“Hi there,” she said. “You must be new here. I’m Alice.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAHuS3SWRjTG
He stared at her in disbelief. She looked like someone from his past life before the apocalypse.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA3FqRYz2zKk
“Who are you?” he asked.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAvOP5AZEo9R
“I’m one of the residents of Eden,” she said. “That’s what we call our city. It’s hidden under the ground, powered by nuclear fusion and solar panels. We have everything we need here: food, water, medicine, entertainment, education… You name it.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANADOQI0hr2JG
She gestured to the other passengers.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAOT2juEYx2N
“These are some of my friends. We’re going back to Eden after a scouting mission on the surface. We’re always looking for new survivors to join us.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANA63fhRWvYCX
She paused and looked at him curiously.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA82QzKSpDEo
“What’s your name?”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAaitk3x3c4R
He hesitated for a moment. He didn’t know if he could trust her or anyone here.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA8NTJLnvw1n
“My name is Jake,” he said.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA4nd806CKCk
“Nice to meet you, Jake,” Alice said. “Where are you from?”
159Please respect copyright.PENANATmjdMcNuLk
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been wandering for a long time. I don’t remember much of my life before the apocalypse.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAG5fjSXQu7n
He didn’t want to tell her about his nightmare or his family. He didn’t know if they were real or not.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAUrT75CJLV9
“I see,” Alice said. “Well, you’re lucky to have found us. We’re always happy to welcome new people to Eden. You’ll love it there.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANA0h4mzWjhE3
She smiled and took his hand.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAZcE25KMffe
“Come on, let me show you around the train.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAEsL3nZ99OR
She led him through the carriage, introducing him to her friends and explaining the features of the train.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAXKwxKMcXNg
“This is our dining car,” she said. “We have a kitchen where we cook fresh food from our farms and gardens. We also have a coffee machine and a vending machine with snacks and drinks.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANArtXRffhfYB
She pointed to a large window on one side of the car.
159Please respect copyright.PENANASlY6p9VaLS
“This is our observation deck,” she said. “We can see the outside world from here. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAowcxCijygE
He looked out the window and saw a barren landscape with ruins of buildings and cars. He saw smoke rising from fires and dust storms sweeping across the horizon. He saw no signs of life or vegetation.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAnWiYBcooG6
He felt a pang of sadness and fear.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAcsyGOe0GMq
“It’s horrible,” he said.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAyakcEqAgv7
Alice squeezed his hand.
159Please respect copyright.PENANATgsCN34VNF
“Don’t worry,” she said. “It’s not like that everywhere. There are still some places where nature has survived and thrived. We visit them sometimes for research and recreation.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAtkDUbkp4nQ
She smiled and pulled him along.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZcSQc8jLj
“Come on, there’s more to see.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAAmFevu9fNl
She took him to the library and said “This is our library. We have many stories here.” “Wow! So many books. What do you guys do with them?” “During long journeys, we often get bored. So, we read these. Do you want to read one?”
159Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZcucKjb7Z
“Nah, I don’t know how to read. Most of my life has been about survival.”
159Please respect copyright.PENANAYXEodmJhFL
Alice looked at Jake with concern. "You don't know how to read? That's not a problem. We have teachers in Eden who can teach you. It's never too late to learn."
159Please respect copyright.PENANAGKgA6h7lUM
Rishang felt a glimmer of hope. He had always wanted to learn how to read, but he never had the opportunity or the resources to do so. "Really? That would be great," he said.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAEknAL1sEr6
Alice smiled. "Of course. We believe that education is important for everyone, no matter their age or background. You'll have access to all kinds of resources and support in Eden."
159Please respect copyright.PENANAzV3krPWVbj
Rishang felt a surge of gratitude towards Alice and her community. He never expected to find such kindness and generosity in this harsh world. "Thank you," he said. "I don't know how to repay you."
159Please respect copyright.PENANA4VgcDo33st
Alice shook her head. "No need to repay us. We do this because we believe in helping each other. We're all in this together, Jake."
159Please respect copyright.PENANAoLYtHk4jDQ
He felt a warm feeling in his heart. He realized that he had found a new family in Alice and the residents of Eden. He looked around the train and saw the friendly faces of the passengers. He felt a sense of belonging that he had never felt before.
159Please respect copyright.PENANAvkY3XxWacs
As the train chugged along towards its destination, he felt a new sense of purpose and hope. He knew that life in Eden wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to face the challenges and make a new life for himself.
159Please respect copyright.PENANA2HBQga74tC
He turned to Alice and said, "I'm ready to start a new chapter in my life. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
159Please respect copyright.PENANAo7popmyNdF
Alice smiled and squeezed his hand. "Welcome to Eden, Jake. We're happy to have you.”
ns216.73.216.151da2