The Story of Horus Fleet
By Brian Middleton Jr.
When the world was young, and in great need of heroes, one man stood tall above all others. He could lay track faster, and hit nails harder than any man or automaton. His name was Horus Fleet, and it was whispered in homes and saloons the world over that he could lay track faster than a train could ride it. Many men, women and children were unable to believe this. Fortunately, fate provided a chance that the world might see it with their own eyes.
Men and women from all walks of life had gathered at the train station at Berlingate to watch Tomorrow's Dream, the first conductor-less train, make it's initial run. An hour after the train had departed, a young man ran out from the station with panic in his eyes. "The program's all wrong!" he cried, causing a murmur to run through the crowd. Mr. Hardy Thomas, president of the Berlingate Train line, looked over the program that he had created and announced that the boy was correct. The train had been programmed to run onto a track that had not yet been built!
Fortunately for all, Horus Fleet was a locomotive enthusiast, and he was in the crowd. He kissed his fiance on the cheek, said a quiet prayer in his heart, and volunteered his services. "Mr. Thomas, I'll lay that track for you, but you gotta do just as I say," he announced. Mr. Hardy stammered his agreement politely and sent word that everyone should do exactly as Horus commanded. Horus waved to the crowd and then began to run alongside the railroad tracks. In mere seconds he could no longer be seen.
It only took Horus a quarter of an hour to catch up to the train. The passengers could not believe what they saw as the man overtook the lightning quick locomotive. He continued to run on past them until he reached the end of the track. Just as he had requested, men and women from all over the country had spread out the pieces of track that he would need to lay. All he need do now was do the job. And so he did, as quick as could be. He could barely be seen by the people who stood by and watched in wonder as the track seemingly laid itself. It seemed all would be well, and that Horus would have no trouble completing the line long before the train caught him, when a cyclone kicked up out of nowhere and lifted the young man into the air. The cyclone was monster big, and it blew Horus halfway across the country! He didn't allow it to stop his quest though, he knew that the passengers on that train were depending on him. The young man ran as fast as he could across the country and reached the train just as it was about to run out of track. Hurriedly he began to fit pieces together, working faster than he had ever worked before.
Forty-five minutes later the train reached its destination. No one had been hurt, and all was well. But Horus was nowhere to be found. Some say that he went into hiding, knowing that he could never top such an amazing feat. Others say that he went so fast that he broke the barriers of time and was flung into the far future. The only one that knows for sure is Horus, and no one knows where to find him to ask.
- - -
Brian Middleton is a Husband, a musician and a storyteller. His story, "Maddie and the Strange Train was featured in Down in the Dirt Magazine. He has also self-published the fantasy novella, "The Clockwork War.
By Brian Middleton Jr.
When the world was young, and in great need of heroes, one man stood tall above all others. He could lay track faster, and hit nails harder than any man or automaton. His name was Horus Fleet, and it was whispered in homes and saloons the world over that he could lay track faster than a train could ride it. Many men, women and children were unable to believe this. Fortunately, fate provided a chance that the world might see it with their own eyes.
Men and women from all walks of life had gathered at the train station at Berlingate to watch Tomorrow's Dream, the first conductor-less train, make it's initial run. An hour after the train had departed, a young man ran out from the station with panic in his eyes. "The program's all wrong!" he cried, causing a murmur to run through the crowd. Mr. Hardy Thomas, president of the Berlingate Train line, looked over the program that he had created and announced that the boy was correct. The train had been programmed to run onto a track that had not yet been built!
Fortunately for all, Horus Fleet was a locomotive enthusiast, and he was in the crowd. He kissed his fiance on the cheek, said a quiet prayer in his heart, and volunteered his services. "Mr. Thomas, I'll lay that track for you, but you gotta do just as I say," he announced. Mr. Hardy stammered his agreement politely and sent word that everyone should do exactly as Horus commanded. Horus waved to the crowd and then began to run alongside the railroad tracks. In mere seconds he could no longer be seen.
It only took Horus a quarter of an hour to catch up to the train. The passengers could not believe what they saw as the man overtook the lightning quick locomotive. He continued to run on past them until he reached the end of the track. Just as he had requested, men and women from all over the country had spread out the pieces of track that he would need to lay. All he need do now was do the job. And so he did, as quick as could be. He could barely be seen by the people who stood by and watched in wonder as the track seemingly laid itself. It seemed all would be well, and that Horus would have no trouble completing the line long before the train caught him, when a cyclone kicked up out of nowhere and lifted the young man into the air. The cyclone was monster big, and it blew Horus halfway across the country! He didn't allow it to stop his quest though, he knew that the passengers on that train were depending on him. The young man ran as fast as he could across the country and reached the train just as it was about to run out of track. Hurriedly he began to fit pieces together, working faster than he had ever worked before.
Forty-five minutes later the train reached its destination. No one had been hurt, and all was well. But Horus was nowhere to be found. Some say that he went into hiding, knowing that he could never top such an amazing feat. Others say that he went so fast that he broke the barriers of time and was flung into the far future. The only one that knows for sure is Horus, and no one knows where to find him to ask.
- - -
Brian Middleton is a Husband, a musician and a storyteller. His story, "Maddie and the Strange Train was featured in Down in the Dirt Magazine. He has also self-published the fantasy novella, "The Clockwork War.
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