THE LONG BLACK TRAIN

Note: This story is just one of twenty taken from a novel by JAlexander called “SHIPWRECK”

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Walking for a long time, David’s thoughts were mostly of Emily and of how much he missed her. He started looking for a place to rest when he saw an exit sign that invited him to: “Come and ride on the ‘Reflection and Guilt Train.’ It’s free, and you’ll meet some very interesting people.”

The long black train was sitting in the station. There was nobody around so David decided to take a closer look. He had to leave the twin burdens on a wooden bench at the end of the platform. It always felt really good to be rid his burdens for a while.

As he approached, he could see that the train was very old but in surprisingly good shape. If it hadn’t been long and black it could have passed for the train in the movie “Orient Express.”

Standing on some wooden steps, David tried to look inside, but he couldn’t see anything so he opened one of the coach doors. After hesitating for a moment, he climbed inside. As he turned and looked out the window, he could see that the platform was filled with people, lots of people, pushing and shoving, all trying to get on board. Panic set in when he realized he couldn’t get off the train. The small compartment he was in had only four seats, but there must have been at least ten people in there with him.

People were packed in the small room like sardines, so all David could do was use his massive body to push them aside and exit into the hallway. Once outside the room, he took a deep breath, but the air that filled his lungs wasn’t fresh, it was heavy and stale.

As the train started moving, David searched frantically for an exit door, but all he could see were windows on one side and compartment doors on the other. He kept losing his balance as he walked, but he knew he had to get where the cars connected. Once outside he could jump off the train. But he soon realized he had a major problem; the car he was traveling in didn’t come to an end and he found himself walking in a circle. To his shock and amazement, he couldn’t help but see that he continually passed the same doors and windows. He also noticed that the scenery outside never changed.

Feeling very frustrated, he tried looking into some of the compartments, but he couldn’t see through the dark glass doors so without thinking he decided to open one of them, a move he would soon regret. As he stepped inside the room, he was no longer on the train, but found himself standing on a bridge, a very high bridge. It was so high that he couldn’t see land on either side. He walked about twenty yards and stopped dead in his tracks. There, on the edge of the bridge was a woman holding a small child in her arms.

David was horrified because he knew the only reason she would be standing there, was to end it all! But why take the child with her? Walking right up to the woman he said, “Hi, do you need to talk to someone?”

Without looking down at him she replied, “Please stay away sir, and don’t try to stop me. Life is too much; I can’t handle another day.”

Taking a few steps forward, David put out his hand pleading, “How may I help you?”
“You can’t; it’s too late! Just leave us alone.”
David didn’t know what to do. He had never seen anyone so desperate that they would be willing to not only take their own life, but the life of a loved one.

The woman turned her head and looked into David’s eyes. He couldn’t see any life in her tired, blank face. “Please just leave us alone; there’s nothing that you or anyone else can do.”

With his heart breaking and his eyes filling up with tears, David slowly stepped back, but as he did, he found himself being lifted up in the air. The higher he ascended, the more he could see of the bridge. When he reached the top he floated out, enabling him to see the full length of the structure from shore to shore. He tried turning his head away and closing his eyes, because he didn’t like what he was seeing. There on the bridge, about twenty feet apart from one another, were people poised on the edge. He felt sick as he watched each person jump in turn, only to be replaced by someone else.

“I don’t want to see any more; I just want to leave this place!”

As soon as he said that, he started floating back down. Once his feet hit the ground he headed for the nearest exit. As soon as he made it through the door, he slammed it shut, putting all his weight against it so no one could follow him. He repeated the number 27 that was on the door, over and over in his head to ensure he didn’t have to deal with that horrible scene again!

Rescuing a Mother and her baby

David was visibly shaken by all the events that were happening before his eyes. His mission now was to return to the bridge and stop the desperate mother from taking not only her life but the life of her baby girl. Knowing he didn’t have much time, David starting to panic so he closed his eyes and willed himself out of the helicopter and back on the train. All he could think of as he rushed out the door was that he needed to get to cabin 27 and save two precious lives. Once he entered the hallway, something very strange happened. David found himself moving in slow motion and this made him even more anxious because he knew that if he didn’t get to the bridge soon, he would be too late and that would mean he was a failure. David just fell to his knees, looked up to Heaven and prayed, “God, if it be your will please help me save this poor helpless woman from making the biggest mistake of her life!”

After what seemed like hours, he finally reached cabin door 27 but he didn’t enter, because a voice inside his head was telling him he was too late. David cleared his mind of all negative thoughts and as he did the door suddenly opened. All he had to do was walk forward and he was on the bridge. Off in the distance he could see the woman standing on the ledge, but he couldn’t see the little girl. His heart was pounding as he got closer, but gave a sigh of relief when he saw the little girl sitting on the far side of her Mom.

David didn’t want to scare the mother by calling out to her so he just walked up to where she was standing. He climbed up on the ledge right next to the little girl. The mother looked at David and stated, “You’re not going to make me change my mind so you might as well leave.”

