Unchained

By Sri Kumar G

“And I gathered my consciousness upon this train. Devoid of my possessions and Mr. Smith. Whom I could attend to later.” said the prince as he rose and moved closer to the edge of the door. “Mr. Cole, it is you who stopped this train, is it not?”

“That I did” answered Mr. Cole.

“My bargain still stands Mr. Cole. Tell me how to stop a train and I will give you your weight in gold." said the prince.

“I don’t trust your royal highness from Timbuktu or wherever the fuck you’re from. Who’s to say you ain’t just a company man, tryna trap good folk like me?” responded Jesse.

“You are right to be distrustful. These are after all troubled times. Look at me, Mr. Cole. Do I look like I work for the E.I.C.? Every word I said to you on the boat is true. All I want from you is to tell me how to stop the train and I will hold my end of the bargain. You can trust me on that.” answered the prince.

“Milady, I recognize you from your voice. You’re the woman Mr. Smith was talking to. He must’ve said something about our travels, did he not?” asked the prince to Emily Rose.

“He did say something about a prince he’s travelin’ with and something about a Train. A real big one. He was goin’ on and on about his mother as well.” said Emily Rose.

“See, I am not lying Mr. Cole. Unchain me and let me tell you, my story. I promise at the end you will trust me and end up a rich man. A very rich man.”

“Go get Ada.” Jesse tells Emily Rose.

She rides to the front of the train and moments later Ada DeLuna, Irvin Kane, Frank Buck, Eli Hyde and Emily Rose ride back to the car. There are two additional riders with them. One of them is a young African American boy named Dewey Gibbs and a Native tribe fellow they call Lloyd Songbird.

“Aight, what’s the holdup Jesse. Who is this?" asked Ada.

“Remember that Indian fella who wants to know about trains. That be him. Wants to know how we stopped this train and in exchange he promises my weight in gold.” answered Jesse.

Everyone on the horses laughs at this.

“Tell him he’s got a deal if he gives twice the weight of Old Frank here.” joked Eli.

“You there. Why are you so keen on stopping a train?” asked Ada.

“Unchain me and I’ll tell you everything.” replied the prince.

“Aight. I’ll bite. Unchain him. He tries to run or tries to do something funny, shoot him.” ordered Ada.

Eli Jumps off his horse and goes to the prince and unchains him with a single shot to the chain from his rifle. The free prince begins to narrate his story.

By Sri Kumar G