Blowing up a Snowstorm by Adam Rutter

Among the Rocky Mountains of Alberta in Canada, a long passenger train wound through wooded valleys, turning precariously round tight bends. The train crossed a steel frame viaduct, spanning a deep gorge. The snow blizzard caused poor visibility, making it impossible for the driver to see railway signals ahead. This forced the driver to slow down. Even going at thirty miles an hour, snowflakes struck the cabin window. As the train zigzagged between snow-capped peaks, the border of British Columbia was crossed. Through a tunnel, the passengers endured a quarter of an hour of darkness. After emerging from the other side, the snowy landscape was too bright to look at. The train stopped. A wall of snow blocked a railway cutting. The snow was so deep, it was impossible to see beyond it. There were four hundred passengers on board. Most had come from Montreal. Some literally jumped on board along parts of the line in Ontario because there were two rural stations without a platform. The majority were traveling to Vancouver. But their journey was cut short by severe weather conditions. They were many miles from the nearest town. Snowflakes drifted in the wind. The wind was heard howling above the noise of the engine. Snow drifts streaked across the carriage windows. The passengers were alone in this cold remote landscape. In the fourteenth and fifteenth carriages closest to the engine were students traveling to Vancouver, to study at university. A number of them sat round nearly every table in these two carriages, whereas only six remaining had three. One had two. Christina sat on the inside seat; her head leaning against the window, looking solemnly at snow drifting past the coniferous covered slope. The faint sound of music emanating from her earbuds was audible to the person sitting on the other side of the gangway. She had glossy black hair that covered her right arm, while the other part hung over her left shoulder. Her jumper was as dark as her eyes; a sleeve almost covering her hand. Christina had turned eighteen. She lived in Quebec, and this was the first time she had travelled to a remote corner of Canada since she left high school. Sat opposite was a young man. His name was Alex. He was 21, from Newfoundland. His short black hair was gelled. He wore black jeans and a grey tee shirt. His thumbs were tapping on the screen on his iPhone, texting his mother about the holdup on the line. For the first time since Alex began the epic journey, he took his eyes off the screen, looked at Christina, and smiled. She grimaced. His face dropped, still looking at her while she was gazing out through the window. His eyes shifted between the screen and Christina. Her eyes flashed at him.

‘What,’ she demanded.

‘Nothing,’ said Alex, trying to feign bewilderment.

‘What!’

‘Nothin’!’

‘Well stop staring at me then.’

‘I’m not staring at you.’

‘You are.’

‘I’m not.’

‘I saw you from the corner of my eye.’

‘I was reading my text feeds.’

‘I saw you looking at me.’

‘How can I be looking at you when I'm going through my feeds?’

‘Because I know when you’re looking at me.’

‘How?’

‘You stop tapping on your phone.’

‘Yeah. So?’

‘So every time you stop tapping, you stare at me.’

‘Prove it!’

‘You’re doing it now.’

‘What?’

‘Staring.’

‘I’m talking.’

‘No you’re not. You are arguing.’

‘I’m not arguing.’

‘You are.’

‘I’m not.’

‘You are.’

‘Who started this argument anyway?’

‘You.’

‘Me?’

‘Yeah.’

‘It’s you who started it.’

‘No. It was you.’

‘It wasn’t.’

‘You started this argument. So let's finish it.

Christina looked out through the window, arms folded. Alex continued texting. The train conductor made an important announcement over on the speakers: ‘Good morning ladies and gentleman. I am very sorry to announce that there is snow on the line, and so everyone please stay on board. This train will continue along the railroad once the snow has been cleared. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.’

  The carriage filled with discordant chatter and laughter. A woman pushed a buffet trolley along the gangway. The din of pop cans hissing travelled throughout the entire length of the carriage, crisp packets rustled like trees in a forest combined with the lingering smell of salt and vinegar. The snow was still falling outside. The blanket had risen a few more inches on the ground and the branches on pine trees were hanging down from the weight of the snow. The battery on Alex's phone was winding down. He connected a USB cable with his phone and plugged it into the socket. His eyes shifted back at Christina again.

