen. It lookins like we've got ah good hitch. I'm all reedy when yeh are. Jist need to disable the brakes on it, and whe sould be good ter go.”
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Nov 15, 2024 14:40:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 15:39:37 GMT -5
Once Casey had slowed to a stop to face himself around, Merlin had dismounted from the cab, and walked over to examine the rails where they ended, rubbing the bare ends of abandoned track. After a brief moment, he nodded in satisfaction, and stood straight again, tapping the rails with the end of his cane, and forming a link between himself and the rails. Once that was done, he simply stood and waited for Casey to hook himself up to the car.
He watched as the locomotive slowly rolled forward, facing the Outlands as he carefully inched forward to hitch himself to the waiting flatcar. Knowing a delicate procedure when he saw one, having performed many himself over the centuries, he remained silent, and still, only stepping forward when Casey spoke. He strode to the side of the flatcar, and examined its underworks. "Aha, so there it is," he muttered as he located the brake shaft.
He'd been informed the brakes on the car would have to be disabled, or they would activate once freed from Casey's grip. Simple enough. He ran his fingers across the smooth metal, concentrating, for a brief moment, then he stepped back, tugging a hunk of rotten wood, shaped vaguely like a brake shaft, free from the flatcar. Then he tossed it aside, brushed his hands, and recalled his cane to his hand with a simple gesture.
"There, no more brakes on this car," he said, nodding slightly in satisfaction. Then he walked around the waiting locomotive, and nimbly sprang aboard, stepping forward into the cab. Then he planted his cane on the footplate, and stood as rigid as a statue. "Now, since I won't be able to see, you two will have to make sure we're, uh, on the right heading," he said, looking between Lady and Tramp. "I might not answer, but I will definitely be able to hear you."
As he spoke, his body shifted its composition, and he solidified into a metal statue, planted firmly on Casey's running board. Now, there was little any of Scar's followers would be able to do to hurt him. If given the chance, they might be able to dislodge him, and perhaps bury him, but their teeth and claws would be useless against his skin, now. The only downside was he would be entirely immobile.
"Right, off we go," he said, his seemingly disembodied voice almost echoing inside the cab.
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Feb 27, 2016 18:30:57 GMT -5
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Post by Casey Jr. on Aug 4, 2014 18:36:59 GMT -5
Casey felt the circus autorack shudder, as it's brakes dropped into the “released” position. The car bounced slightly off his front coupling. The handbrake wheel spinning limply.
The Baldwin gave a nod as Merlin tossed aside the rotten wooden form of the brake cylinder, before regaining his cane.
“Aye, that seems ter have dune it!”
He grit his teeth and gave a good little shove against the car. Testing how it would feel having the rail car loosely attached in front of him. Thankfully, he had a clear vision down the wooden deck, even if he could not see the rails ahead of him. Despite the lack of brakes, the little locomotive felt he would have no problem controlling the car. He was heavier then it, and his own brakes would be sufficient enough to stop them and hold the rack should it come to that. Ahead, he could see exactly where the twin ribbons of rail came to a stop. End of track.
Once Merlin had climbed back inside the cab, and fastened himself to Casey's footplate, declaring himself ready to preform the spell that would give the locomotive wings so to speak, the steamer took a deep breath, and slowly rolled forward. Pushing the rack ahead of him. The railcar bounced one more, caught int the grasp of his front coupling. A “Huff” of exhaust was tossed out his diamond shaped stack as he gingerly stepped forward. He knew that somewhere ahead of him, the track ended...
It was so unnatural. As he moved forward, he fought the basic instinct of all locomotives, to stay firmly on the rails. Casey crept at a nauseatingly slow pace, as it dipping his toe into cold water. One wheel revaluation at a time. The ends of the rails slowly approaching.
“I hope ye knew whit yah doin'” The locomotive rasped. Feeling the rails sag slightly ahead of him. He could no longer see the end of track. For it had vanished out of his field of view under the overhang of the preceding railcar.
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Nov 15, 2024 14:40:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 19:39:55 GMT -5
Tramp watched as Casey hitched himself up to the flatcar, then glanced down at Lady as she spoke, her concern spread across her face plain as day. While it might be too early to tell for certain, he was cautiously optimistic about his and Lady's future together. Ever since he'd found her alive, she hadn't snapped at him, or been angry with him, even after the full return of her memories. She had come a long way form the bitter dog who had left a few scars on the side of his neck.
Of course, she had hardly had any time to process her memories before she'd learned about Dani.
"Somewhat. Any other situation, I wouldn't be worried about it. But now..." he said, trailing off into silence. Out on the streets, an injury like this one could mean the difference between life and death. And the Outlands were going to be altogether more dangerous. If they failed because his injured leg failed him...well, it didn't bear thinking about. He glanced back as Merlin once more entered the cab. He'd been so lost in thought he'd missed whatever the man had done to disable the brakes on the flatcar.
