df.theedge-第17部分

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　　The　great　train　was　standing　there；　faintly　hissing；　silver；　immensely　heavy；　stretching　away　in　both　directions　for　as　far　as　one　could　see　in　the　gloom　In　the　Merry　&　Co　office；　I'd　learned　that　each　carriage　（build　of　strong　unpainted　corrugated　aluminium　with　the　corrugations　lying　horizontally）　was　eighty…five　feet　long；　and　there　were　fifteen　carriages　in　all；　counting　the　horses；　the　baggage　and　the　Lornmores。　With　the　engines　as　well；　this　train　covered　more　than　a　quarter　of　a　mile　standing　still
　　Two　furlongs；　I　thought　frivolously；　to　put　it　suitably。　Three　times　round　the　train　more　than　equalled　the　Derby。
　　There　was　another　long　banner；　duplication　of　the　one　in　the　station；　fastened　to　the　side　of　the　train；　telling　all　the　passengers　what　they　were　going　on；　if　they　were　still　in　any　doubt。　The　crew　divided　to　right　and　left　according　to　where　their　jobs　were　and；　following　Emil；　I　found　myself　climbing　up　not　into　the　dining　car　but　into　one　of　the　sleeping　cars。
　　Emil　briefly　consulted　a　notebook；　stowed　his　travel　bag　on　a　rack　in　a　small　bedroom　and　directed　me　to　put　my　bag　in　the　one　next　door。　He　said　I　should　remove　my　raincoat　and　my　jacket　and　hang　them　on　the　hangers　provided。
　　That　done；　he　closed　both　doors　and　we　descended　again　to　the　ground。
　　'It's　easier　to　walk　along　outside　while　we　are　in　the　station；'　he　explained。　He　was　ever　precise。　We　walked　along　beside　the　wheels　until　the　end　of　the　train　was　in　sight　and　finally　walked　past　the　dining　car　and　at　the　end　of　it　swung　upwards　through　its　rear　door　into　the　scene　of　operations。
　　The　special　dining　car　lived　up　to　its　name　with　a　blue　and　red　carpet；　big　blue　padded　leather　chairs；　polished　wood　gleaming　in　the　lights　and　glass　panels　engraved　with　birds。　There　were　windows　all　down　both　sides　with　blue　patterned　curtains　at　intervals　and　green　plants　lodged　above；　behind　pelmets。　Ten　feet　wide；　the　car　was　long　enough　to　acmodate　six　oblong　tables　down　each　side　of　a　wide　aisle　with　four　chairs　at　each…　forty…eight　seats；　as　promised。　All　quiet；　all　empty。　All　waiting。
　　'e；'　Emil　said；　leading　the　way　forward　through　the　splendour；　'I　show　you　the　kitchen。'
　　The　long；　silvery；　all…metal　kitchen　was　already　occupied　by　two　figures　dressed　in　white　trousers　and　jackets　topped　by　high　white　paper　hats：　the　diminutive　lady　chef　from　Montreal　and　a　tall　willowy　young　man　who　introduced　himself　as　Angus；　the　special　chef　employed　by　the　outside　firm　of　top　class　caterers　who　were　providing　for　this　journey　the　sort　of　food　not　usually　served　on　trains
　　It　seemed　to　my　amused　eyes　that　the　two　chefs　were　in　chilly　unfriendliness；　marking　out　their　territories；　each；　in　the　normal　course　of　events；　being　accustomed　to　being　the　boss。
　　Emil；　who　must　have　picked　up　the　same　signals；　spoke　with　a　true　leader's　decisiveness　'In　this　kitchen　this　week　'　he　said　to　me；　'Angus　is　to　mand。　Simone　will　assist。'　Angus　looked　relieved；　Simone　resentful。　'This　is　because；'　Emil　said；　as　if　it　clinched　matters；　which　it　did；　'Angus　and　his　pany　have　designed　le　menu　and　provided　the　food。'
　　The　matter；　everyone　could　see；　was　closed。　Emil　explained　to　me　that　on　this　trip　the　linen；　cutlery　and　glasses　had　been　provided　by　the　caterers；　and　without　more　ado　he　showed　me　first；　where　to　find　everything　and　second；　how　to　set　a　table。
