SPEAKER_07 0:33

Ugh, where is she?

SPEAKER_09 0:35

What the a train?

SPEAKER_07 0:37

Oh, quill. Hi. Um, what you up to?

SPEAKER_09 0:41

Just wanted to check on you two. All the craziness from yesterday got everyone pretty wound up, but I'm glad to see someone's having a little fun.

SPEAKER_07 0:48

It's always a fun time in Briar's workshop.

SPEAKER_09 0:51

Ha. I'm glad our little makeshift job on this old junction mineshafted the trick for you girls. Hmm, what's this? Never seen this little guy before. You two building the train or something?

SPEAKER_07 1:03

Sorta. It's more like a mini train. Briar called it something Terran. I can't remember.

SPEAKER_09 1:10

And where is my gearhead anyway?

SPEAKER_07 1:12

Briar? Huh. Beats me. She's somewhere in all this junk.

SPEAKER_09 1:16

You mean she's hiding? What on earth for?

SPEAKER_07 1:20

Rat kat's some weird Terran word, again. But she said it was a game she and her brother Shaft used to play. She's in all this scrap, you say? Yep, but I swear I've been through this mess three times already.

SPEAKER_09 1:37

Kyla, hand me that hammer.

SPEAKER_07 1:40

Thanks. Um, sure.

SPEAKER_08 1:49

Anyone in there? Quell styles and asked way. Hello!

SPEAKER_09 1:53

Can anyone hear me?

SPEAKER_08 2:01

Not funny. Do you know what kind of headache I've got banging away in my head right now? Jeez.

SPEAKER_09 2:09

Oh, I'm sorry, Bri. Just having a little fun. Kyla said you two were playing a game. How did you even know you could hide in a boiler?

SPEAKER_08 2:19

Rak a rat.

SPEAKER_09 2:20

Rak who?

SPEAKER_08 2:21

No, raka-rat. Growing up on Terra trains, kids have to find ways to stay busy. One of our more dangerous games is Rat Catcher's Rat. Rak a rat. One kid the rat catcher goes in the engine car and counts while the others, the rats, hide. If the rat catcher finds you, he shouts rack a rat! Sounds harmless enough. Except that the only real hiding spot are in the machinery. That's the trick. You might end up with fewer people than you started with.

SPEAKER_09 2:50

You Terrans are crazy. You know that. Well, we gotta keep your topsiders guessing. Speaking of guessing, mind explaining your new little pet over there? What may we tear it?

SPEAKER_08 3:01

Ah, a childhood beat that one. A small single car tear a train that rescues people who get stranded below. You can't live in them like standard trains, but they are the fastest thing on the rails. I found this one abandon here in the Junction's Disassembly Warehouse just up the track. He does look a bit scrappy. It's supposed to look that way. You sure about that? Sure. Boy, you've got some girl coming in here telling me what a tear it should look like.

SPEAKER_09 3:28

Okay, uh cool the furnace. I just can't see that little red wagon rescuing anything, that's all.

SPEAKER_07 3:34

It's going to salvation, so it better do some rescuing. Kyla!

SPEAKER_09 3:39

Wait. What?

SPEAKER_08 3:41

I was gonna tell ya, I swear.

SPEAKER_09 3:43

Briar, are you kidding me? Why?

SPEAKER_08 3:46

My family, Quill. Don't worry, the farman's not gonna dupe me into staying in salvation. But me grandad and me brother. They still don't understand the danger they're in. If they want to ignore my letters, fine. Let them try to ignore me. But I promise I was gonna tell you.

SPEAKER_09 4:07

How long have you been planning? Thinking you were going to get away with this this suicide mission? You really are crazy if you think I let you.

SPEAKER_08 4:16

Just because your family never stuck around for you doesn't mean I have to go give it up on mine. Quill, I I'm so sorry, that was No, no.

SPEAKER_09 4:30

It's you're right. Just promise me one thing, okay? Tell me before you go on some crazy adventure down there.

SPEAKER_08 4:40

It's nice to know you care.

SPEAKER_09 4:41

You know it's so much more than that. Do I know? Your rotary reciprocator! I thought I recognized that buzz earlier.

SPEAKER_08 4:51

Just like when I cut you out of the foreman's office when we escaped salvation.

SPEAKER_09 4:55

Yeah. Yeah, I remember. Losing Ann to the foreman that day. Someone I knew so shortly who suddenly meant so much. I didn't know that was possible. Then I heard your voice over that speaker. I knew I couldn't lose you too.

SPEAKER_08 5:13

First time you said you loved me.

SPEAKER_09 5:15

Took me long enough. Look, I won't stop you from reaching out to your family. Just promise me you'll tell me when you do, and that you won't do it on your own, and you won't get into trouble. As usual.