He looked back out the window as the wizard changed, skin glinting with a metallic sheen. He could deal with bullets, dangerous beasts, and the life or death dance of a fight, but magic was something he was growing less and less fond of. He didn't hate it, yet, but he sure didn't like it. But there was no escaping it for now. As he watched the track dwindle away as Casey inched forward, it abruptly extended, apparently stretching forward to end several feet in front of the flatcar, gleaming brightly under the morning sun.
Far enough ahead for them to see which way they were going. As near as he could tell, the length of track ahead of them was about as long as the flatcar itself. Between himself and Lady, they should be able to direct Merlin's aim as needed. "Looks like we're all set now, Pidge. Don't worry, I'll be alright until we get back," he said, grinning a bit in encouragement as he glanced back at the spaniel.
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Jan 29, 2020 7:30:11 GMT -5
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Post by Lady on Aug 4, 2014 21:24:34 GMT -5
Lady stepped down from the seat box, careful not to touch the now iron man standing in the center of the cab. Unsure of exactly how his magic worked, she felt it best to let him do what worked best for him, and not interfere. She padded up to the gray mutt, as he trailed off. She had spent two days on the streets, and had gained an idea for what life was like for him. One had to be strong to survive.
Lady felt the locomotive inch forward slowly, testing out the rails. She turned to face the gangway, craning her neck to see between the cab and the tender. Where they where going, survival would be key. The cocker suddenly felt very small. Tramp had his street skills, Merlin has his magic, and Casey...he was made of iron. Lady was just a humble house pet. She had teeth, and claws, but outside of the one time she stood between her pups and a gang of Junkyard dogs ruining their picnic, she had never before had to use them.
But he daughter was out there, and for one of her pups, Lady would take on anything.
She turned to face the Tramp, taking solace in his encouraging grin. Her stubby tail raised in a stand of assurance. She wasn't sure where they stood on a future relationship. Between learning of Reba's fate, and Dani's impending doom, she had yet to even think about such things as a possible future with the Tramp. But for now...they where together. She placed a delicate paw atop his. A sign of her loyalty, and companionship.
“I see a bit of the “Old Tramp.” before me. Pushing himself though the pain,” The ends of her mouth turned up in a smile, comforting and encouraging in itself. Suddenly remembering him limping after the fight with the rat, all the while pretending not to care. “After this, promise me you will rest that leg.”
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Nov 15, 2024 14:40:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 14:39:45 GMT -5
As the locomotive started rolling forward, Merlin's magic flowed downwards, through the Baldwin's wheels, and to the tracks. Deep in concentration, the wizard conjured two lengths of pure steel track extending from the previous ends, extending in straight lines some length beyond the end of the flatcar, growing at the same speed the locomotive was moving. He made certain to extend them far enough so Casey would be able to see them clearly.
The spell was set. No matter how fast the locomotive might race down the rails, their gleaming length would always end the exact same distance away from the front of the flatcar, and the exact same distance behind the Baldwin's back end, once they had passed far enough away from the real end of the tracks. Now, he just had to focus on holding the spell until they had gotten everyone they needed out of the pit, and on board.
"Of course I know! Now let's get moving. The longer I have to hold onto this spell, the greater the chances of something going wrong," he stated, pitching his disembodied voice to speak as if he was right beside the locomotive's headlamps. He was chiefly concerned with taxing himself to the point where the rail spell failed. If that happened, he'd have barely enough energy to get them all back to the camp. If Casey got bogged down in the ground, that would be the end of their mission.
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Feb 27, 2016 18:30:57 GMT -5
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Post by Casey Jr. on Aug 5, 2014 15:23:07 GMT -5
The locomotive grunted, hearing the magician's voice echo next to his headlamp.
“Aye, keep yeh skirt on! I'm not used to dis yet. Give me a momunt.”
Casey Jr carefully stepped forward. Testing the magical rails. Each wheel revaluation taking him off the rails, and putting them onto the corporeal irons. It felt so weird, so against basic nature. Each huff of his exhaust...slowly picking up in tempo. Looking over his shoulder Casey could see the track end...now behind him.
The new rails felt solid...in fact they felt more solid then any he had ever been on in the past. No flex of wooden ties, no uneven surfaces...not even a joint bar for him to clack over. He bit his lower lip, watching the bare earth and grass rolling beside him. Every so often a plant would whip under the train and tickle his undercarriage. He put down a small layer of sand, just to test the feel of his wheels against the rails.
