Sporemageddon

The train station was a mess. I’d walked past it a few times while exploring the city. It was a larger station, with several tracks and an area that was walled off where a complex array of switchbacks and... okay, so I didn’t know much of anything when it came to trains. There was a space where they could turn around, and where large warehouses sat, probably for train maintenance or something of that sort.

The main station was what concerned me.

I was with my mother. She had a large bag on her back,with most of our possessions that weren't furniture or otherwise useless to move. Bet was here, with her own mom, and then Willow and Daisy.

If it was just us, then it would be complicated enough, but the station was packed.

Hundreds of people were moving towards the front, and just as many were being pushed aside and rejected.

The sign where prices hung had been removed. In its stead was a wooden board. The cost of a ticket three days ago was ten shilling, basically half a pound. Now it was up to three pounds. A neat six times the original cost. Just enough to price out most people.

I think that if it weren’t for the large force of bullies gathered around, there may have been another riot.

As it was, the kind people of City Nineteen were forming a proper line. There was some jostling for place, but for the most part people were being orderly. We had arrived early enough that we weren’t too deep in the line, though it wasn’t so early that we didn’t see the price get hiked twice.

The people behind the ticket booth were sweating.