SPEAKER_08 5:27

Well. If you're that concerned about me, fine. And just in case you feel that I need to be rescued from any of my mischief.

SPEAKER_09 5:36

Your reciprocator. Brian!

SPEAKER_08 5:38

Ah, take it, would ya? It's not like you get into any less trouble than me anyway. I kinda always be there to bail you out, but this can.

SPEAKER_09 5:46

Alright, alright. You are a wonderful impossible girl.

SPEAKER_08 5:51

You don't say. Oh! Kyla! The one thing I told you not to touch! But you promised me a ride when we finished.

SPEAKER_09 6:00

Oh, for the love of uh you know, those terror trains yesterday did open up a couple of new tunnels, and I kinda wanna know how you actually drive these things.

SPEAKER_08 6:14

You do? Really?

unknown 6:17

Ha!

SPEAKER_08 6:18

Stalk it, why not? I'd be lying if I didn't say that makes me giddy as a mole in a hole. Uh sh what? Oh, shut your trap of climbing. We have a good couple hours of coal and I know every line from here to salvation.

SPEAKER_09 6:31

Which we're not going to. Sure, sure. So, how do I make it go forward?

SPEAKER_08 6:40

Well, I'd be happy to give you a lesson for a change, Minister. But if you think I'm gonna let you take my little Terry girl out for her first run, you've got another thing coming. Here we go! Woohoo!

SPEAKER_12 7:06

Conductor Ambrose, yes! The chief conductor is aware the foreman's timeline is you sit there with your poly. This is Now hold on a minute! We're doing nothing, you pip squeak! Oh oh oh, is that right? Well, you can just come down here and say that to my face. You leave the foreman to me, Granda, and just finish your tunnel. You block it a piece of pie right! Why Briar wanted this job so much? I'll never know. Ah, just look at the mess I made a granddaugh desk. Much less the project. You stupid drawer. Just wait.

SPEAKER_02 7:52

A false bottom. Letters. Dear grand shaft. I can't begin to Briar.

SPEAKER_11 8:03

Shaft, I tell you, the whole blasted union is been prying in my desk, boy. You lied to me.

SPEAKER_12 8:12

Shaft? You said Briar hasn't even tried to contact us. But I've got what half a dozen letters addressed to the both of us? Both of us!

SPEAKER_11 8:22

You haven't even opened more than one of them. That's all I needed to. She's stubborn as ever. But now she rambles on with all this gibberish quills fetter, parroting it like some kind of empty-headed misty. At least she's trying to reach out to us. Why didn't you tell me she'd sent these? If Briar wanted us, don't you think she could have taken one of those trains on the assurance circuit by now? Why didn't you tell me? I do not have to justify myself to anyone, especially to you. Yeah, except for the foreman. City's pulling all your strings these days. You shut your disrespectful mouth before I shut it for you. Makes you wonder who's really the chief conductor. Get out of my office.

SPEAKER_02 9:07

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04 9:19

How are we looking this morning?

SPEAKER_00 9:21

We've made up enough bread for the rest of the week, and the grain we have will see us through the end of the month.

SPEAKER_04 9:26

It may have to last longer than that. We ate plenty last night, so put us back on rations until further notice. Who knows how long before we get another windfall like this?

SPEAKER_03 9:36

Marlo, your wife's calling. Says it's urgent. All right, all right.

SPEAKER_04 9:45

Rowley?

SPEAKER_06 9:46

Marlo? You're in the old bakery?

SPEAKER_04 9:49

Apparently. Getting the rest of the grain organized to last as long as possible.

SPEAKER_06 9:54

That's good. You always seem to know what to do in situations like this. One might think you're actually enjoying it.

SPEAKER_04 10:03

Rowley, you're not making any sense.

SPEAKER_06 10:06

But not all of us do. I know you think you're doing the right thing, and maybe it was at one point, but it it's not anymore. It's not right. We can't keep living like this. No, Marlo, listen. I have to do the right thing for myself. For Kyla. I hope one day you'll understand why.

SPEAKER_04 10:29

Where are you?

SPEAKER_06 10:31

At a junction, but the conductor says we'll be in salvation in little more than an hour. Say goodbye to Dad. No, no, I'm dad. But Mom.

SPEAKER_04 10:40

No, wait!

SPEAKER_06 10:42

Goodbye, Marlo.

SPEAKER_04 10:44

Rowley!

SPEAKER_08 10:55

Quell, you can drive a terret, all right, but you sure know how to make a mess of one too. And I thought I like to drive fast. Marlo, what are you doing out in weather like this? You're drenched. Marlo, what's wrong?

