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THE FINAL JOURNEY

Virginia Pott

The train continued its lazy rocking motion as it emerged from
the mountains onto the last lap of the journey. Even I, on the inside,
could tell from. the excitment of the passengers that the train was
nearing its destination.

"I'm glad I'm on the inside; this land doesn't look too inviting
to walk around on," I smiled to the middle-aged man who was sitting
opposite me. He was of strong build and was immaculately dressed.
It seemed odd to me that he kept his left hand tucked so far down
into the seat, but I put it off as being one of many human idiosyncra-
sies.

"Well, I say now, it wouldn't be too bad. I was born in America
but was brought up in Switzerland. These mountains are nothing
compared to the crags we have over there!" He's a likeable person I
thought, even though he has a forced accent of some kind. Never
can tell who you'll meet on a train. Maybe he's famous ....

"Oh, I guess these mountains do seem small, but I've lived in
Florida all my life until I got transferred to a hospital in Los Angeles.
That's where I'm going now."

"Are you sure you're on the right train?" he asked, eyeing me
intently, yet at the same time expertely lighting a cigarette with his
right hand. "You know, this one goes to San Francisco."

"Yes, I know. I'm taking my vacation now. Going to do the coast
from San Francisco all the way down." I showed him the folders which
described the coast region. He did not look at those of San Francisco,
but seemed intently interested in those of the remote forested section
below Monterey.

I picked up the conversation again. "After my term of duty is
over, I'll probably never get back this way." I added, half jokingly,
"What prospects does the city by the Golden Gate hold for you?"

"The best years of my life," he grinned wryly. The man across the
aisle looked up and nodded in agreement.

"Oh, are you traveling together?" I queried.
"Only after a fashion. He just happens to know who I am." He
shifted in his seat but the left hand still remained tucked into the seat.
He noticed me eyeing it curiously but offered no explanation. Abrupt-
ly, he continued, "As long as we're going to be facing each other the

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