Another upload for TZT! Yay! And for Book five, The Road Less Traveled! Yay!
But in all seriousness, I've yet to actually start work on that one yet. I've completed all the others, and just need to fill some holes and adapt them to Wattpad. I'm also working on other, secret, projects here and there. So TZT:TRLT Will probably be on pause for a while.
Spoilers for TZT!
Speaking of Will, he's the narrator and protagonist in the new story. Which I've already explained in another scene above. But this could be considered his call to action, and it isn't even really his. Marvin's former friend and crewmate Powell, takes Will under his wing after witnessing him crash and burn on his first few missions. After hearing about rumors that Will might want to resign, he takes him out for a cup of coffee in the rail yard to ask him to reconsider. Also motivated by the fact the late secretary Marvin chose him as his successor, and that Powell still sees a shed of light in him, under all that self centeredness. After Will embarrasses himself, an engineer makes a bet against Will that he'll remain being a secretary. Powell makes a counter bet, and basically commits himself to teach Will the ropes.
That is basically the context and synopsis for this short. I will censor the bad language when I actually publish the story.
Hope you enjoy.
Powell practically dragged me out of the office and into the yard.
"You're a pain in the ass. You know that right?" He said over his shoulder. "You're slow, idiotic, nieve, overconfident, thinks he knows it all-"
"Okay! I get your point! Now why did you drag me out here?" I said, letting my tone display my emotions right now.
"Step lively." Is all he said. I was hesitant to cross the main line. "It's okay. The next train isn't due for another five minutes."
Right after he said that, a distant quill echoed up the Vally.
"Never mind. Better hurry across then."
I noticed he stepped high as he crossed the tracks. Stepping into the middle of the tracks, before taking another long stride out. I wasn't about to do that, I could slip. So, I stepped onto the rail.
My foot gave out from under me mid-step, and I stumbled forward with my arms flailing. Powell caught me and dragged me away, just as the engine thundered up past us, into the station. I pushed myself away from him, and he also brushed his jacket and shirt down from being blown about by the train.
"First word of advice Will: don't ever step on the rails. They're slippery."
"But I could trip!"
"Yes. But the danger of tripping is a lot less than the danger of slipping." He patted me on my shoulder and motioned me to follow. "Follow me."
I did. We walked deeper into the yard, coming upon a stretch of cars. I would've walked around them, but Powell stepped up onto the ladder and used a little platform to navigate his way across. After jumping down, he motioned at the space. "What are you waiting for?"
"Um. Okay."
I tried to follow what he did. But he stopped me when I placed my food.
"Nuh uh. Don't place your foot on the drawbar. That shit can close on you and crush your foot like one of them hard marshmallows. Don't do that. Use the catwalk."
"W-what's the catwalk."
Powell let out a small sigh.
"The platform right there." He motioned to the thing I was on. "Use your eyes damnit! We gotta keep moving."
I crossed the boxcar, and ended up the same side Powell was on. I was silently stewing at his tone with me. We walked a little further down, coming to the end of another train of cars. I began to go around them.
"Woah! Step back Mr. Secretary!"
His exclamation made me freeze. I stepped back in the direction he was swinging his arm.
"Policy states you don't go around standing cars no less than ten feet. But... take my advice and make it fifteen feet. No sense loosing your leg because some bozzo hit the car going seven. Walk with me."
I just shook my head, confused, then followed him into the staff barracks. The roof held a fog of smoke, reeking of tobacco. The railroad men just seemed to stare at me for a moment, then went back to doing their buisness.
"Hey!" I yelled. "No salute for your superior?"
I only heard a couple scoffs. A few men looked up at me. Dirty, worn down men.
"I'm talking to you! Where's m-"
Suddenly Powell came up from behind and covered my mouth mid-sentence. I yanked it away, directing now to him.
"The hell was that Powell!"
"Hold your lip for one damn second Will."
"Hey!" A voice called out. "You're the man who got booted in Soledad, didn't you"
I looked him over. Tough guy, but I could take him. I was packing.
"Yeah. What about it?" I responded.
The man sat back into his chair, cradling the back rest. "That was the funniest shit I've heard all week. And you're the new Secretary of Transportation right?"
I stepped up to face him down, but Powell's arm stopped me. I diddnt even look at him.
"So what?"
"So? So you're not even fit for this job! I don't even know why you got it. Whoever recruited you was an idiot."
That broke me. I charged at him. Then I felt two strong hands nearly topple me as they dragged me back.
"Calm down Will!"
"Okay." I feigned. "Okay. I'm calm..."
And than I went for my revolver. Powell saw me and somehow drew it first. I caught the hammer. The gun went off in the middle of the barracks, into the roof, draining the smoke.
Over the ringing of me ears, there was an intense laughter. Everyone was laughing up a storm. My face flushed, and tried to yank my gun out of Powell's hands.
"No. You don't get it back until we're done."
"Come on Powell! I'm not a child!" While I reached to try and get it. Powell only extended his arm further, raising it out of my reach.
"So don't fucking act like one, Will."
With his other hand, he pushed mine down. I stopped, sighing in defeat.
Powell went up to the bar, and ordered something. I just stood there, while the occasional glance was followed by laughter. Oh man how I wanted to punch them all. Shoot them all for embarrassing me like that. For talking about Marvin like that!
I was about to step forward, when Powell appeared again with two, small, thermoses in his hands, filled with steaming, brown, liquid. He motioned with his head for me to follow. I did, and he sat us down at the table where the guy was. Powell passed me my cup, and I proceeded to taste it.
The coffee burned me. Pins and needles snaked up my lip and tounge with an intense pain. I recoiled back with my hands shaking badly, spilling more coffee onto my pants.
"Argh!" I yelled as the uncomfortable hot seeped through. My lips felt like they had exploded, and I lost the taste in my tounge. Powel was already on me with a towel, wiping down the table before dapping the coffee out of me.
"You really are green. Aren't you?" The big man said.
"Can it Pete. He just hasn't been seasoned yet. He doesn't know jack."
Pete laughed. "Then we really are doomed eh? I bet you 50 bucks that Will here gets replaced before the year's out."
The entire table froze, even Powell stopped dabbing on me. Then a cold breeze brushed against me from my right. Powell leaned over the table, hanging his head and closing his eyes, then raised to meet him.
"I'll take you up on that bet. ...And I'll raise to a thousand dollars; that Will becomes the best damn Secretary before the end of the year. Right up there with Marvin himself!"
The entire barracks was quiet. Whispers started going around. The big man—Pete—chuckled, nodded, then extended his hand with a toothy grin
"Alright." Powell shook his hand. "Just don't be asking me for money once I clear you out."
"I'd like to see that happen." Powell met his smile. And the two stared at each other for a good long while. Then Powell got up. "Grab your coffee, we're leaving Will."
He was up in an instant. While I fumbled to put the cover back on. I ran outside to catch up with him.
"What the hell was that?" I asked him. Stepping over the rails again.
"Your future." Powell simply said. "I'm gonna make you into a person worthy of carrying the title of Secretary of Transportation."
"But." I stepped in front of him. "I don't even want this job. I can't do none of it."
"Can't or won't?"
I just frowned at him, confused. He led me with a hand on my shoulder.
"Go home. Take the rest of the day off Will. Tomorrow, will be a work day. So get a good night's rest. And get what you need for a fight."
With that, he left me on Alta, as he walked off towards the main offices.
I just stood there, in the strong, frigid, Gonziscan breeze. Blinking.
Something. Something about this. Something about this.
I turned and started walking up the roads back to my house. I knew it was somewhere up, on Cielo Vista street. But I didn't know exactly where, from where I was.