Train Engine

I moved my rook, closing in on the trap I had set for my opponent. "Do you know where we are going?" Asked I, removing my hand from the board. The train hit a little bump just then, causing us to bob slightly, but thankfully not upsetting the board.

"No," answered my opponent, "I'm just along for the ride." He moved to intercept with his knight, which was just as I had hoped. The game was over in three more turns.

I rose with an effort and wandered my weight up one car to the cafeteria. Having ordered a coffee and bagel I sat at a booth and munched awhile, staring out the window, the blur of a foreign landscape flashing by. A friend stopped by and we had a long chat, several hours. Stirring conversation. He also knew not where we were going.

This question had been growing in my mind for some days now, for to me it seemed we kept going and going yet not getting anywhere. No stops, no whistles, no one getting on or off, just endless going. Resolved at last to address the issue, I made my way to the engine. Surely the engineer would be able to answer the question!

The engine was empty. I stood shocked a moment. Then, after rummaging about, I found a small picture taped to the forward window. Faded for the years, it depicted a younger man, a train engineer, with a grin spread wide across his face as he posed for a photo before climbing aboard the engine to set off. Adventure blazed in his eyes. I thought it must have been his first day. So where was he now? I stared wistfully a long moment.

Then I shook my my head and turned away. Lifting my cap to push back my greasy hair, I returned to the cabin car for a nap. "It doesn't much matter anyway," thought I as I drifted off to sleep again.