Steel steam and flame

The waiting room is also very small, which reminds Cassia of the previous history of human plans told in books. The waiting hall of the station here has a sense of evolutionary history, and functions that are not frequently used will eventually be eliminated over time. Only about a dozen people got off the high-speed train here, dragging their cumbersome salutes. After getting off the train, they looked around with confused eyes for a long time.

There are no obvious buildings, only a earthy gray road that winds and leads to a place in the distance where the weeds are gradually decreasing.

The station was not built together with the town, which was a problem that Cassia had not figured out.

The weather is sunny, and the sun shines down without any warmth. The train didn't stay for very long. When Cassia walked into the carriage again, Cassia was the only one left in the long carriage. The train conductor, who could still be seen from time to time, now disappeared. Probably thinking that there won’t be many guests left in the carriage for the rest of the journey. This is the last station of the railway line. Apart from them, no one visits it all year round.

In the following time, the train entered a truly deserted area. It is rare to find traces of human activities in the flowing scenery on both sides. During the process, I saw several concrete roads, but the roads had completely cracked under the force of nature, and the gaps were filled with withered weeds. There is no road that can follow the train for a long distance. Most of them will be swallowed up by waist-high weeds with a "whistle" halfway through, or blocked by a large piece of gravel, and they will be lost forever. No trace.

There is an abandoned railway foundation next to it. It seems that due to geological reasons, this railway line has been modified many times in its long history. Nothing is static, let alone something as fragile as steel.

By the time the high-speed train whistle sounded, the surrounding scenery had become blurry, without bright light and shadow. There is only the white light of the lonely high-pressure mercury lamp on the side of the railway, and there are no moths that accompany it for most of the night in summer.

The platform is very long, and its surface is severely worn. There is no sign that can be called a sign. It just lies quietly under the white light in the silent darkness around it.

The high-speed train next to him started up again not long after Cassia got off the train, slowly following the curved railway line around a big bend and headed in the direction it came from.

"I really thought there was no one else on the train." Cassia sighed, "But fortunately, we still stopped when we arrived at the station."

Feeling rejoicing in his heart, he dragged his luggage towards the end of the long platform, where there were several connected rooms, a bungalow structure covered with evergreen vines. Whether it’s the thickness of the plant’s rhizome or the corner of the building that emerges from it, it’s all the product of a long period of time.

There were more dazzling lights inside, and "sizzling" electronic sounds came from time to time. Someone was debugging the radio equipment. Maybe I just want to listen to the radio or something. This is not deep in the mountains and forests, but except for the platform and a long railway beside the platform, there is nothing else.

After getting closer, Cassia discovered that there was soft music playing in the room. It looks like a film machine. You can hear the sharp sound of the sharp stylus rubbing against the grain of the black film. I don’t know what the song is, and Cassia doesn’t know much about it. Nowadays, among the imperial aristocrats, a group of ladies who have nothing to do, the machine called "video" is popular. Although it can be seen frequently in newspapers or some best-selling books and periodicals, Cassia except herself Apart from the books I was interested in, I was only interested in rough steam pipes and machinery.

Very nice music, Cassia described the sound she heard. It’s just that it’s ruined by the ever-present electronic sound.

The window was open and the curtains were not drawn. Standing at the window, you could feel the warmth flowing out from inside.

The space is huge, at least about twice the size of the current Imperial Stake Room. A very simple room with several large tables. The film machine was placed on the table by the window, next to a large kettle, and next to a set of metal cups. Through the smell wafting through the air, there was half a cup of coffee that had gone cold.

The electronic noise came from a communication machine. It must be military equipment, right? Cassia thought it was because he didn't see the model of the communication machine. A middle-aged man was playing with the machine, touching the buttons and rotary switches carefully as if he were a child touching the water for the first time, and he couldn't help but sigh.

It's not old enough to be called an uncle, Cassia judged. His body is very strong. Putting aside his strength and speed, his body shape and the muscles that are faintly visible under his thin cotton-padded clothes are already close to those of most students in the military school.

Inside the room, you can still see several pieces of air-dried fur hanging on the wall, which belong to goats. On the other side of the wall, there are several goat heads that have been treated with antiseptic chemicals. There was also a large piece of brown bear fur spread out neatly and nailed to the wall.

There are several brown shotguns placed under the corner. The barrels are very thick. After loading the ammunition, it can be imagined that they are far more powerful than ordinary small shotguns. This place is roughly at the foot of the mountain. Although the surrounding terrain is still calm, a bulging black shadow is not far behind. There is a mountain range at the junction of the Empire and the Far Sea Commonwealth.

The middle-aged man must be the man stationed at this small station. His attention is entirely focused on the communication machine in front of him. No one comes here all year round, and even though Cassia is dragging her luggage, her footsteps are not loud. This is due to the natural control of her body.

After standing outside the window for a while, the middle-aged man read a detailed instruction to re-adjust the communication machine, but what he received was still an eternal electronic noise. Feeling irritable and his mouth was dry, he turned around to take a sip of water, and saw Kasia standing silently behind the window.

The hand holding the instruction manual visibly shook a few times, but the middle-aged man's reflexes were still amazing. He finally reacted in an instant and did not exhale "Yeah" from his half-open mouth.

Exhaling a breath, the middle-aged man was half surprised and half confused. It's been a long time since I've seen anyone new except for the military people, and suddenly I don't know what to say.

After thinking for a while, I found the right words.

"Hello?"

"Hello." Cassia replied with a smile, naturally picking up her luggage and indicating her identity.