Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train

“It’s alright, it’s alright~”

Zhou Wuer smiled and said, “This works as well.”

Beside him, Peng Peng explained seriously, “You all experienced a big battle yesterday, so resting up and recovering your energy will make the test results better.”

“Right, let’s start with the registration first.”

Zhou Wuer pointed at the threshold robot and said, “Let me explain ahead of time, after entering your information here, you will enter the system queue. There aren’t too many people today, so it should be done in a few batches. Each batch is 100 people, and it should take about 30 minutes per batch.”

“Hey, handsome, what exactly are we testing?” At that moment, Shasha couldn’t help but ask him, “It’s not some human experiment, right?”

Zhou Wuer laughed at once, “How could it be? Right now, the Phoenix Association’s tests for ability users and enhancers are mainly divided into two steps. One is the Soul Wave Peak Test, and the other is the Limit Coefficient. Combined, these two can give us the person’s evolution level.”

“Soul Wave Peak Test?” Shu Qin walked out at this moment and said, “Can we enhancers also measure Soul Wave?”

“Of course,” Zhou Wuer replied. “Gene evolutionaries are also affected by the Cold Dark Fundamental Particles, which causes humans to undergo over-limit evolution. This is essentially a type of ability. By testing the extreme peak, we can determine the individual’s evolution level and the energy density they possess.”

“This one’s simple,” Peng Peng explained. “You can think of it as a person’s combat talent—courage, mentality, experience, the ability to respond in crises, and how well they’ve developed their own abilities.”

“If Soul Wave Peak represents the power of a gun, then the Limit Coefficient represents the quality of a soldier. Combining both tells us what kind of power this gun can unleash. For example, if a rookie uses a heavy machine gun, they might not even kill a zombie and might break their own hand, but if a skilled person uses a handgun, they can shoot like a sharpshooter. So, the impact of an ability depends on many factors, even including knowledge.”

“Knowledge?!”

“Right,” Peng Peng said, chewing gum and blowing a bubble. Then, she popped the bubble, poked a hole in it with her finger, and the bubble instantly hardened. A gust of air gathered inside, and she clenched her palm. A whirlpool of air shot out, forming a rapidly spinning vortex in her palm. As she compressed her ability, the vortex grew stronger, buzzing with the sound of the airflow.

Buzz buzz buzz!

Boom!

Peng Peng shot the vortex at the ground, instantly blasting a circular hole in the hard surface. Its power was comparable to a bullet!

“Vortex effect, middle school fluid physics knowledge, combined with my ability, can turn ordinary air into an attack more powerful than an alloy bullet,” Peng Peng said calmly as she popped another piece of gum in her mouth.

Lu Xingchen, standing behind the crowd, immediately brightened up upon seeing this. Peng Peng’s move instantly opened up a whole new world to him.

“Physics combined with Fire God power? Interesting,” he murmured to himself.

Even KIKI, who was present, furrowed her brow and thought about it with interest.

Peng Peng’s move was straightforward and easily understood.

Lin Xian then said, “So, this Limit Coefficient varies from person to person, and it’s used to evaluate someone’s talent?”

Zhou Wuer shrugged and said, “That’s the idea. But this evolution level is just a relatively objective numerical evaluation. It doesn’t fully represent a person’s combat power or survival rate. Some abilities are more functional than lethal. For example, flying abilities have a high survival rate and great functionality, but their combat power isn’t necessarily high.”

“We understand that.”

“I heard that there’s material compensation for participating in the test? Is that true?” At this moment, Miao Lu, excited, asked curiously.

“Yes,” Zhou Wuer smiled and said, “As long as you are an Evolution Level, you can receive a box of survival supplies. If you’re at the Diamond Level, besides receiving three boxes of supplies, we’ll also provide a heavy machine gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition!”

“So much?!” The crowd gasped in surprise.

Zhou Wuer nodded. Seeing everyone’s shock, he smugly added, “Heh, if it’s the Berserk Level, we’ll even provide a supply vehicle, a bottle of Cold Dark Reagent, a YJ-03 vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft cannon, and 200 rounds of cannonballs. How’s that? Attractive enough?”

“Ah?!” The crowd exclaimed.

“An anti-aircraft cannon?”

“Is that for real?”

