Free Reckoning by Kerry Wilkinson Page A

his.
    Without a word, I cross to the other side of the carriage and sit next to Wray, taking his hand in mine. He is still shaking but it is in disbelief, not fear.
    â€˜You did that for me?’ he whispers, stumbling over his words.
    I don’t reply, gripping his hand reassuringly tighter and watching as Rush slowly gets back to his feet.

9
    The rest of the train journey is unsurprisingly quiet. None of the Kingsmen bother to check on us, although the doors and windows are all sealed, so it’s not as if they have any need. Rush brushes away any offers of sympathy or help, refusing to do anything other than skulk to a corner and act as if none of it happened. I try to feel bad about everything – it’s not often I’ve hurt anyone on purpose – but then I remember the way poor Wray was shaking with fear.
    Wray doesn’t talk quite as much through the rest of the journey and I wonder if perhaps he is a little scared of me too. Certainly none of the others bother to approach us.
    Now we are travelling south, I feel my first real moment of excitement as the train begins to slow. We have all heard of Middle England, and seen it on our screens and thinkpads, but none of us will have ever visited here. I push myself against the window and stare upwards, trying to peer around an impossible angle to take in the enormity of it all. I can see two towering glass buildings soaring above us and turn to see another pair on the opposite side. All of us, including Rush, are pressed against the windows in awe, trying to take in what is around us.
    Middle England is a crossroads where our four Realms meet. Each Realm has a tower which serves as a trading and political hub. The people working there are in charge of bartering with each other and allocating our rations, not that I have ever known anyone visit Martindale. Sometimes, if something serious is happening, the screens will show us pictures from Middle England but the images are nothing compared to the sheer majesty of the place. As well as the four towers, there are other smaller but equally impressive buildings. People hurry between them, looking identical in dark suits.
    As we edge slowly through the junction, I try to predict the exact point which means I am at the cross section of the Realms; where I am either in all four at the same time, or none at all, depending on which way you look at it.
    When we accelerate away, I realise I have left the North for the first time ever. I exchange a look with Wray as we sense this is actually happening. I assume we are now in the South but there are no announcements. As the train continues, the scenery is much the same as it is in the North, although there do seem to be more places that have been rebuilt.
    It doesn’t feel like long before the carriage doors slide open and one of the Kingsmen enters, telling us we should arrive at Windsor Castle within half an hour. As he turns to leave, he glances at the marks on Rush’s face. Although I didn’t hit him there, he must have landed awkwardly because one of his eyes has already blackened.
    â€˜Is everything all right here?’ he asks, peering around the cabin, but Rush nods and doesn’t elaborate.
    The man’s eyes are narrow and he looks at us all, wondering if there is something he has missed, but doesn’t add anything before leaving the room.
    After a while, the train slows again and we drop into a tunnel that continues for a few miles until we stop completely. Our carriage is well lit but it is difficult to see anything outside. I press my face against the glass again and think I can make out another train next to us. The atmosphere is more apprehensive and I can feel the nervous energy humming between us.
    There are voices nearby but we all stay sitting as the noise of the train dies. The lights flicker and then go out completely. I feel Wray fidgeting next to me and a shuffling of movement in the carriage. I wonder if Rush will use