‘Stop staring at me,’ she growled, clenching a fist in both hands.

‘I'm not.’

‘You’re doing it again.’

‘Doing what again?’

‘You know well what.’

‘What?’

‘Don’t try to fob me off with dumb insolence.’

‘Wow wait a sec.’

‘No. You wait a sec. You’ve been arguing with me since we’ve been stuck here.’

‘Now hold on.’

‘No. You hold on. If you don’t stop staring at me...’

‘I’m not staring at you.’

‘I’ve had enough of your insolence. I'm gonna sit somewhere else.’

  Christina moved two seats away from Alex, with her back to him.

‘Do you have enough breathing space,’ teased Alex.

‘What?’

‘Don’t you think you’re still too close for comfort?’

‘Jack off!’

Alex beamed a cheeky grin as soon as Christina’s back was turned. The buffet trolley was nearing Christina.

‘Can I get you a drink,’ offered Alex.

‘What!?’

‘I want to make it up to you.’

‘Forget it.’

‘Would you like a coke?’

‘No.’

‘Pepsi?’

‘No.’

‘What can I get you?’

‘Nothin’.’

‘Look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry.’

‘I don’t want an apology.’

‘I’m sorry. Okay?’

‘Whatever. I'm staying here.’

‘There's a spare seat at the other end of the carriage.’

‘What?’

‘You’re the one who wanted to sit far away from me, so the seat is free.’

‘Oh first off, you pick an argument with me. Now you shun me.’

‘I’m trying to be helpful.’

‘You’re not.’

‘As long as you stay where you are, we’ll keep on arguing.’

‘Fine. I’ll move on to the next seat, just as you suggested.’

Christina jumped off her seat, and flew down the gangway. The automatic door slid open at the end of the corridor. A middle aged man stepped in and took the seat. She turned round and discovered that her seat had been claimed by someone else. Christina wondered back up again. Alex gave a cheesy grin.

‘You should’ve taken the seat like I told you,’ said Alex, gloating.

‘Suit yourself. I'm going into the next car.’

‘The next car is First Class.’

‘I can afford to buy a First Class ticket.’

‘Wow! You must be worth a few bucks since you can afford First Class.’

‘I am actually, in case you didn’t know.’

‘Do you do online gambling?’

‘No.’

‘So how do you earn your bucks?’

‘I ain't telling you.’

‘I bet you’ve won loads of bucks.’

‘I don’t gamble.’

‘Is that right?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Would you like me to chip in with the cost of your ticket?’

‘No.’

‘I’m just offering financial help.’

‘You don’t need to offer me anything.’

‘Are you sure.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Let’s hope it’ll be paid...in full.’

‘That’s none of your concern.’

‘Trust me. I am not in the least a bit concerned. I only want to show that I care.’

‘Huh! You insult me.’

A group of teenage boys jeered and cat whistled. Christina stormed into the corridor. Alex followed her.

‘Hey, do you really think I’ll let you go in here, asked Alex.

‘Why are you following me?’

‘I’m not following you.’

‘Would you please go away?’

‘No.’

‘I’m sick and tired of you. You’ve been getting under my skin ever since we’ve been stranded here.’

‘And we’ve been arguing with one and other since we’ve been stuck here nonstop.’

‘Oh really? Well done for noticing that because I have news for you.’

‘What?’

‘I’m calling off the argument.’

‘Is that right?’

‘From now on, I’ll be continuing with the rest of this journey by myself, and I don’t want to speak to you again. Ever.’

‘It’s a deal.’

Alex clung onto Christina’s arms, and drew her towards him. There lips pressed against each other. Her hand tousled Alex's hair. She slid her other hand round his back. The engine revved up, and the train pulled away. Alex and Christina were too immersed with one and other to notice that the train was moving. There was cheer and applause among the passengers.