“Absolutely,” Zhou Wuer shrugged and said, “And these are all free. The only condition is that anyone at Diamond Level or above has to leave a blood sample for our Nightwalkers organization’s tracking research.”

Chen Sixuan, upon hearing this, said, “It’s not just for research, right? You probably want these high-level ability users to strengthen cooperation with the Phoenix Association in the future?”

“We do have that intention,” Zhou Wuer replied helplessly. “At the same time, we also hope to help these teams gain higher survival rates. From a certain perspective, these teams that survive against all odds may one day be humanity’s last hope. Of course, the Phoenix Association is happy to invest resources in supporting survivors. That’s our purpose.”

“Besides that, when you undergo the test, our Phoenix colleagues will also give you some simple training based on methods we’ve summarized from the Nightwalkers organization. It should help you. It’s kind of an emergency ability training. So, the Phoenix Association isn’t just about supplying materials. Rescue points across the regions are providing comprehensive survival skills training—not only about abilities but also about firearm usage, medical training, survival routes, black night responses, psychological counseling, and so on…”

“I understand.”

Looking at the team of Longshan No. 1 gradually passing through the threshold into the church square, Lin Xian said to Zhou Wuer, “It looks like we’ll be in the later batches. Can I register now and come back later when there are fewer people? I need to take care of something else.”

Zhou Wuer raised an eyebrow in surprise, “Of course, I’ll wait for you here.”

“Hey, Lin Xian, where are you going? Can I come with you?” KIKI asked.

Lin Xian shook his head and told everyone, “You guys go ahead with the test and learn more. I’ll be right back as soon as I’m done.”

Since Xilan City is still relatively safe, Lin Xian didn’t feel the need to bring KIKI along. Since Zhou Wuer was kind enough to give him some time, he didn’t want to waste it waiting in line.

Buzz~

A dark blue light passed over Lin Xian as he stood in front of the threshold.

“Infinite Convoy, Lin Xian.”

“Scan complete. Former Federation member, Lin Xian, from Jiang City, Dragon Nation. Citizen ID: CN15132192430126. Phoenix Association info synchronized with Infinite Convoy. New survivor ID recorded: D19529527.”

“Please proceed.”

After the successful registration, Lin Xian quickly briefed the team and contacted Shi Diyuan and Monica, preparing to drive to Monica’s Queen Monica ship.

Monica hadn’t expected Lin Xian to bring the entire team for the test while he came ahead to help her repair the vehicles. She had originally wanted to observe the ability users in the convoy, but now she was more concerned about her train. So, after receiving Lin Xian’s message, she immediately drove to pick up Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian.

“Ka-ka, hey, Lin Xian, communication is clear.”

After driving a few blocks, Lin Xian pressed the communicator button and found that the signal was very clear.

“Once they enter the testing area, communication will be blocked. However, my men will relay messages from the perimeter, so the test results of your team will be synchronized in real time.”

On a polar vehicle, Monica, sitting in the front seat, said to Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian in the back.

“It’s fine, it’s still early. We might even get back in time to see. My team is also recording separately. It doesn’t matter if we know now or later. Monica, I’m really interested in your doomsday war vehicle, haha.”

Lin Xian thought the same as Shi Diyuan. After Zhou Wuer mentioned it to him, he already had a basic understanding of the test. For him, he just needed to know the final result. There was no need to spend several hours just to see others' ability test results, especially since he wasn’t very interested in it.

He wasn’t trying to recruit anyone, so since Zhou Wuer had agreed to let him take the test later, he didn’t feel the need to show off his ‘repairman’ identity. With tens of thousands of people in the city, if someone like Hua Xiaoling showed up, it would be a headache. Lin Xian thought it was better to avoid trouble. Besides, he had already been open with the Phoenix Association.

Of course, he was still quite curious about the rewards from the Phoenix Association.

Lu Xingchen, wearing sunglasses and with his arms crossed, heard Lü Chang’s words and grinned, not seeming to care. "As for the reward, I’m not really bothered. I just wonder if such a mundane thing can even detect my true strength."

KIKI glanced at him and said, "Well, you better give it your all, then. Let's see if that machine can give you a high score."

"Geez, that machine looks really scary." Shasha shrank her neck and added, "I don’t know what it’s used for."

