One day we looked up and saw we were approaching massive pillars, marching in endless pairs toward the tallest peak. Between the pillars stretched rails glittering in the cold sunlight. We stopped and stared for a while. As we stood there, we saw the Number Nine shoot along. We looked back down at our feet and moved on. When we reached the pillars, we followed them up into the mountains, up to the massive Babylonian/Mayan/Aztec-style temple that sprawled across the shoulder of the tallest peak.
We had made it. The end of the line.
YEAR 4
Temple Station
We climbed the mountain, walking alongside the pillars supporting the Number Nine’s tracks. We came to the steps of the temple and we climbed those, wearily, to the platform just outside the arch near the summit through which the train passed. There we encountered the Gatekeeper, a nameless soul who—for whatever reason—was condemned to remain at the entrance to the temple, ushering others through to the next world but never able to cross over himself.
One by one the former prisoners filed up to the Gatekeeper and gave their names. The Gatekeeper looked over his scrolls and directed each to waiting area two. After an hour of that I got bored and looked around. Something seemed wrong, but it was a while before I realized that it was because Glottis was nowhere in sight. I asked Meche if she’d seen him. She said she hadn’t, so we handed Pugsy and Bibi over to others and went to look for him. We backtracked and found a place where we could make out Glottis’ footprints. Then we saw the impression of his body in the snow, many little feet, and a track apparently made of Glottis being dragged away. We exchanged worried looks and followed.
We followed the trail to a building built on a shelf below the temple platform. Weird chanting came from within. A system of suspended cables running up the side of the mountain led inside, as did the track in the snow. We went cautiously inside, and my attention was drawn immediately to several bright-red objects.
“Gondolas!?” I exclaimed. “I knew we should have checked this side of the mountain before we walked up!”
“Oh, Glottis!” Meche cried, pushing past me to rush forward. She knelt beside him and struggled to take one of his hands in hers.
“Hear the name of the great one!” one of the little demons surrounding Glottis warbled. “Glottis!”
“Glottis,” the others began to chant. The strange thing—apart from the chanting—was that they all looked like Glottis, but in miniature.
“What’s happening?” I demanded. Meche gave up on trying to pick up Glottis’ hand and settled on stroking his forehead instead.
“How many days has this grand demon gone without driving?” one of the little demons asked.
“Well,” I answered, “we’ve been hiking for months.”
“Months!?” another exclaimed in horror.
“Oh,” yet another said, shaking his head sadly, “then the noble one will surely die.”
I didn’t want to believe that. But I had to admit to myself that Glottis looked bad, lying there on the floor, with ashen skin and unfocused eyes staring up at nothing. Meche continued to stroke his broad forehead but he didn’t respond.
“I don’t understand,” I said to the demons. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Do you not know the one purpose, the one skill, the one desire of this humble spirit?” one asked in return.
“Yes, but we’ve been so far away from cars and civilization for so long.”
“Why,” one wailed, “oh, why did he ever leave his home?”
That was no mystery. “I… got him fired,” I said, “and then… Oh, Glottis! What have I done to you?” I wondered if Meche would blame me. I sure as hell did. I went to take a better look at Glottis. “How could I not notice this was happening?” I asked myself.
“Don’t punish yourself again, Manny,” Meche complained, looking up at me. “You weren’t to know. No one saw this coming.”
Glottis turned his head slightly toward us, his eyes struggling to focus. “Manny…” he croaked. One giant paw reached out toward me.
I took it in my relatively small, skeletal hand. “Are you in much pain, my friend?” I asked him gently.
“Only because I let you down, Manny.” He started to cough. His eyes lost focus again. “Can’t stop,” he said in a slurred voice. “Must save… everyone.” His hand slipped out of mine and fell to the stone floor with a meaty thump.
“What can we do?” Meche asked helplessly. “Won’t anything help?”
“I need to race,” Glottis said, “to fly, like,” more coughing, “like in the old days… in the Bone Wagon.”
“But the Bone Wagon’s not here, carnal,” I said.
“Maybe I’ll see her… on the other side.”
“You are not going to die,” I insisted.
“The Land calls back its children,” he said. “Who am I to say no?”
“Can’t we make a new hot rod?”
“Those days are done, Manny.” He turned away and lost consciousness.
Meche and I looked at each other. “What can we do?” I asked.
“Maybe,” she said, “maybe we can only make him comfortable.”
The demons stood around in silence.
“I’m going to boil water,” Meche suddenly declared.
“¿Que?”
“He needs to be clean and warm.” She clenched her fists and pounded her thighs. “I can’t think of anything other than keeping him comfortable, Manny,” Meche exclaimed in frustration. She stood after taking a deep breath. “I’ll need a tub or basin or something,” she said to the demons.
“Outside,” one said. He made a move to fetch it for her but Meche waved him away and ran out herself.
After she had left I got an idea. “Are there any vehicles here that we could use to revive him?” I asked.
“Only the trucks that deliver the souls,” one of the little demons answered sadly, “but they are slow.”
“So slow!” all the others repeated in unison.
There was a loud clang from outside. “Manny!” Meche shouted.
I spun around toward the exit. “What is it?” I called out.
“Come and see!” I joined her and she pointed up at the top of the temple. “Do you see anyone up there?” she asked.
I looked as hard as I could through the snowy glare and finally shook my head. “No, I don’t,” I admitted.
“They knew we went looking for Glottis,” she said, sounding very worried. “You’d think at least a few would have waited. What do you think happened?”
“They’re probably all in the next world by now,” I said, not even convincing myself.
“Even Albert and Anton? They wouldn’t wait to say goodbye?” she asked, disbelieving. “And what about all that waiting room stuff? I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Manny. You’d better go up and see.” I hesitated. “I’ll look after Glottis——Manny…!” she exclaimed when I didn’t move.
“OK,” I said, finally moving toward the stairs, “but see if you can’t find anything to help Glottis. We can’t let him die.” That would be one tragedy more than I could take. I began climbing up toward the temple again.
When I got back to the Gatekeeper’s platform, it was empty except for the Gatekeeper himself. I’m not sure why, but that didn’t feel right, even discounting Meche’s uncertain worries. “Where is everybody?” I asked.