　　He　watched　me　do　the　second　table　in　imitation　of　his　manner。　'You　learn　fast；'　he　said　approvingly。　'If　you　practise；　they　will　not　tell　you　are　not　a　waiter。'
　　I　practised　on　about　half　of　the　remaining　tables　while　the　two　other　dining…room　stewards；　the　real　regular　service　attendants；　Oliver　and　Cathy；　set　the　rest。　They　put　things　right　with　a　smile　when　I　got　them　wrong　and　I　fell　into　their　ways　and　rhythm　of　working　as　well　as　I　could。　Emil　surveyed　the　finished　dining　room　with　a　critical　eye　and　said　that　after　a　week　I　would　probably　be　able　to　fold　a　napkin　tidily。　They　all　smiled：　it　seemed　that　my　napkins　were　already　OK；　and　I　felt　quite　ridiculously　pleased；　and　also　reassured。Outside　the　windows；　the　red　hat　of　a　porter　trundling　luggage　went　by；　with；　in　its　wake；　the　Lorrimores。
　　'They're　boarding；'　Emil　said。　'When　the　train　departs；　our　passengers　will　all　e　here　for　the　champagne。'　He　bustled　about　with　champagne　flutes　and　ice　and　showed　me　how　to　fold　a　napkin　round　the　neck　of　a　bottle　and　how　to　pour　without　drips。　He　seemed　to　have　forgotten　about　only　letting　me　loose　on　water。
　　There　were　voices　outside　as　the　train　came　alive。　I　put　my　head　out　of　the　rear　door　of　the　dining　car　and；　looking　forward；　saw　all　the　passengers　climbing　upwards　into　the　sleeping　cars；　with　porters　following　after　with　their　bags。　Several　people　were　embarking　also　into　the　car　behind　the　dining　car；　into　the　car　which　prised　three　bedrooms；　a　bar；　a　large　lounge　area　and　an　upstairs　glass…domed　observation　deck；　the　whole　lot　known；　I'd　discovered；　as　the　dome　car。
　　Forward　by　the　gate　through　which　the　passengers　were　crowding；　Nell　was　doing　her　stuff　with　bandages　on　the　convincing　bloodiness　of　Ricky。　The　little　scene　concluded；　she　walked　aft；　looking　inward　through　the　windows；　searching　for　someone；　who　in　fact　turned　out　to　be　me。
　　'I　wanted　to　tell　you；'　she　said；　'the　Conductor…　he's　like　the　captain　of　a　ship…knows　that　you're　our　security　guard；　sort　of；　and　he's　agreed　to　help　you　with　anything　you　want；　and　to　let　you　go　everywhere　in　the　train　without　question；　including　the　engines；　as　long　as　the　two　engineers…they're　the　train…drivers…permit　it；　which　he　says　they　will　once　he's　talked　to　them。　Say　you　are　Tommy；　when　you　see　him。'
　　I　gazed　at　her　with　admiration。　'You're　marvellous；'　I　said。
　　'Yes；　aren't　I？'　She　smiled。　'Bill　Baudelaire　did　ask　about　you。　I　said　you　were　here　and　you'd　boarded　early。　He　seemed　satisfied。　Now　I've　got　to　sort　out　all　the　people　who　persist　in　putting　themselves　into　the　wrong　bedrooms　。。。'　She　had　gone　before　she'd　finished　the　sentence；　climbing　into　the　sleeping　car　forward　of　the　kitchen　and　vanishing　from　view。
　　Filmer's　bedroom　was　in　that　car。
　　It　had　been　easy　to　get　myself　moved　away　from　sleeping　next　door　to　him：　it　had　happened　naturally　with　my　demotion　to　crew。　However　much　I　might　want　to　keep　tabs　on　him；　bumping　into　him　several　times　a　day　in　the　corridor　hardly　seemed　the　best　route　to　anonymously。
　　People　started　ing　into　the　dining　room　and　sitting　at　the　tables　regardless　of　the　fact　that　we　were　still　in　the　station。
　　'Where　do　we　sit？'　a　pleasant　faced　woman　asked　Emil；　and　he　said；　'Anywhere；　madam。'　The　man　with　her　demanded　a　double　Scotch　on　the　rocks　and　Emil　told　him　that　alcohol　was　available　only　after　departure。　Emil　was　courteous　and　helpful。　I　listened；　and　I　learned。