"It’s the Peak Value Detection Gauge for Soul Wave Value. You don’t have to go all out; just stand on it, and your body will naturally show its highest Soul Wave Value fluctuation."

At that moment, a female staff member carrying a mobile terminal approached, looking down while operating it. She explained to the group, "I’ll lead you to the testing area now. You’re the fifth group for testing, and it’ll take about two hours. Let me first explain a few important things."

She gestured to a large, circular instrument behind them. "The peak value test is quick. When it’s your turn, just stand on it. It will take only five seconds to complete. Relax; there will be a moment of fear, but don’t worry, it won’t cause any harm to your body."

Just then, the pressure gauge behind them suddenly emitted a loud, electric buzzing sound, followed by an ionized wave that spread out, making the thousands of people watching feel a tingling sensation on their faces.

The huge noise made everyone present feel a jolt of unease. Some from the Dragon Mountain No. 1 group looked around, stunned. "What... What was that noise? Is it really safe? Won’t it kill anyone?"

"No," the staff member reassured them. "Don’t worry, this instrument triggers your body’s automatic defense mechanism, but it won’t cause any real harm. Just close your eyes and relax. The test will be over quickly."

KIKI squinted her eyes, nodding. "Oh, sounds like it makes you feel like you’re dying, causing your body to reflexively show the highest resistance, and that’s how the peak value is measured?"

"Exactly," the staff member confirmed.

Ning Jing from Dragon Mountain No. 1 also nodded. "It’s a good method. This will ensure the accuracy of the test, and the standard will be consistent."

"After the peak value test, you’ll undergo a multi-directional test in the extreme testing chamber behind. Don’t worry; there’s no danger. The test mainly uses holographic projections and some non-lethal mechanical structures for assistance."

The staff member continued, "The extreme test lasts for five minutes. After each batch, the Nightwalkers’ guidance team will provide feedback and answer any questions. You can also communicate directly with them."

Just then, someone who had just finished the test walked down from the instrument, a look of lingering fear on their face.

[Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 320]

"320? That’s already at the Evolution Level, right?" someone asked.

"No, the current standard requires multiplying by the extreme coefficient to determine the final level."

"The extreme coefficient for a normal person can reach about 1.2, so they’re probably close to 400."

The crowd near the church square was in an uproar. After every 10 people were tested on the pressure gauge, they would enter the side testing chambers for the second round of extreme coefficient tests.

Seeing this, Shu Qin from the Infinite Train group asked the staff, "What is the normal range for the extreme coefficient?"

"The Phoenix Union sets the extreme coefficient range between 0.8 and 2. Most normal people exceed 1.1. A value below 1 indicates health issues, such as disabilities or diseases affecting the heart, lungs, nerves, or intellect."

The staff member patiently explained, "A value between 1.2 and 1.3 is considered standard, while 1.4 to 1.5 is excellent. Over 1.6 indicates high intelligence or exceptional physical or combat abilities, along with superior mental resilience."

"If it’s above 1.8, that person is an all-around genius. Even if they’re just an ordinary mutated ability user, their potential is frightening."

"Yeah, very reasonable," said Lu Yong from Dragon Mountain No. 1, nodding. "Your standards are indeed very objective."

"However, this only applies to combat. Other applications can’t be judged in the same way," the staff member said seriously. "The test is just a reference. In the face of dark entities, it doesn’t carry much weight. The battlefield in the Polar Night is brutal, as you all know. The Phoenix Union set these standards to help survivors understand Soul Wave Value fluctuations, monitor our evolutionary progress, and gauge the danger level."

Everyone nodded in agreement. They recognized that understanding how much their evolution changed after enduring the night, battling to the death, or using cold dark agents would help survivors manage their power and boost their confidence. At the same time, they’d have a benchmark to compare the threat posed by Soul Wave Values, not just a numerical value.

It sounded important.

[Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 280]

[Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 430]

[Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 600]

Wow—everyone gasped.

At that moment, a surprising number appeared on the Soul Wave Value Detection Gauge, drawing attention from everyone in the crowd.

A value of 600 meant that, even with an extreme coefficient of 1, this person exceeded the Diamond Level (500).

People stared as a massive man, looking formidable, walked down from the instrument, his eyes cold. He was then guided toward the extreme testing chamber.