Slowly, the locomotive picked up some speed. A thicker plume of smoke began to appear above his stack. Looking over his shoulder again he found he could no longer see where the tracks had ended. His rods clanked, and his exhaust began to bark. The ground started to become a bit barren. The thick grasses giving way to scrubby brush sliding past him. He could feel the very terrain under his wheels, unlike the relative flat and level railroad right of way, Casey felt himself lean to one side on the hill, his springs and equalizing levers working to even out any rough spots on the ground. However, the landscape only became flatter, with slow rolling hills...a mist seemed to cloud the horizon.
It felt so weird. All his life, Casey Jr had a set of iron ribbon in his field of vision. Never changing...but now. He could see land as far as his eyes could visualize. Aside from the rails that held him to his path...not one scrap of iron in sight.
It was both exhilarating, and terrifying.
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Nov 15, 2024 14:40:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 15:38:38 GMT -5
Tramp's grin turned into a genuine smile as Lady placed her paw atop his, as she had so many times before. And, just like all those times before, he felt his spirits rising, and once more he was glad he'd took a fateful walk through 'Snob Hill' one summer day, past a certain backyard. But as she mentioned the 'Old' Tramp, his face briefly grew taught with grief and sorrow, but he quickly forced it away.
The 'Old' Tramp was the reason everything had gone so, so wrong. But, despite it all, here they were, and he let himself take comfort in her smile, and draw strength from her encouragement. As she spoke, the corner of his muzzle curled up into a rather roguish grin. But he simply nodded. He wouldn't have a moment's rest if he refused. "I promise I won't move around on it any more than I absolutely have to," he said, grinning fondly down at Lady.
He only hoped he could keep that promise. Whatever they might face when they got back, it wasn't going to be pleasant. Not a bit. He was starting to wonder if perhaps he would have to get himself in even more trouble with Shang, for Dani's sake. The General had mentioned treating her like a prisoner of war. As if Tramp could simply stand by and do nothing while his youngest daughter languished in some new prison.
But first, they had to keep focused on the task at hand. He glanced back out the window as Casey began to pick up speed, testing the conjured rails, slowly and carefully. Now they were well and truly on their way.
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Jan 29, 2020 7:30:11 GMT -5
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Post by Lady on Aug 5, 2014 19:20:55 GMT -5
The cocker gave a kind nod of her head. In a way, it was like confirming wordlessly that they both knew they would be coming back.
Lady's ears perked as she realized the train was picking up speed. Padding over to the very edge of the gangway, she poked her head out. Sure enough, Casey was starting to gain ground. As the slipstream caught her, the fur on her muzzle bristled in the wake, her long ears being caught and fluttering behind her like two mahogany banners. She balanced herself against the rocking locomotive cab. The barren ground raced by just beneath her feet. Casey was defiantly generating speed.
Looking back into the train. Lady suddenly wondered if this was the same land her other two daughters had crossed in their attempt to bring a truce to the waring factions. Where they had come with a banner of piece, their parents where now storming over in a rage. How would Annette and Collette managed knowing their sister's life was in danger? Lady had specifiably kept the knowledge from them in fear that they would try and find a way to ride with them. Having one pup on the line was bad enough.
Returning her gaze to the passing landscape, her brown eyes could just pick something out in the distance, through the fog. Her eyes squinted as she picked up the shadowy silhouettes of...bones?
“Tramp....come look!” A forepaw was raised, pointing in the general direction. “I think it's the Elephant Graveyard! The Outlander encampment should be on the other side.”
She suddenly remembered a mission long ago, accompanying Angel and Mooch on some far flung trip into the very same land. Back then it was dangerous to go by foot...today, it would have been deadly. Her forepaw lowered back to the footplate, the cocker still leaning out into the slipstream, eyes planted on the shadowy silhouettes of rib cages and spines.
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Nov 15, 2024 14:40:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 23:25:48 GMT -5
As Lady walked to the side of the gangway, Tramp once more leaned out of the window, letting the rushing air wash over him, and ruffle his already tousled fur. Despite the grim look in his eyes, a small grin crossed his face. Between the blood pumping in his ears, and the exhilarating way the wind in his face made him feel, he couldn't help but enjoy the adrenaline rush that was flowing over him.
He glanced back at the sound of Lady's voice, and slipped back inside the cab before padding over to stand beside her, taking care not to jostle the shorter dog as he gazed out at the massive collection of elephant bones.
"And here I thought the junkyard was ugly," he said, looking over the scattered skulls and assorted bones. Adding to the scene were the mists that hung over the whole area, casting it into a hazy shadow. It looked like it would be a nightmare to try to find a path through. "Well, if they don't know we're coming yet, then it won't be long. We'd best keep our eyes peeled for that pit. We'll have to make it count," he said, scanning the scattered bones for any signs of life.
