Chapter 43 Section 43

How exhilarating the sight of a steam locomotive rumbling into view once was, now it only evokes painful memories.Yiluo held my hand tightly, and when the giant mechanical beast approached, even Nikolai became quiet and depressed, I knew we were all thinking the same thing.The silence of the three said it all. The locomotive shuddered to a halt, and steam spurted from between the dirty wheels and nearly hit us, but we didn't seem to notice. My eyes scoured the station to see if the train was bound for Warsaw, where Wojciech told us to change to another train to reach our final destination.A guard with chalk dutifully scribbled the relevant information on a battered board.No one got out of the car, and I noticed it was just the three of us, but I didn't care.

We chose our seats carefully and ended up in an empty middle compartment.There was a constant hiss of steam as the train moved, and then there was a sudden screech of wheels rubbing against rails, and we all fell backward as the carriage was dragged. Scenes of painful memories are rushing in my mind. The only thing that makes me gratified is that we have tickets for this trip and have the right to sit in comfortable seats. As the journey continued, the awakened memories faded away, and we gradually relaxed.Ilo and Nicholas were children again and started playing, and I could only look at them enviously, knowing that I couldn't be like them anymore, because now, I was their guardian.

I couldn't let passing train guards or passengers see the three children playing alone without adult supervision.As Isabella has emphasized to me, my role is that of a devoted older sister, and if anyone asks, I'll say I'm sixteen.I objected at the time, saying that I barely looked like I was twelve years old, but Isabella shook her head and said that was not the case, and that I could give people the illusion of being more mature. This makes me happy, because young children always want to grow up quickly, and my desire has become more urgent because of the needs of reality.In a way, taking care of Nicholas and Ilo was beyond the capabilities of any twelve-year-old.

But I have to do it.Before that, we had the option to go back to our friends in the woods, but now, with the roar of the train we're clumsily driving through the unfamiliar Polish countryside, that one chance is gone exists. Along the way, we occasionally stopped at some platforms, and I could still try to pronounce the names of some stations. I couldn't help but figure out the nature of the language.Although I have found that some vocabulary between our Romanian and the newly learned Polish is very close, there are still so many differences that it is hard to believe that the two countries are almost side by side.

Just as I was meditating on these unanswerable questions, a small hand held mine, and I lowered my head to find Yiluo approaching me.I saw that Nicholas had fallen asleep on the seat opposite, so I couldn't help smiling, walked over and moved his posture slightly to make him lie more comfortably, wrapped his coat around his shoulders, and went back To Yiluo who was waiting patiently. "I have something for you, Anka." Ilo said when I sat back on my seat.She reached into her pocket and produced a small silk purse. I couldn't hide my surprise, watching her untie the silk rope of the purse, and poured the contents into my palm.

"Wojciech gave it. When you said goodbye to Isabella, he gave this to me for safekeeping." Yiluo said.I held those coins carefully, in disbelief of our good fortune. As if reading my mind, Yiluo explained: "He said he knew you would not accept his money, so he asked me to keep it for you. He said you are too stubborn, as stubborn as a mule." She said Seeing this analogy, Haha laughed, and I laughed with her too, and I knew Wojciech was right.He had tried to offer me money before, but I refused very vehemently, insisting that we must not spend any more of their already stretched resources than necessary.

"Iloh, you shouldn't have taken this," I said, but I couldn't help but be glad she took it. "Wojciech said you would say that," Ilo laughed, "so he told me to give it to you after I got on the train. I hope we've moved far enough away , Anka." I stretched out my hands and hugged Yiluo tightly: "You are right, Yiluo. God bless you." "Don't you count the money?" I glanced down at the assortment of coins, then shrugged.It's been a long time since I took over money myself, although I know that our Romanian leu has been devalued almost to crap.I looked at the Polish zloty in my hand and decided to simply enjoy the feeling of having coins again.As for the number, its face value or real market value is not important for the time being.

I put the coins back into my wallet, put them away in my coat pocket, and pulled Ilo closer to me. "We can count later, Ilo. Now let's rest, and when we get to Krakow, we have to muster up all our energy. Then, I need your sharp eyes to help me find Henryk's home, and I need You're helping me with Nikolai. Will you help me?" She looked up at me and smiled. "Of course, Anka. I would do anything for my friend." I lowered my head and kissed her forehead. "Then, just close your eyes and rest, Yiluo, and do as I say. There is still a long journey waiting for us."

Yiluo obeyed her words and obeyed my request, moved her body and lay down, and closed her eyes.Soon she fell asleep, leaving me awake, watching the Polish countryside passing by the car window, and thinking about my own thoughts. Dusk was replaced by night, and I was still sleepless, immersed in deep thoughts.The steam-driven train drove us through the silent night, only the gentle shaking of the carriage soothed my anxiety.