"Wow, a Diamond-Level!" Shu Qin and Xiao Yuan from Infinite Train exclaimed, like excited fangirls.

"He can take three boxes of supplies and also get a heavy machine gun and 1,000 rounds of ammo, right?" Shasha, with a look of envy on her face, poked KIKI and said, "KIKI, it’s up to you!"

"I’ve seen that guy. He’s from the Joker Convoy, right?" Chen Sixuan remarked, scanning the first batch of people. Sure enough, she spotted Qian Dele among them, his expression proud.

"Interesting~"

Meanwhile, Lu Xingchen, who had somehow found a recliner, wandered to an empty spot in the square, enjoying the sun while waiting for his test. He couldn’t help but lift his sunglasses and glance over at the crowd, pretending to be calm but feeling a little nervous inside.

Though he knew he’d already surpassed the Evolution Level before in Yubei City, with so many people watching, he had no idea what his current peak Soul Wave Value would be.

"Stay calm, stay calm~"

When the Diamond-Level appeared, the mood in the square grew more excited. All around, the reflections of telescopes gleamed from the surrounding skyscrapers.

"Already a Diamond-Level, that’s amazing~"

"I saw several flying ability users."

"They’re probably from the convoy that reached Xilan City last night."

The discussions from the crowd grew louder.

"Yes, yes, those are them. A few came during the day too."

"I heard Team Leader He brought half of the Investigation Corps, with ground troops and aerial combat units deployed. This looks like a major battle, maybe even with S-Class entities."

"Are you saying they escaped from an S-Class entity attack? No way?"

"Who knows? But if they sent that many people, it means some of these convoys must have some really strong experts, possibly even stronger than the Arctic Wind Alliance or the Cosmic Convoy."

"That’s crazy, the Cosmic Convoy? But can they really compare to the Arctic Wind Alliance? They’ve got more than one Berserker-level fighter."

"Let’s just watch and see~"

Countless staff members dressed in Phoenix Union uniforms were working in an orderly fashion. These personnel were field agents following the Nightwalkers' organization and essentially worked alongside the large Phoenix Union, with their direct department being the Starfire Division, which traveled with them.

The Starfire Division was responsible for assisting and providing security for the Phoenix Union's various locations. Their role was similar to that of the Starfleet, handling various investigative and detection tasks on the frontlines. They also acted as a support point, coordinating the schedules of the Courier Division and the Polar Night Division.

"Have the 3rd group, led by Lin Chuan, investigate the area 100 kilometers to the south."

"The research team requested additional Ability users to guard the lab last night. We are currently short on personnel."

In the main building's Gospel Hall, which had been transformed into a temporary dispatch center for the Nightwalkers, direct communication with the command center located in the southern city was possible.

The Ability testing data from the church square below was also being compiled here.

By the stained-glass windows, a man with a handsome face but not very tall, wearing an earbud-style communicator, was listening to the dispatch information while looking down at the testing square below.

He was Wen Zhuo, the head of the Starfire Division's Western Operations Team within the Nightwalkers.

"A-class personnel, Lin Xian from the Infinite Train convoy—has he been registered yet?"

"Yes, 15 minutes ago. The convoy has 10 people logged in, and they are in the fifth batch of the testing team." An assistant behind him reported.

"Got it."

At this moment, his eyes narrowed, as though he noticed something. In an instant, he disappeared from his spot as a blur, reappearing directly in front of a desk 10 meters away. He grabbed a man who had been sneaking around, attempting to steal something from his desk.

"Damn, it’s only been a month, and your speed has improved again."

The man, caught red-handed, didn't panic. Instead, he grinned and helplessly placed down the bottle of Apricot Blossom Fen Liquor, something even Wen Zhuo hesitated to drink.

Wen Zhuo snatched it back from the man's hands, a rare smile tugging at his usually cold face.

"Get lost. This is my treasure, bought with half a month’s action points. No way!"

Zhou Wuer, the one caught, chuckled awkwardly and said, "You’re so stingy. Can't I at least have a sip?"

With the extreme cold and snow, drinking such liquor at the edge of the Polar Night was indeed a delightful experience.

"Not a drop."

