She wasn’t going home. She was going to get these animals where they needed to go. Back before the Silver Arrow, which seemed like a really long time ago now, she used to wish that life was like it was in books, that the whole world was in danger and it was up to her to save it.
She understood now that it was all true. The world really was in danger, and it really was up to her.
She stood up.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Kate said.
21
What Kate Could Do
“I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO,” KATE SAID. “LITERALLY none.”
She was back in the cab with Tom. She’d felt good for a minute there, like she really was the hero of one of those stories, but now that feeling was gone. Her mind was a complete blank.
Tom was watching her.
“What?”
“Why don’t you ask me?” he said.
“Ask you what?”
“If I have any ideas.”
She had to admit it hadn’t occurred to her.
“To be honest, Tom,” Kate said, “I go to you when I need something either eaten or broken. I think of myself as the planning department around here.”
“Seems like you’re all out of plans, though.”
Kate opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, there was a click-bing from the Silver Arrow.
YOU KNOW, KATE
Hm. The train didn’t usually use Kate’s actual name.
“What?”
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS IN LIFE
THAT DOESN’T CALL FOR A SMART REMARK
Tom said nothing, just folded his arms and waited. Kate rolled her eyes.
Though it was true, she had spent a lot of time lately learning about animals and trains, and she hadn’t been paying much attention to her brother. And Tom had come all this way with her. He’d worked just as hard. He hadn’t quit either. He deserved to be listened to.
“Okay. Do you really have an idea?”
“Yes.”
“Is it like that idea you had that one time about jumping off the garage roof using a trash bag from the kitchen as a parachute? And you broke your collarbone?”
“This one,” Tom said, “is even better than that.”
Kate made a hurry-it-up gesture.
“First say I’m awesome and you’re glad I came on the trip with you.”
OMG. Doing the right thing could be downright unpleasant sometimes.
“Fine. You’re awesome and I’m glad you came on the trip with me.”
“Okay,” Tom said. “So while you’ve been hanging out with the animals in the library, I’ve been exploring the train.”
“Great. How does that help?”
“Because,” Tom said, “it means that I’ve looked inside the mystery car, and you haven’t.”
Kate had completely forgotten it was there.