004 :: The Train
The young woman stared out the train window. She watched her new country pass. Green fields. Animals. Then houses. She leaned her head against the window. She looked at the backs of the houses of London. Big houses with big gardens. Trampolines. And broken sheds. Faded garden toys. Washing lines. Then blocks. Small blocks. Small residential blocks. Pretty gardens. Empty gardens. Londoners do not use their gardens. They do not need to. They have money to buy anything they want. There were shops. Beautiful small shops with smart signs. There were cars. The newest cars. Small. Driverless pods. Roads full of driverless cars. So fast. She smiled as she looked out the window. Smiled as London flowed by.
The train stopped at Clapham International. Simon stood. Left the carriage. She followed. The platform was crowded. The crowd shuffled towards the far end. Down the stairs. Simon spoke.
Christ. You should have come to Heathrow. I hate the border. They are probably going to stop you. (ATS Agency B13)
She smiled at him. He rolled his eyes. They shuffled with the crowd. Towards the passport control barriers. Rows of short gates. One person at a time. Into the gate. Scanned. Wait. Out of the gate. Left is London. Right is control. While they waited a light flashed. A warning sound. All the gates stayed closed. A scruffy young man was sent right from gate number four. He walked with his head down. Everyone watched. He stepped into the control office. The gates started operating again.
That is why it takes so long. Bloydits. (ATS Agency B13)
She smiled at him again. She had no idea what he said. The warning light flashed. Wait. Shuffle. Wait. Simon directed her to go first. Pointed where she should go. He watched her step into the scanner. Left. She stepped through. She walked on. He stepped in. The alarm sounded. He waited. A pretty woman in a suit walked right. To the control office. The alarm stopped. Simon stepped out. Caught up with her. She was waiting. He led her down a tunnel. Passed a sign in her language.
Welcome to London
She stopped at the sign. It changed.
Simon was a few steps ahead. He did not turn. She ran to catch him. He led her to another platform. Another train. Four stops. Simple barrier. It opened as Simon approached. He stopped at the gate. She walked through with him.
005 :: The Shops
