The Hunter Twins are travelling by train to find their mother. As there has been a fire in the train they have to stay some days at Cornucopia until the train will be repaired. I want to express many thanks to the c.c.-creators and a very special ‘thank you’ to Shalua for her Cornucopia World.

*****

When Valdemar woke up, he saw that his sister had dressed already but he didn’t feel like dressing right away. She asked him what he would like for breakfast and he answered: “Let’s see what Daisy prepared for us in that basket.”
While having breakfast, Val went into details telling the dream he had. “You know sis; everything has been made very easy for me; first by our parents and afterwards by you. I think it has been a big mistake. It is just not normal.” Jane didn’t answer but she did not agree with him.

After a while they went to the centre of the town to find a gym. There was a health centre and both of them tried to do something about their bad physical condition.

They really had a hard time because they never had done anything to improve their physical condition.

It didn’t take long before they were exhausted.

They made their minds up to do some training every day. Even in the train they could do so with the TV.

After a while they had a shower and went to a cafeteria to have a soft drink.

It was there that Jane asked: “So… you think it’s not normal that I helped you when you were down and always crying after our parents died? You’re not being fair with me Val…, you would have done the same under the circumstances.”

“No sis, we were both under the same circumstances; but afterwards you took advantage of the fact that I always listened to you by imposing your will.”
“But you needed guidance!”
“Anyway sister, just think that I was walking in a forest on a tile path! That is really quite odd. That path has been constructed by you. It has been all so easy for me that is has made me even a bigger coward than I already used to be.”

It was an unpleasant conversation and they just stood up to walk further to the town centre. They found a municipal greenhouse and went inside but both of them felt so uneasy that they didn’t really enjoy the new things they saw.

They went back to the beach house to pick up their belongings. Val asked why she didn’t want to stay in that beach house. She answered: “I think it’s better to sleep in the train; I don’t want you to wake me up when you have another nightmare.”

The situation was very tense between them. It never had been before. Val decided to talk to Daisy. He told her that he didn’t want to sleep in the same sleeper as his sister and asked her if it would be possible to have another one. She said that it could easily be arranged.
He said that his sister might be afraid to sleep alone and Daisy told him that she could sleep in Val’s former bed. She surely didn’t want Jane to be afraid (!).

When Jane went to bed, she saw that Daisy was sleeping there and she felt that her brother, most probably, had taken the decision to start his independence. She felt a bit if though he had put her ‘out of his way’. In spite of that she slept well.

Val was pleased with himself to have taken that decision but he missed Jane’s company. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t even sleepy and he was pleased that Daisy had believed him and that she slept with his sister. Now, he couldn’t change his mind, even if he wanted.

Next morning, they went again to the Health Centre to do their training. This time they managed to continue over 2 hours at the gym.

They didn’t have much of a conversation. Afterwards while walking back to the train, Val said: “Jane, I hope you’re not angry with me.” She said: “No…, why should I?” but she didn’t sound as warm as usual.
“Jane, I really wouldn’t like to lose you; there’s no better sister in the world than you. I love you sis” and he embraced her. The atmosphere was better after that.

They walked through the park and when Jane uttered the possibility of having lunch in some restaurant, Val said that he would like to surprise her preparing something on the barbecue.
Jane suppressed her first reaction of saying ‘no’ but suddenly she understood that he had started seriously trying to be more independent so she said: “That’s a good idea Val.”

She gave him a compliment for having improved at cooking and he felt his self-respect increase.

After that barbecue, they went to the swimming pool where they had a lot of fun together.

They received a message from Daisy that the train would be prepared to leave tomorrow so they decided to have another look around and visited the Cornucopia Museum.

When it was getting late and Jane said that they had to go back to the train, Val said: “Let’s go a moment to the public library and send an e-mail to Sean.”

Jane was surprised that a bad dream could have such big consequences but she was pleased with the change in her brother’s behaviour.

Later that evening, they still were talking like they used to do before. Jane was pleased when Val said, that he had noticed that he could sleep alone without nightmares and he wanted to use again the same sleeper as Jane.

The train would be leaving at noon; they would still have the morning. They used it to go for another walk and spent part of the time fishing.

And playing chess.

They arrived at the train just in time for lunch and when they felt the train starting to move, they saw that obviously there was a new passenger.

Mr. Field, may I present you to Valdemar and Jane Hunter? Jane… Val… This is Mister Chester Field.
Val, without thinking, said: “Oh my… your parents must have had a great sense of humour!” He regretted it the same moment he said it.

Mr. Field replied: “Mr. Hunter… are you the funny joker of your family?” After that remark, an awful silence fell. Jane saw how her brothers’ self-confidence decreased.

She quickly embraced him and said: “Val, I think that was really very funny”.
Daisy said: “Well Mister Field, let me show you your sleeper” and off they went.
The train had reached his average speed and they knew that the next station would be Venice-Lagoon.

To be continued….