The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim 8)

“All these buttons and whatnot are labeled in Hellion gibberish.”

“Fuck it. I’ll stop it with hoodoo too.”

“Not if I’m driving it.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“You’d be more convincing without all them scars.”

I look out the side of the train at the Orc party over Tartarus.

“Okay. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to stay here in the train. I’m going back to Monster Island and get them to follow me. When they do, you drive the train right up to Tartarus. I’ll open it and let the souls on board.”

“What if the beasties don’t all follow you?”

I look around the cabin and spot a button.

“See that? That’s the air horn. Push it a few times. Maybe it will scare the rest off.”

Bill looks at the button.

“I’d prefer a cannon.”

“Me too, but it’s what we have.”

Bill looks out the window.

“You know, if I get eaten, I’ll be down with them others in the dark.”

“If I can’t pull the hellbeasts off or they come back or won’t leave, you just hit the throttle and keep going.”

“And leave you behind?”

“Exactly.”

He takes a breath.

“Damned stupid thing to say.”

“Well, none of this is going to happen if I can’t start the train.”

“Try it now.”

I look at the control board. If I use Hellion hoodoo I’ll probably blow up the whole thing. But I’ve always been pretty good at improvising spells. Good, but not perfect.

“Here we go.”

I whisper a few words. Nothing happens. A few more. Some of the panel lights come on. Another little whisper. The panel lights blink a few times and the engine rumbles to life.

“Dammit,” says Bill.

I pat him on the back.

“Remember. You don’t do anything until you see them back off.”

He points. “That’s the throttle thing and that’s the horn. Where’s the brake?”

“I think it’s this thing.”