Without looking at her, David gave a quick reply, “I didn’t know you owned this bridge; I have as much right to be here as you and your little sweetie. Oh, by the way, you forgot to tell me your names.”

The young woman just stared out into the distance and said, “Look Mister; I know what you’re trying to do, but it won’t work.”
“Alright,” David said with a little smile; “but can I at least tell you my name?”
She answered, “No, you can’t!” in a tone that bordered on sarcasm.

“Okay you win; I’m not going to tell you it’s David.”

The little girl spoke up for the first time saying, “You said you weren’t going to tell us your name and then you did.”

“Well, I take it back; you’ll just have to forget that I told you.”

The young girl giggled, “How can we do that? It’s already in our memory!”

The Mother pulled her away insisting, “Emily stop talking to that man!”

“His name is David, Mom.”

“I know it’s David and he is just trying to stop us from… I just want you to pretend he’s not there.”

“Okay, Mommy, I’ll try.”

With a lump in his throat he moved closer to the little girl saying, “My wife’s name was Emily and she was as beautiful as you.”

“Where’s your wife now and how come she’s not with you?”

David replied softly; “She died and went Heaven.”

Emily was quick to respond saying, “Mommy said we’re going to heaven to live with Jesus. Do you want me to say hello to your Emily when we get there?”

Once again, her Mom pulled on her arm saying, “I told you before, don’t talk to that man, we don’t even know who he is.”

With a cute little smile on her face Emily answered, “Oh yes we do; don’t you remember him telling us his name? David, I would like you to meet my Mommy. Her name is Elizabeth, but all the grownups call her Liz.”

“Hello I’m David, how do you do?” When he didn’t get a reply, he leaned down and whispered to Emily, “I don’t think your Mommy can hear me; can you say ‘hi’ for me?”

“Mommy, David said…”

“I heard him dear; but I told you we don’t talk to strangers.”

Then David said out loud, “Can we at least sit down, my legs are killing me! I’m sure if I stand much longer, I might slip and fall.”
Letting out a little moan, David turned around and faced the bridge. Although he wasn’t afraid of heights, the view of the water so far below was making him dizzy. After getting down on his hands and knees and then into a sitting position, he realized that it would be difficult to talk to Emily’s mother from there. Without saying a word David patted the edge of the beam, inviting them to sit down. Before her mother could protest, Emily let go of her hand and quickly sat down beside David.

Looking up at her mom, Emily said with a giggle, “we would be oh so happy if you would join us down here!”

At first Elizabeth just shook her head; but after a few minutes of standing there alone, she reluctantly decided to join her daughter and her new very persistent friend.

David was first to break the silence. Looking over Emily’s head he asked her mom, “How did you get to this point in your life?”

When he didn’t get a response, he just sat there looking at her. It didn’t take long until she spoke through tear-filled eyes saying, “You’re a man, you wouldn’t understand.”

“Yes, I am a man but, believe it or not, we’re not all the same.” “I’m sorry, I had no right to say that; I’m sure there are many good men out there, but up until now I haven’t met any.”

Drying her eyes, she looked at David and admitted, “I did have one great man in my life, His name was Jesus; but whenever I was feeling sad and lonely, He was never there for me.”

“I don’t know a lot about Jesus, but what I do know is that He never abandons His children. When life is at its darkest, His light always shines through.”

Looking totally confused she questioned, “Are you a preacher sent here to rescue us?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “No, I’m not a preacher. My wife was the believer in our family and I guess a lot of that Bible stuff just rubbed off on me. Look lady, I don’t know why I’m here. All I know is that I’m in some kind of weird dream and that I was sent here to save you and your little girl.”

“Sir, the only way that you can help us is to pay off all my debts. You see, my wonderful husband made sure that my name was on everything before he walked out, leaving me and Emily in this terrible mess.”

David couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked down and saw that he was holding a blank check. Turning to Elizabeth he asked, “What’s your last name?”

“It’s Murphy, why do you want to know?”
“Maybe you should look at this,” and he handed her the blank check.

As she held it in both hands, she let out a gasp when she saw her name being written without a pen. But her hand really started to shake when the sum of fifty thousand dollars appeared on the check.

Excited and in disbelief, Elizabeth jumped down and flung her arms around David crying, “I don’t know how to thank you! You’ve given me and Emily a chance for a new life. I don’t know where you came from, but I’m sure you were sent by God!”

Without saying a word, he put his arms out and gave them a big hug.

Sadly, for David, the hug didn’t last long enough and watching Elizabeth and Emily walk away, he felt all alone again.

Back on the platform

Rolling over and then getting on his hands and knees, he managed to struggle to his feet. When David looked around, he could see that all the travelers must have caught the last train. As he started walking to the end of the platform, he glanced at the station door and saw a sign and out of curiosity, he stopped to read it.

THE P&G RAILROAD SCHEDULE
ATTENTION: The last train just left the station and we don’t have a clue when the next one will arrive, but you are certainly welcome to wait.

John 15:5 – Apart from me, you can do nothing!

By JAlexander