Free The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel Page B

nasty shock.”
    He points at the large white letters painted along the bottom half of the car: danger! do not touch! high voltage!
    As if for emphasis a crow lands on top of the car. There is a violent snap and a flash of light, and the crow falls, stunned, to the gravel. Several people step back with gasps.
    â€œDiscourages vandalism, is all,” says the guard with a stretch and a yawn.
    On the side of the carriage is a tombstone-shaped sign with the words:
    Herein lie the remains of William Cornelius Van Horne.
    With the building of the great railroad, he did more than any other
    Man to ensure forever that:
    â€œHe shall have dominion from sea to sea.” (Psalms 72:8)
    â€œFine tomb,” says a fellow in a brakeman’s overalls and cap, “for an old slave driver.”
    The guard’s eyes widen. “You knew him?”
    â€œBlasted rock for him in the mountains. He’d sooner send a man to his death than wait a minute. He was never a regular working man like you or me.”
    The guard says nothing. The brakeman offers him a cigarette, which the guard takes.
    Will wouldn’t mind getting a sketch of the funeral car, but he’s in too much of a hurry to find Maren. Surely she’ll want to look around the shantytown too. Shouts and laughter and music lilt through the air, drawing Will like a siren song. He plunges into the crowd.
    Just beyond the platform eager boys are selling warm sticky buns and cider. A toothless man thrusts a paper cone of sugared almonds into Will’s hand, and Will decides it’s easiest just to drop some coins into the man’s cup. Someone is playing the accordion. Standing beside his cart, a farmer proclaims his apples and pears the finest in the land. A group of silent brown-robed monks arranges rounds of cheese on an overturned wooden crate.
    Will doesn’t mind the noisy tussle of the crowd. He walks and walks. His eyes search for Maren, and then he realizes she probably won’t be wearing last night’s outfit. The thought of her shapely legs makes his cheeks feel hot. How will he find her in this crush? He’s alongside third-class now, and a small city is pouring off the Boundless. But maybe Maren is looking for him too.
    â€œSasquatch urine!” a man bellows from behind his plank counter. “You won’t find it anywhere else!”
    Will tries to give him a wide berth, but to his dismay the man’s eyes lock on his.
    â€œYoung sir! For you, a special rate!” He holds out a vial.
    Will stares at his shoes but feels rude just walking past. And he has to admit he’s curious.
    â€œWhat’s it for?” he asks.
    The fellow’s face creases with surprise. “What’s it for? My son, this ain’t the city. I don’t know where you’re going—”
    â€œVictoria,” Will tells him.
    â€œWell, there you are. That island is filled with bears and mountain lions—and worse.” He gives the vial a little shake. “This here’s your surefire protection. This urine is guaranteed from a male sasquatch. Obtained at great personal risk! Put a bit of this on you, and all the other animals stay away. You’re untouchable!”
    â€œHow do they collect the urine?” Will can’t help asking.
    â€œWell, my son, these people are brave souls. Fearless. You’ve never seen one of these animals up close.”
    Will says nothing.
    â€œBut maybe you don’t plan to leave the city,” says the merchant, taking in Will’s clothes and shoes, “in which case, you’ll have no need of it.”
    â€œI have seen one, actually,” Will says.
    The vendor’s eyes narrow, taking a second look at him. “Then you’ll want some.”
    â€œI’ll take a vial.”
    â€œMy special price of just one dollar.”
    It seems a lot for a little bit of urine, but Will supposes it was quite difficult to collect—unless it’s just well