Chapter 6

• Sarah sat beside him, leaning against a suitcase. Tristan covered her with part of the blanket she had brought. And turned to the side.
• - Where are you going? - she asked.
• - Why do you want to know? he snapped with another question, keeping his back to her.
• - I asked first.
• "You learn everything so quickly," he remarked.
• She didn't see it, but she could feel that he had cracked a smile.
• “I'll go anywhere,” Tristan replied.
• - Anywhere?
• He turned again, standing beside her and no longer turning his back on her. But he didn't look into her eyes . He was staring straight ahead at nothing.
• “Yes, anywhere. I have nothing. I'm not like you... I don't have possessions, I don't have a home, I don't have a family.
• "Don't you have any relatives?"
• - I have a brother. His name is Eric. But he lives very far from here. I saw him a few times. He was raised by a family that adopted him.
• "And why weren't you adopted?"
• “I spent more time running away from orphanages than I did inside them. I never wanted to be adopted. I've always been free and I want to be like this forever.
• "Like a bird," the girl said, sighing.
• "Like a bird," he confirmed.
• "And why did you choose to stay here, with the suitcases and these dogs, rather than in the carriages with the people?" Don't like people too?
• “It's actually a little more complicated. My case is not like yours, which can be there and prefers to be here. I got on the train as it left after the station. I did not buy a ticket, as I had no money. I'm an intruder... In fact, they wouldn't let me into those cars there without having a ticket. They wouldn't even let me stay here without a ticket. That's why I asked you not to tell anyone . If I tell, I'll be in trouble.
• "I promise not to tell anyone ."
• “I trust you, Sarah. Now let's try to get some sleep. We have a long way to go before we reach Deolinda.
• "When do you plan to visit your brother Eric?" she asked yawning, already almost consumed by sleep.
• "Maybe I'll go soon."
• Sarah had so many questions to ask that boy... Who was he, really? How old was he? Where did you live? But little by little her eyes were closing and she couldn't speak ... But she would ask everything as soon as she woke up.
• Sarah woke up with the sun's rays hitting her face. She gave a start when she realized she was alone. Tristan wasn't there.
• She got up quickly and walked, trying to find him. He saw the back door of the carriage ajar and went towards it.
• The view he had was fabulous. A beautiful little space between the train and the green landscape. She looked to the side and saw Tristan.
• - It is beautiful here! Sarah said.
• - Yes.
• The tops of the mountains still had ice. Below them, a lot of green. Trees at some points framed the path. The train seemed so tiny in the midst of everything she saw... And despite the sun, she felt very cold.
• "That's why I love the world," Tristan said, smiling widely.
• She didn't quite understand what he meant. And she didn't ask either, because she didn't want to look like a naive girl and not know anything and ask for explanations for everything.
• "How old are you, Sarah?" - he asked.
• — I'm 11. How about you? - That was a question she most wanted to ask him.
• “Fifteen.
• — My father always says that a boy after 13 can run a farm.
• “I don't have a farm, so I don't know if I could.
• “I know that.
• — Does your father own a farm in Tulipa?
• - Yes. Owner of Mackerson Farm. It has the largest herd of cattle in the region. He also breeds race horses.
• “I'm very fond of horses.” He smiled.
• - Me too. But I can't ride.
• - Why?
• — My father won't let me, because I'm a girl.
• "And you do everything your parents tell you to?" His forehead creased.
• — Yes... They are my parents.
• “You don't have to do everything they tell you just because they're your parents. And when you don't agree, what do you do? I can't imagine following orders all the time and being prevented from doing things I enjoy. Try to challenge and do something you like but are not allowed to do, at least once... You'll feel good, I guarantee it.
• “I don't think that's right. I'm a child and I need to follow orders until I grow up. And then someone will do my bidding.
• He looked at her and was silent for a few minutes. Sarah could see him so clearly at that time. A tall, thin, black young man, perhaps mixed-race, given the color of his eyes: green. But a shade of green she had never seen in her life. Not so short, messy, completely curly hair. Such a beautiful smile, showing perfect white teeth... The beard was starting to grow in spots. At times he looked like a boy and at other times just a naughty boy. What was certain was that she felt very strange in his presence, as she had never felt before with anyone else. Tristan gave her a sense of protection and fear at the same time.
• “I have a nanny I love and she's black,” she said.
• He looked at her carefully.
• They heard a noise, like a door opening. Tristan leaned back against the door, outside, in the small space they had available, and motioned for Sarah to be silent. She leaned back on the other side of the door, as did he. He closed his eyes. He felt very scared and his heart felt like it would jump out of his mouth. I didn't want to be found there. She didn't want to go back to the carriage with her unpleasant company.
• "Girl, what are you doing here?" asked Manoel when he saw her there.
• "I...I..." Sarah didn't know what to say.
• Her eyes unintentionally landed on Tristan, giving him away. Manoel followed her gaze.
• "What are you doing here, boy?" He looked at one and then the other. "What are 'you two' doing here?"
• “We were…looking at the view,” Sarah said, trying to make light of the situation.
• — I don't care about the scenery. Are you crazy, girl? Alone here with this boy? This is not right. You will now return to your seat.
• Sarah walked slowly towards the door.
• “You don't have to go back if you don't want to, Sarah,” Tristan said.
• Sarah stopped. Tristan was right. She didn't have to go back if she didn't want to. In a few seconds, when he looked back, he saw Manoel with Tristan by the arms.
• "Let him go now," she ordered.
• Manoel let out a mocking laugh full of malice:
• "How long have you two been alone in this car?"
• Sarah didn't understand what he meant by that sarcastic tone. But he could see that he was very angry and aggressive with Tristan. Manoel began swinging the boy by the shoulders from side to side, fiercely. Sarah intervened and slapped Manoel with her delicate hands, trying to prevent the worst.
• “Get out of here, Sarah,” Tristan ordered.
• Sarah didn't come out. I would not obey. He himself had said that at some point he had to do something she wanted, without following orders. And I needed to help him. Manoel released Tristan and took Sarah in his arms, despite the girl's protests. He caught her by her legs, throwing her body over his shoulders. And in that moment, when she looked up, Sarah could see Tristan throwing himself off the train.
• Manoel, upon hearing the noise, released Sarah and stood there, incredulous:
• "How was he able to do this?"
• "He's dead," Sarah screamed, breaking out in tears, running to the guardrail.
• "No... He couldn't have died," said Manoel beside her, in a regretful voice.
• In a short time the boy's body thrown to the ground rose, already far away from the train. She could still hear him in the distance, as he waved:
• "Until next time, Sarah."
• She wiped away her tears and smiled. Tristan was fine, although he would get cold in the middle of nowhere where he had jumped. But I was sure he would find a way. I also knew that the chance of seeing him again was slim to none. But I would love to see you again one day.
• Manoel, very irritated, did not let Sarah return to her seat. She spent the remainder of the trip with him, accompanying him in everything he did. He met the other employees of the train, the kitchen, the drivers, the maids and cleaners . He met all the first and second classes. And everyone treated her very well, even if they didn't understand what that unprotected girl was doing alone on that huge train. And Sarah was very happy to be able to be among them all in the last few hours of the journey. She was more comfortable than she had been in first class, with the strange, cold women who accompanied her. But he never, ever stopped thinking about that boy he'd met. Tristan, the rebellious boy, would never leave her mind...and her heart.