Given the length of the trip ahead of him, and not at all eager to repeat the inevitably tedious search for an unoccupied seat that he had endured on his first two train rides, the normally penurious Carter had decided to pay the extra fare to travel in a first-class compartment. Just the thought of not having to lug his bag down the aisle, squeezing his way the length of the train past the other passengers, had made it well worth the extra expense. After purchasing his ticket, he had strolled at a leisurely pace along the outside of the train until he came to the first-class car. There he had stepped on board and soon found an empty compartment.

Now, comfortably ensconced in his seat as the train was getting under way, his duffel bag stowed in the rack overhead, Carter set his daypack on the seat beside him and unzipped the pocket that held his passport and airline tickets. Next to them rested his train tickets, which he withdrew and clutched in his hand while he waited for the conductor to stop by and punch them.

Carter yawned. Alone as he was in the compartment, he might have stretched out his legs and relaxed. Instead he sat up straight and did his best to stay alert. He was quite tired—the night before was already catching up with him—but for fear of falling asleep and missing his stop, and thereby his connection, he did not dare close his eyes. He would have to wait. The ride northeast to Bologna, the first leg of his journey that day, would only take just over an hour. Once he changed trains and was settled on board, he would have plenty of time to rest.

The train gathered momentum and was soon rushing over the tracks. This was Carter’s third time aboard a train in four days, but the novelty had yet to wear off. In fact, the occasional rigors of finding a seat aside, he liked it more and more. He still found himself entranced by the rhythmic clatter of the rails and the gentle rocking of the carriage. That he was enjoying an entire first-class compartment all to himself was an added bonus. Even if the other seats around him had been taken, he still would have been quite comfortable. Carter stood and pulled down the window to let in some air. He rested his elbows against the window frame and leaned out just enough to feel the breeze on his face while he watched the houses and the people and the landscape roll by as if he were watching a movie. All in all, he reflected, it was a very civilized way to travel.