Wen Zhuo spoke coldly, opening a drawer and stuffing the liquor inside. His gaze turned serious as he added, "And it’s working hours now. The Nightwalkers' regulations prohibit alcohol. Even though you're part of the division, I still have the right to request disciplinary action from your superior."

"Do you think I’m scared~?" Zhou Wuer retorted, flopping into a chair with a relaxed look, hands behind his head, grinning. "You’re working, but our Courier Division is on break now, under the command of Supervisor Zhao. So I’m just... relaxing~"

Wen Zhuo glanced over at the other side. Zhou Wuer’s partner, Peng Peng, was sitting with a game console, engrossed in a game. Wen Zhuo’s tone turned serious again.

"If you have time for this, you should be training your Ability. The pressure on the stationed troops is increasing. Your Courier Division may need to reinforce the frontlines at any moment."

"What to train?" Zhou Wuer asked with a faint smile, snapping his fingers. The computer on Wen Zhuo's desk suddenly began to fade, gradually becoming transparent until it vanished entirely. "Before joining the Phoenix Union, someone told me my Ability had great strategic potential and room for development. As you can see, its biggest use is to save my life."

He snapped his fingers again, and the computer reappeared.

"Saving my life is a skill, right?"

Wen Zhuo replied seriously, "You thought your Ability could be better utilized in the Courier Division, not because I suggested it."

"Whatever, whatever~" Zhou Wuer said with a carefree grin. "It's rare that we get a couple of days off, so I came here to take it easy. Your top guy in the Starfire Division isn’t always lecturing those survivors who come for Ability tests, telling them that Ability users are at a natural disadvantage compared to gene-enhanced individuals, so they should focus more on Ability development. Yeah, I listened to that, so I’m not participating in any body training stuff."

Wen Zhuo sneered. "You little brat, don't think I don’t know you’ve been secretly practicing your skills with Jing Tian. Stop pretending to be lazy in front of me."

"By the way," he changed the subject. "In today’s testing sequence, I heard there are two special individuals on the list—one is Lin Xian, and the other is KIKI. You were the one who made contact and issued the Phoenix Order to them, right?"

"Yes, one is a mechanical Ability user, the other is telekinetic. Both are here today."

Zhou Wuer scratched his nose. "But Lin Xian had something come up. He might be a little late."

Wen Zhuo nodded and pondered, "A mechanical Ability user, interesting. Not just the headquarters, but even I’m very interested."

"You better not deceive him. He doesn’t want to join the Nightwalkers to do our bidding, and I’ve heard that the Emperor Plan is also interested in this guy..."

"The Emperor Plan? Don’t they focus on mecha?"

Wen Zhuo almost said something but swallowed the words, his expression flickering slightly as he chose not to comment further.

On the other side, Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan were riding in Monica’s vehicle, heading towards the Western Yan Rail Passenger Station in the northern part of the city. They had actually passed through here last night, but since all the rail lines and even the maintenance spurs were completely filled, they had no choice but to switch to the mining rail line heading towards the western Fenglan Mining Freight Platform.

Xilan City was built on the mountains, and as a former strategic stronghold in the West, the city was surrounded by air-raid shelters. The heavy city walls were mostly concentrated in the eastern and northern parts. The northern entrance was where Lin Xian and the others had entered yesterday, passing through a canyon-like terrain. The famous Xilan Refinery was located about 20 kilometers outside the city, while the eastern side faced the vast Parma Grasslands. Before the extreme cold storms arrived, the roads here were well-connected, with multiple highways, national roads, and railway lines passing through.

The northern part of the city also had a medium-sized airport. Originally a dual-use military and civilian airport, it had now become the headquarters of the Phoenix Union’s Starfleet Air Combat Division. The colossal, awe-inspiring Dreadnought-class airship was currently docked there, and from a high building, one could still see the massive silhouette of the steel giant.

Monica and her team led Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan through several streets and arrived at an underground station entrance for the rail station. As Lin Xian followed behind, he noticed several trains parked underground.

The temperature inside the underground rail system was noticeably higher, and it was much safer than the open-air platforms. The spacious platform had numerous camp tents set up, and several survivors preparing lunch glanced up as Lin Xian’s group walked by.

“I prefer staying in a safe environment, so I parked underground. It’s less windy here, and we won’t get buried in snow. How about it? Not bad, huh?” Monica said with a smile, as though she was sharing her survival tips.