SPEAKER_04 11:11

Rowley's gone. She's taken Kyla to salvation. What? Why? What happened? She took the first of those terror trains that just left. The second one is still there. I I only just missed her.

SPEAKER_08 11:24

And Kyla. That explains it.

SPEAKER_04 11:26

Explains what? Briar, what?

SPEAKER_08 11:28

Rowley was here only 15 minutes ago to pick up Kyla and she seemed off. She didn't want to talk, didn't a smile, just grabbed Kyla with barely a nod to me and Quill and left.

SPEAKER_04 11:39

I can't believe she would do something so stupid like this. Why?

SPEAKER_08 11:44

Think it had anything to do with you going off at her at the train yesterday?

SPEAKER_04 11:49

Who knows? Maybe I don't know. Things haven't been all that great since I decided to oppose the foreman. You know that. But this? Walking herself and Gyler right into the foreman's grip. Oh, Marlowe. I need your help. I need you, Briar. Get me to salvation without the foreman knowing. Besides, you owe me for getting you the tools for this terret, and if I know you, I'd say you're just as eager to get down there to see your own family. Will you help me or not?

SPEAKER_08 12:23

Marlo, you know I would in a heartbeat. But Quill and I, and well Quill and I took it for its first run today and it ran pretty hard. Terrets aren't meant to be used that often. It'll be a day or two before the coil hearth cools to drive.

SPEAKER_04 12:39

But I don't have these! We've all seen how just one day in salvation can unnaturally change a person. Briar, I need to get down there today.

SPEAKER_08 12:58

First boarding call. Hmm. Marlowe, are you up for a long shot?

SPEAKER_04 13:05

I'm up for anything.

SPEAKER_08 13:07

I can't guarantee a ride back up, but I can get us down without the foreman knowing. Still interested?

SPEAKER_04 13:13

That's all I want.

SPEAKER_08 13:14

One more question. How do you feel about being buried alive?

SPEAKER_12 13:27

You've shown me the real mess of things, haven't you, Bri?

SPEAKER_05 13:32

There's a call for your grandfather, but he's not answering.

SPEAKER_12 13:35

No, I'm conductor. Look, can't you wait till Tuff's not busy?

SPEAKER_05 13:40

It's from conductor competencer, sir. Coming down from assurance. He says it's urgent.

SPEAKER_12 13:47

When isn't it? Fine. Shaft gearlock.

SPEAKER_10 13:53

Glad I was able to get in touch with one of you.

SPEAKER_12 13:55

I'm sorry I can't say the same.

SPEAKER_10 13:57

This is serious, lad. When I was doing my last call from any borders in Taylor Junction, I could have sworn I saw two stubbleways jumped.

SPEAKER_12 14:03

I'm three trying to get people down here.

SPEAKER_10 14:06

And I'd swear one of them was your sister.

SPEAKER_12 14:08

She's on your train right now.

SPEAKER_10 14:10

My crew hasn't found anyone yet, but I'm sure someone is here who shouldn't be.

SPEAKER_12 14:14

Conductor, have your men checked the tender shafts near the coal feeds.

SPEAKER_10 14:18

I'd say probably not.

SPEAKER_12 14:20

Should they? No, no. At least not yet. Tell your men it was a false alarm, but keep an eye out. If nothing happens after ten minutes, following your arrival, go through the coal stores by hand. Do not turn on the sifter. Understood.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Aye, sir. We'll do sir.

SPEAKER_12 14:39

But if we We're a little old for these kind of games, Bri, but I'll play It's hard to breathe.

SPEAKER_08 15:02

I told you. Take small breath so the cold doesn't fall and tightly on your face.

SPEAKER_04 15:15

When you fall very much in the fish.

SPEAKER_08 15:26

Done it dozens of times. It's full. Oh shit. Their call is half full. They'll likely be gone before they start shifting. It'll be fine. Just remember, once we fall out of the hatch into the hydraulics car, we vote for the fire escape on the right.

SPEAKER_04 15:49

It feels like we're slowing down.

SPEAKER_08 15:51

We're here. Now brace yourself.

SPEAKER_04 16:00

We're clear. Let's go.

SPEAKER_08 16:02

Marlowe, wait up.

unknown 16:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 16:04

Here, so where to from here?

SPEAKER_08 16:06

I'd say follow the Oh no. What?

SPEAKER_02 16:13

Rakarat Bryant Right.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

Episode 49. Racquerap was written by Colton Grillier, featuring the voice talents of Joshua Reed, Corinne King, Caleb Towns, Jonathan Bullock, Chris Nelson, Madeline Nelson, Stephania Smith, R.J. Schaefer, and Gretchen Eckert. Sound design by Caleb Lindevolts. Music by Mark McDowell. The Encounter is written, performed, and produced by Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Visit us online at encounterseries.com.