He didn't see anything, and he wondered if Scar's followers were as disorganized as the Heroes Army was. Something the size of the Elephant Graveyard, which could hide an approach much like it was doing now, shouldn't have been left without someone watching its far side. But he was thankful for the oversight. "We're coming, Dani," he said, almost whispering.
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Jan 29, 2020 7:30:11 GMT -5
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Post by Lady on Aug 6, 2014 7:42:16 GMT -5
The golden furred spaniel continued to hold her head out the gangway. Her body bobbing slightly as she balanced herself against the rolling motion of the train. Merlin may have created a smooth set of rails, but the locomotive still rolled like a small boat in a storm. A few rolls sharp enough to clang the bell clapper. As the graveyard appeared out of the mists, the spaniel breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed they where not going to be entering the tomb itself. While Lady was prepared for it, she was nonetheless thankful that she did not have to relive those memories.
Lady looked up at the gray furred mongrel, careful that she didn't wrap one of her cocker spaniel ears around his leg as they continued to flutter about her head.
“I remember that place. A long time ago, before you came out here. Before...” her voice trailed off. Not wishing to bring up how their relationship floundered. She wasn't ready...not now. “Well, Angel and Mooch wanted to make this rescue attempt of their own. It was a very different time. We walked more or less freely into this place.”
She paused, reflecting back on that adventure. She had jarringly tripped and fell head over tail down a hill inside the graveyard. It was comedic almost when compared with this. Racing on a steam train through the very same earth.
“What a time...what I wouldn't do to go back there, make different decisions...maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe Dani would still be at home. Maybe...”
She trailed off again, brown eyes peering at her former mate, examining his expression. She openly sighed, her chest inflating and deflating as she did. Allowing a delicate paw to slide along the foot plate and carefully tap his. In their time apart she had proved that she did not need him, not that she did not want him.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 9:58:10 GMT -5
As they stood, staring at the Graveyard, swaying gently with the motion of the locomotive, a vague memory, buried and forgotten, began to stir in Tramp's mind. Something about the barren landscape was almost...familiar, as if he'd been there before. He glanced down at Lady when she spoke up again, and the familiar pain, and emptiness he'd been struck with when he'd lost her, seemingly for good, stirred again when she alluded to the mistakes of the past.
The past. As he gazed once more into the depths of the tomb before them, he half-remembered why this place seemed so familiar. He remembered wandering in, lost and alone, on his aimless journey in the months following Lady's death.
He remembered feeling surrounded by death, and resolving to end his torment. Placing his head directly above one of the numerous steam vents, and waiting for it to erupt. And...he remembered, just before the vent erupted, something that must have been the product of a delirious mind. Lady's voice, calling him urgently by name just before the geyser erupted.
He suppressed a shudder at the forgotten memory as Lady pressed her paw lightly against his. Whatever had happened, she had saved his life that day, albeit as a mere delusion. She might have proven herself strong enough to live without him, but he wasn't so certain he could live without her. Deep sorrow showed in his eyes as he gazed down at her. "Don't do that to yourself, Pidge. You'll drive yourself mad, thinking like that," he said, voice tight.
He'd been so lost in the past, going over what might have happened if only certain choices had been different, that he'd completely disconnected from what he had left. And very nearly given up his hold on life itself.
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Feb 27, 2016 18:30:57 GMT -5
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Post by Casey Jr. on Aug 6, 2014 11:42:12 GMT -5
As the train neared the elephant graveyard, Casey started to take a different approach. Instead of passing through the misty crypt, he slid alongside it. Using it to screen his approach. The bones would have created a near impossible to traverse land of tripping hazards. Still, the sound of his exhaust echoing across the dead spaces as he rattled alongside was unnerving. This was a land that had never heard the coming of the steam train, nor was it ever destined to. Narrowing his eyes, Casey aimed his charge into the distant mists. Somewhere, out there, was a land of termite mounds.
“Bleedin' chrest.” The locomotive whispered, mostly to himself as he rattled beyond the strange land. “I dunno why anyune whuld wish ta live oyt here.”
The earth was only becoming more and more barren. The corporeal rails felt solid under his wheels, but Casey still felt the wheel flanges grind as they took a corner. The screech of iron on iron filling the air alongside the bark of his exhaust and the clatter of the couplings as the old Circus car rose and fell in the terrain. Casey looked to the side, this was so unnatural. So against the very fabric of his nature. Yet he continued onward. Each wheel revaluation bringing them closer and closer. There was a slight upgrade at this point, but Casey kept the train moving at a brisk pace. If he had a speedometer, it would more then likely be registering 25mph.
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