One Face in a Million Book 1: Mu Shangaaniana. William Bond
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hotel? Was that the provision that the Lord had for her?
She was about to return to the bench when she noticed a man and a young boy standing in the vicinity. The man was tall, well-dressed, and appeared to have European ancestry. The dark-haired boy with dark eyes at his side appeared to be about eight years old. She appraised the two and was thinking that she might initiate a conversation when the man spoke to her.
“Have you missed your train?” he asked in Portuguese.
“Yes, my bus was late, and I have missed the train to Lourenço Marques,” she replied in Portuguese. “I had thought I might get some help here, but I see the ticket office is now closed. I had wondered if that hotel over there is recommended. I’ve heard there are no more trains going to LM today.”
“There are no more passenger trains,” acknowledged the man, “but there is a freight train that leaves for LM at 6:30 p.m.” He said that people could ride on the train if they could find a place to sit. He went on to explain that the boy’s mother was quite sick, and he was planning to send him to Manhica to stay for a while with his grandparents. He stated that the boy, too, had missed the train to LM, but he had called the grandparents and said that the boy would be coming on the evening freight train. Then, he posed a question.
“If you decided to take the freight train this evening, would you mind keeping an eye on my son?” he asked, continuing in Portuguese. “I would be happy to pay you something.”
Christine quickly considered the situation and decided that taking the train was probably a better option than spending the night in Xinivani, for that would cause her to miss her connections on the next day.
“I’d be happy to keep an eye on your son,” she said in Portuguese, “but you needn’t pay me anything.”
“Well, at least allow me buy you a meal. It is still a couple of hours until the freight train leaves town.”
Christine saw no problem in accepting his invitation, and although he was carrying his son’s luggage, he insisted on carrying her luggage, as well. Within two blocks, they found a small restaurant that seemed acceptable, so they entered the place and had soon seated themselves at an available table. In time, they all decided on a rice and chicken concoction that is familiar fare throughout Mozambique. During the meal, they visited, and Christine acknowledged that she was a student who was on her way to her boarding school in Mbabane, Swaziland. She also mentioned that her mother was a Christian missionary who lived at a small settlement called Tavani which is located in the vicinity of Manjacaze. Later, she disclosed that although her father was deceased, he had also been involved in church work.
The man explained that his wife had become quite ill and could not presently care for their son, Antonio. And because of his job, he could not care for him either, so it had been arranged that Antonio would live with his mother’s parents in Manhica until the situation improved at home. Although, Antonio did not involve himself in the conversation, his dark eyes beheld Christine with approval, and it seemed obvious that he was glad he’d be having a traveling companion so that he wouldn’t have to make the trip to Manhica by himself. When they had finished eating, Christine expressed her thanks for the meal, and after the man had paid for their meals, he carried Antonio and Christine’s luggage as they returned to the depot.
It was around 6:30 p.m. when a steam locomotive could be heard approaching. While one wouldn’t necessarily expect that a freight train would stop at a depot, the man explained that they did, occasionally, especially if the engineer knew that there was a reason to stop.
Perhaps, he had been informed that several people had missed getting the passenger train earlier that day because of a delayed bus.
The engine, the coal car, and a couple of freight cars had slowly passed by the depot before the train at last clanked and clattered to a halt. One freight car had an open door on the side, and a couple of men who had been standing nearby approached the open door and climbed up into the car with the assistance of other men who were riding in that car. Christine saw that the cars were old and dirty, and suddenly the idea of sharing space in an apparently empty freight car did not seem like a very good idea. She was inclined to want to cancel the commitment that she had made to the man and his son, but how could she back out now? She had accepted a meal from the man, and now she felt that she needed to keep her end of the deal. It seemed that the Lord was providing her with the transportation that she needed, but would he also be providing safety for Antonio and herself? The man had wanted her to watch over his son, but perhaps it was the company of a small boy that would make the trip safer for her! Mother had occasionally said, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Was she about to foolishly enter a freight car where her own safety could be in jeopardy, or should she keep a commitment and simply trust that the Lord would grant them both protection?
They were moving toward the place where the men had boarded the freight car when a brakeman approached them from the back of the train.
In Portuguese, he asked what they were wanting to do, and the man replied that the young lady had missed the passenger train to Lourenço Marques and she had agreed to accompany his son to Manhica where he was expecting to be met by his grandfather.
The brakeman understood the situation, but he did not want the fair-skinned young lady and the small boy to ride in a freight car with several dark-skinned natives.
“It will be better for them to ride in the caboose with me,” said the brakeman in Portuguese.
Christine had understood the conversation, but wasn’t it still a caution to ride in the caboose with the brakeman? What was she to do? It seemed that she would have transportation to LM, but should she accept the conditions of the trip? Will the Lord also protect us? she wondered. Despite her reservations, she accompanied Antonio and his father, and they followed the brakeman to the last car of the train.
There, the man embraced his son, indicated that he would talk to him soon, and allowed the brakeman to help him aboard the caboose. He then thanked Christine for taking the responsibility of watching over his son until he disembarked from the train in Manhica. He also pressed some currency into her hand.
Christine didn’t want to accept any money, but the man was insistent, so she did not refuse his kindness. However, she did accept the brakeman’s help as he assisted her and then accepted her luggage and the boy’s luggage onto the rear platform of the caboose.
A few minutes later, the brakeman used his lantern to signal to the engineer that they could depart. He then boarded the caboose, and moments later, a jerking movement was felt and the train commenced, moving slowly along the tracks. For a time, Antonio and Christine stood together at the back of the caboose and waved to the boy’s father, but soon, both he and Xinivani had disappeared from their sight.
For a while, they remained on the rear platform of the caboose. Christine had not asked about the boy’s mother, for she suspected that mention of her might upset him. It seemed likely that he was sad to be leaving his parents—even if it might only be for a short time. The setting sun was nearing the western horizon, and long shadows were stretching across the landscape. The silver tracks which stretched behind them into the distance perhaps now seemed to be the only thing which still linked Antonio with his home.
Though the boy seemed reluctant to leave their place on the rear platform, it had been growing darker, and there was no longer much that could be seen. At last, Christine suggested going inside, and somewhat hesitantly, Antonio accompanied her into the caboose. There, two lit lanterns helped to illuminate the interior. The closest one was near the brakeman who was sitting near the door, and the other lantern was toward the other end of the caboose. The brakemen nodded a greeting as they entered, and he indicated where he had placed their luggage. He also pointed toward a bench where they could sit.
As soon as they had seated themselves, Christine realized the bench was not one that offered any comfort. As she glanced around the interior, she was not surprised that the area was so unkempt. There were clearly no amenities in this place, and she was primarily aware of a subtle swaying motion and a rhythmic and rather monotonous sound that was made as the caboose passed over the endlessly connected rails.
Christine