　　Mercer　Lorrimore　came　through　into　the　dining　car　followed　by　his　wife；　who　looked　displeased。
　　　'Where　do　we　sit？'　Lorrimore　said　to　me；　and　I　answered　'Anywhere；　sir；'　in　best　Emil　fashion；　which　drew　a　fast　appreciative　grin　from　Emil　himself。
　　Mercer　and　Bambi　chose　a　centrally　located　table　and　were　soon　joined　by　their　less　than　happy　offspring；　Sheridan　audibly　saying；　'I　don't　see　why　we　have　to　sit　in　here　when　we　have　our　own　private　car。'
　　Both　mother　and　daughter　looked　as　if　they　agreed　with　him　but　Mercer；　smiling　round　clenched　molars；　said　with　surprising　bitterness；　'You　will　do　what　I　ask　or　accept　the　consequences。'　And　Sheridan　looked　furious　but　also　afraid。
　　They　had　spoken　as　if　I　weren't　there；　which　in　a　way　I　wasn't；　as　other　passengers　were　moving　round　me；　all　asking　the　same　questions。　'Anywhere；　madam。　Anywhere；　sir；'　I　said；　and　'I'm　afraid　we　can't　serve　alcohol　before　departure。'
　　Departure　came　from　one　instant　to　the　next；　without　any　whistles　blowing；　horns　sounding　or　general　ballyhoo。　One　moment　we　were　stationary；　the　next　sliding　forward　smoothly；　the　transition　from　rest　to　motion　of　a　quarter　of　a　mile　of　metal　achieved　as　if　on　silk。
　　We　emerged　from　the　shadow　of　the　station　into　the　bright　light　of　noon；　and　Daffodil　Quentin　under　her　sunburst　of　curls　made　an　entrance　from　the　dome　car　end；　looking　about　her　as　if　accustomed　to　people　leaping　up　to　help。
　　'Where　do　we　sit？'　she　asked；　not　quite　looking　at　me；　and　I　said；　'Anywhere；　madam。　Wherever　you　like。'
　　She　found　two　seats　free　not　far　from　the　Lorrimores　and；　putting　herself　on　one　chair　and　her　handbag　on　the　other；　said　with　bonhomie　to　the　elderly　couple　already　occupying　the　table；　'I'm　Daffodil　Quentin。　Isn't　this　fun？'　They　agreed　with　her　warmly。　They　knew　who　she　was：　she　was　yesterday's　winner。　They　started　talking　with　animation；　like　almost　everyone　else　in　the　car。　There　was　no　cool　period　here　of　waiting　for　the　ice　to　break。　Any　ice　left　after　the　previous　day's　racing　had　been　broken　conclusively　in　the　scenes　out　in　the　station；　and　the　party　had　already　gelled　and　was　in　full　swing。
　　Emil　beckoned　me　towards　the　kitchen　end；　and　I　went　up　there　into　the　small　lobby　with　a　serving　counter；　a　space　that　made　a　needed　gap　between　the　hot　glittering　galley　and　the　actual　dining　area。　The　lobby　led　on　the　left　to　the　kitchen　and　on　the　right　to　the　corridor　to　the　rest　of　the　train；　along　which　desultory　passengers　were　appearing；　swaying　gently　now　to　the　movement　of　gathering　speed。
　　Behind　the　counter；　Emil　was　opening　bottles　of　Pol　Roger。　Oliver　and　Cathy　were　still　taking　glasses　from　a　cardboard　container　and　arranging　them　on　small　trays。
　　'Would　you　mind　polishing　some　of　these　smeary　glasses？'　Emil　said　to　me；　pointing　at　a　trayful。　'It　would　be　of　great　help。'
　　'Just　tell　me；'　I　said。
　　'Polish　them；'　he　said。
　　'That's　better。'
　　They　all　laughed。　I　picked　up　a　cloth　and　began　polishing　the　tall　flutes；　and　Filmer　emerged　from　the　corridor　and　crossed　into　the　dining　room　without　glancing　our　way。
　　I　watched　him　walk　towards　Daffodil；　who　was　waving　to　him　vigorously；　and　take　the　place　saved　by　her　handbag。　He　had　his　back　to　me；　for　which　I　was　grateful。　Prepared　for　the　closeness　of　him；　I　was　still　unprepared；　still　missing　a　breath。　It　wouldn't　do；　I　thought。　It　was　time　for　a　bit　of　bottle；　nor