«Nymus, so the water wasnt real, just an illusion?» William asked when they were standing on the platform among other wizards waiting for the Six OClocker.
«No, why? It is real, like the ground that replaces it regularly. It is a security system only those that have the ticket may pass. Those who try to reach the platform without the ticket will simply step onto the ocean floor and drown Excuse me!.. Make way! Thank you! Please, sir What a lovely child let us pass,» while explaining all that, Nymus was holding William with one hand and used the other hand to push through the crowd. «If the walls are in their earth shape at that moment, the frauds will bury themselves the moment they make a step.»
«But youve managed to pass somehow,» William noted, «and nothing happened to you.»
«Master Calhoun forgets that I am a mailmage! Mailmages do not need to cheat to get anywhere, because they have a special pass to all places. We can peregrine anywhere we want without breaking the law. However, it is prohibited to take our wizards where they are not supposed to be or they need a pass for. It is a blatant violation of the Post Office Code, and for this violation Allow me the doubt of whether you have chosen the right place on the platform, Miss For this violation we will never see letters again!»
After passing through the last row of wizards, they came to the front of the crowd.
«There! Now nothing will get in the way for Master William to enjoy the sight of the arrival of the Six OClocker!» he said in a satisfied voice and folded his arms on his chest.
They were standing in a gloomy dense forest. The only source of noise here were the loud voices of wizards, who, judging by the thickening crowd, were still arriving, and it was becoming hard to move. Instead of the rails William had expected to see he only saw a path leading from one part of the forest to another. When he turned around, he didnt see the towering building of the Cabstation behind the crowd. He actually didnt see anything towering there. Only the trees.
«If it has not been for the crowd, Master William would have seen a shabby hut, no longer than ten feet. Its for diversion!» Nymus explained seeing his confusion. «Demits often come here, and the large building of the Cabstation in the middle of the forest would have caused, let us say, some degree of misunderstanding.
«But theres a forest here! Besides, there are no rails. Theres actually nothing here except for the forest.»
«Rails?» Nymus looked surprised.
«Of course! Were taking the Six OClocker, after all!»
«Master William, the Six OClocker is not a train,» the mailmage replied shortly.
«What is it, then?»
«A cab.»
«A cab?»
«Not an ordinary one, of course, but a cab!» Nymus replied in a busy-like tone.
«But is it possible to travel all the way to Germany by cab?! Even though the station is called the Cabstation, I thought it was merely a name, and were travelling by train.»
«I have already told master Calhoun that wizards do not use any kinds of digital or electronic devices, like demits. Magic Feathers do not allow them to work properly,» the mailmage reminded him.
«Oh, right now I remember!» William said and they fell silent again. After a while, William asked: «When will I see you again, Nymus?»
«I will meet Master Calhoun here, when the Six OClocker brings enrolees back. And if you need me earlier, you know how to call me.»
«Alright, Nymus! Ill let you know!»
Suddenly William felt something starting to vibrate deep down under his feet. The ground started moving first slightly, then more and more, and then the whole platform was shaking, as if it was an earthquake. Soon the sound of hooves coming from underground turned into real thunder, followed by even heavier shaking of the ground.
«The Six OClocker is coming!» Nymus had to all but shout to be heard. «I wish you an unforgettable trip, my Master! Have a good journey!»
«Thank you, Nymus!»
The moment he said that, the thunder of hooves coming from deep under deafened all the other sounds. A part of the path not far from the place he and Nymus were standing, suddenly rose up. Small pieces of soft ground flew into the air and it seemed like someone large was making the way through the thick ground, struggling to get to the surface. And a moment later, the shovel-like powerful horns showed from under the ground and rushed forward, followed by hump-nosed heads, necks and, finally, white bodies of blue-eyed elks, pulling the legendary black carriage!
This process lasted for a while and soon, when the carriage was fully on the surface, it turned out that the Six OClocker had the same size as ordinary trains. It consisted of an endless row of connected cabins. Each cabin looked like a miniature cab. William suddenly realized he had no idea which cabin he was supposed to take. He turned to ask Nymus, but the mailmage was gone. There was an old wizard instead, who was holding his granddaughters hand.
«I must have missed the sound of him peregrining because of that racket!» William thought. «Well, now Ill have to think on my own!»
He saw the enrolees taking seats in the cabins quite chaotically and he headed towards the one right opposite to him. But as he approached it, he saw through the round window on the door that all the seats inside were taken. The cabins were for four people each, with seats facing each other. William moved along the «train until he found a cabin with only one passenger. William opened the door and asked:
«Excuse me, are other seats taken?»
The passenger just lazily turned his head, gave William a look and said as lazily:
«Nah!» after which he turned to the other window again.
Then William jumped inside the cabin. Once inside, he looked around. The cab inside was rather tall, even an adult could sand here without touching the ceiling. It was rather roomy as well, to stretch out the legs. Round windows on the doors on both sides reminded illuminators in a ship cabin. The cabins had pillows and other necessary things to make the journey comfortable for the passengers. There were black hooded robes on the seats, neatly folded. After glancing at his travelling companion and seeing that he was already wearing the prepared garment, William took the robes and, following the example of his companion, threw them on. There was a letter «E» encircled by a feather embroidered on the chest. Finding his new outfit quite comfortable, he finally sat down, noticing how comfortable the seats were. Now Williams eyes focused on the companion sitting opposite him. It was a rather chubby pink-cheeked boy with tousled hair, about the same age as William. It seemed that the boy wasnt interested in anything. He was staring at the trees in the forest and seemed to be lost in his thoughts. But William wasnt too happy at the thought of spending the whole journey in silence. Besides, it felt like the right time to start making friends. So William decided to show initiative and start the conversation.
«A bit gloomy around here, isnt it?» he said with irony.
The pink-cheeked companion didnt even move after being talked to. Only after a few seconds, he turned his head lazily and looked at William:
«Only dont think that if weve happened to be in one cabin, we can get to know each other, become friends, and die best friends in the old age!» he grimaced and turned away again.
William was speechless for the moment, taken aback. That was some damn luck! He thought that if somebody wasnt going to opened the door of the cabin and seat with them, the journey would be a complete disappointment! But his thoughts were interrupted by a strong push that threw him back in his seat, followed by the sound of hooves. The Six OClocker started to move.