She's chosen to sit opposite me, I suspect, to keep a better eye on me.
This journey will be a long one, and I know I might eventually have to break my silence and make what conversation I can muster with this...'Infinity'.
We're at least two hours into our travel across the great canyon – they initiated an impressive rail system a year or so ago, supposedly for better access from A to B. Not that it makes the scenery any less pleasant, but it shows how man-made things are always in effect with nature.
I make the most of my sitting in these rather comfy cabin chairs by gazing out over the canyon. Seldom do I choose to offer a glance to my equally less-than-talkative companion, who when I do look is never breaking her stare at me.
The cabin feels almost claustrophobic, the two of its only occupiers, the brief amount of luggage neatly stored away above us.
The smoke freely passes the window occasionally, followed alongside a sharp low tone of the train's whistle.
Two hours, beautiful landscape, and just her staring at me. I doubt I'll find peace any other way.
I swallow my pride and sit back from the window, focusing on the creature before me, who upon noticing I have decided to give her more than a few seconds notice tilts her head in curiosity. Cute.
"What exactly are you, then?"
She looks away briefly before glancing back, readjusting her head back to its natural position.
"What happened to your arm?"
"I believe it is customary for the person to have been asked the question first to answer it first."
"Very true, Mr Silvanus. However, it is only fair that I do not provide an answer for your question, as I know you will not provide an answer for mine."
She's forced a harsh glare from me – we're equally matched, it seems, much to my annoyance.
She remains silent from then on, simply smiling as if she was completely innocent. It really is rather distasteful.
I must say, though, that it wouldn't surprise me if Maraldi was seduced by this creature. Despite my feelings in the matter, she is quite attractive to look at – the patterns of her body are certainly interesting to look at, but the sunlight cast over the canyon brings out the beauty of her eyes, dazzling through her hair.
I gulp once more. Nervous.
Suddenly, the violent opening of doors. We both turn to the door, but she makes the first move and rises from her seat, looking carefully through the window into the train's corridor.
"Marshals. Three of them."
I feel a rush of pins and needles rushing through my natural arm, both hands gripping tightly into fists as I nervously rise to look also; she keeps me back with one arm as she continues to look on.
Panic. I move to the window and open it, sticking my head out briefly. The air has a slight breeze to it, but the warmth of the sun evens it out quite nicely.
I look down, however, to see that the track is stretching across a great gap between two pillars of rock.
I move my head back in just as another blast of smoke and whistle come rushing past the window. I close it, and turn on my feet with a slightly breathier pace.
Several thoughts are rushing past each other in my head, and I struggle to focus on just one as the situation seems to grow worse.
I suddenly remember that my man-made arm is still on show – quickly, I tap in over the wrist and it soon materialises from the shoulder down into a natural-looking arm.
