His leg almost gave out under him, but he regained his balance and kept going. The train started chugging forward. No way could he catch it. Almost giving up hope, Harris remembered Albert’s device on his wrist. He punched the red button and felt the heat build. At the point where his wrist was burned, lifted his arm up and held the second button down.

The hook shot out and wedged into the wood canopy over the caboose. Caught now at the end of the train, Harris was pulled with it. He ran alongside; bruised legs pumping to keep up. Afraid of being scraped along the ground, with one frantic leap his hand caught the railing.

He swung his other hand up and hung dangling off the side of the caboose, for what seemed to be forever. Almost at the point of passing out, the train hit a bump on the track. Harris jerked awake. Using the last of his energy, he brought his foot up to the platform’s edge. Pushing up, he lifted his other leg over the railing.

The train hit another bump in the track, bouncing Harris up and forward. He landed on the wood floor with a ‘thump’.

“What was that?” a voice asked.

Another answered, “Probably a bird. They hit us all the time.”

Not sure how long he lay there, but stars now twinkled in the sky. Pulling sore legs under him, and clutching the railing, Harris stood and almost passed out from the pain.

Not good. For some reason, Tamako wants to control Albert. I must protect him. Gritting his teeth, he opened the caboose door.

A train guard gave him a startled look. “Where’d you come from?”

“Last minute catch. Almost missed the train. I’m in cabin 10b. Valet for Timmons.”

“Know you’re bleeding?”

“Yes, slipped as I jumped on. Any way to bypass the dignitary section and get to the food galley?”

“There’s a food passageway, down the side. May have to pass through the cooking section though. Here, slip into the overalls, hide most of the damage. My cap will conceal your face.”

“Thanks. I know my way after that.”

The guard studied the bruises and cuts, “Don’t understand what’s going on, but if it has anything to do with those foreigners, watch your back.”

Harris slipped into the passageway. The cabin door slid open. He froze in position as a Japanese servant pushed a trolley from the room. A guard shut the door behind him. The man disappeared into a busy kitchen. Harris dipped his head down and limped past. No one questioned him.

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He started to enter his cabin, but not sure if Albert was alone, chose to keep going. The dining car was full of passengers. Harris slipped discreetly into a booth in the back.

The waiter recognized him even in disguise and came over. “The porters saw the attack and spread the story. Sir, do you need help? Should I call someone?”

“No, just want coffee and something to eat.”

Throughout the evening, he sipped coffee and occasionally drifted asleep. When the car emptied, the cleaning crew started.

The head waiter glanced over at the dosing man, by then all the workers heard what happened. “Work around Mr. Harris. Let him sleep.”

Harris woke to the sound of clinking glasses. From the window he watched the sky lighten. A steaming cup of coffee was set on his table.

“Will Dr. Timmons be joining you?”

“I believe so.”

A few minutes later, Albert appeared in the doorway. He started to sit at an empty table, but the head waiter motioned to follow him. “Back here is a better place.”

With a confused expression, he started to sit but realized it was already occupied. “Excuse me.”

Harris raised the cap covering his face.

“Mark! You’re safe!” His eyes widened as he studied the cuts and bruises, down to the blood on Harris’s shirt.

“Almost didn’t make it on the train. Your climbing device is stuck on the roof of the caboose.”

“It worked? Wasn’t sure.”

“You gave me an untested device?” Harris stared at him with shocked eyes.

“Well, as you found out, it can only be used once. Didn’t want to waste it.” Albert grinned back at him.

Breakfast was delivered and silence settled between them while they ate. Finished, and pushing back his plate, Harris asked, “How was your evening?”

Albert glumly answered, “I succumbed.”

“Thought you might. Izumi was aggressive even with me watching. She knew the pressure points and coupled with the enticing perfume and herb mixtures, no way could you resist.”

“I saw the attack from my window and tried to jump out and help you. They held the doors shut. After I picked up a chair to break the window, Tamako’s guard entered and touched me somewhere on my neck. I woke up on the bed with Izumi beside me. From then on, the time passed in a haze of pleasure.”

“Trying to figure this all out. The only answer I can come up with is that they do not plan for you to return home. Trapped in a web of seduction, you may not want to leave.”

“Separating me from my protection leaves me defenseless. I see. The question is ‘why’?”

Harris studied his friend. The man was brilliant. His mind ran with the precision of the devices he designed.

“I think they want me to create a war machine. Something along the lines of the Japanese dragon Izumi showed me. They are more like reptiles. Sliding along the ground on three-toed feet. Hmm.”

“Excuse me, Dr. Timmons, but Mr. Harris needs medical help. He’s bleeding.” The head waiter bent over under the pretense of cleaning their table.

“Hiding is not an option. We will walk back together to our cabins. Once there, you can rest, get bandaged, and we can plan.”

Harris tried to ignore the pain and walk alongside him. As they approached the cabins, Izumi stepped out into the hall. When she recognized who was with Albert, her face took on an ugly scowl and then became impassive.

“Harris and I need to discuss my designs. No treatment today.”

She stiffened at the dismissal. “Treatment must not be missed.”

“Well, it will be today.”

“Emissary Tamako requests your presence at lunch.”

“Harris will order food from the dining car. I have an inspiration and need to work on it.”

She bowed and shuffled off with a stiff back.

“Probably regret that, but it sure felt right. Been feeling smothered.”

“Glad to have you back, Albert. Missed the creative adventurer.”

“Just remember, the fan Izumi carries is a weapon. The edges are honed to a razor edge.”

Harris answered, “I had a helpful guard warn me to ‘watch my back’.”