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you jumped that you were up for something crazy.”
    I get out of the car, say ‘what the hell’ under my breath and walk to catch up with him.
    We cross the road and I see what I didn’t see before.  The path is narrow at the opening, but widens enough after we are on it.  There is plenty of light coming through the tress with the moon and the stars, and the city lights too. 
    We walk for about fifteen minutes and all along he says things like “this is it” and “we’re almost there”, and finally “getting close now.”
    We come to a clearing and I hear the sound of the whistle forcing itself through the night air.  I look at him intently now. 
    And he just smiles.

CHAPTER 4
     
    The light is brighter than all the others around and as it rolls past, the train slows.
    “Come on,” he says, running after it.
    Here we go again.
    I make a much easier time of it this time around and I’m in the empty stock car before he even is.
    “Oh, so now you need me to pull you up?” I yell.
    Those words are surely lost in the noise of the blowing whistle.  Or he just ignored them as he jumped and pulled himself up, like something you’d see in a Hollywood chase scene.
    Somehow, his white hat hadn’t moved.  And it’s almost as if he looks better now than when I first saw him tonight on stage.  Like when I jumped on the train, he stepped aside for makeup.  And then reentered.  Missing nothing.
    The cars roll down the tracks now and he motions me to sit next to him in the open door.
    “Great seats.  Enjoy this,” he says, “You’ve got the best view in America tonight.”
    We roll out of view of the city and higher into the towering coastal ridges.  The train feels like it is rounding a corner for some time and then I can see the lights on the water.  Bobbing up and down. 
    The ocean is spread out before us and as I look out ahead of the train, the head light of the first car tells me it’s open for quite a distance.
    There are many ships out there tonight and it is really something.  It is all so peaceful now.  The bumps and sounds of the train have evened and I don’t even hardly notice them anymore.
    Everett has been quiet and so have I.  It’s a sight out in front of us.  One of those sights where you don’t need words.  Nothing needs to be said.
    After a while he moves to the back of the car.  I follow and sit by him. 
    I look over and to my surprise, I see something in his hand. 
    “Oh, here we go again,” I say laughing,
    He laughs too.  And I can do nothing but smile at his cleverness.
    “At least I’m not starving to death this time,” I say.
    “Well, even if you were, you’d be glad to know that I brought two this time.  Here you go.”
    “Am I gonna be in your debt for this?” I ask.
    “None more than you already are!” he replies.
    This car doesn’t smell as bad as the other one for some reason.  Maybe I’ve forgotten because of the view.  Or maybe it’s just that I know him better now.  And the small things don’t matter as much when you are not gasping for air and wondering who this stranger beside you is.
    As I look out, the horizon seems to be getting lower.  I realize that this train is going uphill.  I wonder for a second where it is going, but realize then that it doesn’t really matter.  I’m happy.  For the first time in a long time, I feel happy.
    “Do you trust me?” Everett says suddenly.
    “What do you mean, do I trust you?” I respond.
    “Do you trust me? Yes or no?” he says with more urgency.
    He gets to his feet and he looks out.  I don’t know what he is doing, but his movement makes me jump to my feet too.  Like there is some danger and I need to move.
    “That’s a ridiculous, unfair question Everett.  I just met you a few days ago.  How could I possibly trust you already?”
    “Come on,” he says powerfully.
    The train sounds different now.  Like when you’re on a roller coaster and you hear that clanging noise when it