Shi Diyuan didn’t seem too impressed, saying flatly, “It’s comfortable, sure, but if anything happens, it’ll be hard to run down here.”

Shi Diyuan, who managed thousands of people, was usually quite cautious about these things. Lin Xian, having experienced the terror of the No. 9 Underground City, didn’t like the feeling of being underground either.

However, Monica’s choice made sense; there was less concern about cold waves and snow accumulation. The energy would be saved when starting up.

“If it were outside, I wouldn’t want to stay in a cave either,” Monica added, as they walked further along the underground platform.

Ahead of them, a magenta-painted, black-and-red automated heavy train appeared on the tracks. The moment Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan saw it, their expressions changed, for the train’s design was unlike anything they had seen before. It was nothing like the transformed passenger trains like the Infinite Train or Longshan No. 1.

Apart from the automated blast-proof doors, the train was designed as a fully enclosed survival unit. The exterior was made of reinforced composite armor and featured a modular weapon platform. The power carriages included photovoltaic alloy panels, stronger than titanium, meaning the train had more than one energy acquisition method.

Looking at the weapon modules on the sides, Lin Xian guessed that it probably had some hidden missile vertical launchers or railgun electromagnetic cannon stations, but all of them were currently retracted.

Additionally, the drive system, although using conventional track wheels at present, had modules for the Triangle Track strong-magnetized all-terrain drive, and even a magnetic levitation module.

Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan exchanged glances. They knew immediately that the integrated systems on this train were mind-boggling.

At this moment, Lin Xian even began to worry that with so many subsystem components, the vehicle’s practical performance might be compromised, making it more showy than useful. After all, the technological companies from the pre-apocalypse era, when designing such vehicles, often took a speculative approach, focusing on what might happen during an apocalypse, adding all sorts of fancy features for the sake of appearance. But the actual functionality could have been overlooked.

Take maintenance, for example.

These systems would probably work fine in a nuclear winter or zombie apocalypse scenario. But if faced with something like the current monster tides, the delicate subsystem components would start malfunctioning, and the maintenance costs would be overwhelming.

“Shi Big Brother, Captain Lin, how about checking inside?” Monica said with a smile, walking up to the automatic door. The recognition system above scanned them, and the door opened.

Just as the door opened, two men appeared. They looked to be in their thirties, holding wrenches and screwdrivers, covered in black oil stains, obviously in the middle of some repairs.

“Monica!”

“Song Hao, Zhu Pang, did you get the transmission system fixed?” Monica frowned as she asked immediately.

“We couldn’t get it done.” One of the slightly chubby men, Song Hao, said with a distressed expression. “The subsystems underneath are too complex. We couldn’t take them apart in time and had to put them back. We’re worried it might cause problems.”

Song Hao looked at Monica with a displeased glance, his voice heavy. “I think we should leave it to the professionals. Otherwise, we might not even be able to start it.”

Monica’s eyes flashed with anger. She folded her arms and lowered her voice. “Song Hao, I brought you on this mission because you claimed to be a senior mechanic from Chuangke. You’ve been responsible for the maintenance all these months. Now you tell me we need to find professionals?”

Song Hao looked embarrassed. “Monica, I’ve told you many times. The design of this train has a lot of issues, and there are many wear-and-tear parts that need frequent replacement. These things aren’t easy to fix.”

“Are we all just going to sit here and wait for death?!” Monica shot back sharply.

“It’s not that bad. It’s not to the point of not being able to start it,” Song Hao explained. “But it’s better for us to prepare a backup plan in case. For example, we could get a power locomotive. At least the energy carriages aren’t a huge problem right now. If the traction and transmission system fails, we can replace it immediately. That way, we don’t have to worry about breaking down on the road.”

“Yeah, Monica, didn’t we find a Weilong-class high-power electric locomotive at the Fenglan Mining Freight Platform west of the city? It’s broken, but didn’t the people from the Jin Cheng convoy say they could fix it if we give them 40 Blood Crystals?” said the other man, Zhu Pang, chiming in.

“40 Blood Crystals? That expensive?” A voice suddenly came from behind.

Lin Xian furrowed his brow as he walked over. The electric locomotive they were talking about sounded familiar. Was it the one he had casually repaired and driven off last night?