The Lost World

The Lost World

Chapter 7

By: Bairiko

Twenty minutes of mutual observation had passed, Twilight was taking rough notes and calculations on anything she could get her hooves on about the planes that circled overhead, leaving piles of paper and scrap laying all around her. A scientist with a new subject can get a lot done in twenty minutes.

Another variant, She was jotting on a piece of scrap paper, of their crest is visible on the 'tail' and undersides of the wings of these 'airplanes', bringing the known total to four. These include the earlier mentioned spear of the army, anchor of the navy and bare standard version of their flag, where this new version is the crest encircled by a pair of stylized wings. Representative of their Air Cavalry perhaps?

She looked up at one of the circling planes and squinted to try and make out any further details, Colouration suggests a type of camouflage, further reinforcing the idea that these are military in nature as the paint on the underside makes the craft hard to see against the clouds. Wing shape suggests...

Any further contemplation however was cut off by a long, low groan from overhead, drawing everyponies attention.

The repairs and reinforcements to the storm-damaged front support had proven insufficient, the crack yawning wide and far beyond what the metal could support. Groans and creaks emanated from stress cracks as they slowly formed along the main break.

"Oh ponyfeathers," Came a curse from nearby, Captain Zephyr was glaring at the injury to his ship like his gaze alone could repair the gash. When it didn't he looked towards the Princess and gave her a slight shake of the head, the Princess answering with a nod.

"Alright ponies!" He shouted, "Everypony who can fly, grab somepony who can't, then prep the ship for an emergency water landing!"

Immediately after his order Twilight yelped as she found herself plucked from the deck, strong cyan arms wrapped around her barrel as they flashed over the railing of the ship. At the sight of the ocean far below her she tensed up, emitting a squeak that would have made Fluttershy proud, and heard a stifled giggle from above. When she looked up she saw Rainbow Dash's signature mane fluttering in the breeze as she carried Twilight away from the now descending airship, her eyes shining as she gave the scared unicorn a reassuring smile.

Twilight glanced around, seeing each of her fellow adventurers being carried away by a pegasus. Fluttershy was carrying Pinkie Pie, something that didn't seem to strain the demure pegaus at all. Daring Do had Rarity, who was clinging to the adventurers neck with as much strength as she could muster. Spitfire had Applejack resting on her back as she flew off the ship, the farmers forelegs wrapped around Spitfires torso in a reversal of Twilight's current position. Princess Celestia was carrying Shining Armour in her magic as the guard turned prince flailed helplessly in the aura. Lyra, Octavia and Vinyl were carried by pegasus guards.

Twilight cast a quick spell on herself and directed Rainbow towards a large cloud floating nearby, signalling towards the others to follow. As they approached she cast the same spell on every non-pegasus there and settled on the cloud safely. From their new vantage point they watched the events that transpired next.

The Zephyr, free of any earth-bound non-crew members began descending, her pegasus compliment zipping about her frame with practiced efficiency as they stripped off the guiding fins and replaced the wide air propellers with smaller naval ones. When they had finished the airship truly looked like a sea vessel hung from a balloon as she approached the waves below.

What had originally been intended as a way to take pressure and stress off of the damaged support however became the catalyst for what happened next.

The seas were a bit too rough, and the airship came down too fast, for when she hit the water a horrible Snap! filled the air. The Zephyr had come down in the trench of a swell right when the water began to rise once more, pushing the airship back up as the weight of the balloon came down. The crack, which had formed from opposing forces on the sides of the vessel, was caught at the wrong angle of forces above and below, shearing it in half.

A gout of water burst upward as the balloon crashed across the deck, forcing the bow temporarily underwater as the weight settled. Listing precariously to the side, pegasus crew quickly jumped overboard and into the skies while unicorns hastily set spells into motion to salvage what they could. Captain Zephyr could be heard shouting orders even from Twilight's vantage point on the clouds.

Slowly but surely the airship regained equilibrium as the bow popped back up from the ocean and pegasi swarmed the balloon, deflating it slowly and in concert with the unicorns still on deck. The support system proved too unstable and damaged so, despite efforts, they were forced to jettison the entire ensemble. The steel framework kicking up a fine mist as it splashed into the ocean, sinking out of sight as the pegasi folded up the salvaged balloon over the air-turned-sea ship.

The human aircraft had not been idle either, pulling away sharply when all the pegasi emerged from the ship, before continuing their circling at a safer distance. Once the airship hit the water however, and it became clear something was wrong, the plane with the manticore motif swooped low over the ponies seated on the cloud, startling them with the loud roar of its engine before wiggling its wings and flying off over the ocean. The other, undecorated plane continued to circle overhead unabated.

"What was that for?!" Rainbow shouted at the retreating craft as she lifted off the cloud, "Why're you running off now huh?!"

"Rainbow..." Twilight warned, "We still don't know what it's doing or what it can do, so please sit back down,"

"You saw it though," Rainbow said, "It just ran off and left its buddy here to watch us, who knows what could happen next,"

"Precisely," They both looked over their shoulders. "You don't know what it is doing, so why follow it?" Princess Celestia was saying. "Following something that is potentially dangerous to an unknown location is a foolish mistake miss Dash," She smiled, "And I believe it is getting help,"

"It had better be," Captain Zephyr said as he alighted on the cloud nearby. "This trip hasn't exactly been kind to my ship your highness," He said in a reserved, but still clearly angry tone.

"I understand your frustrations captain," Celestia said, "I am sure that the Terrans will be able to make any repairs necessary to your fathers ship, and I will personally pay for the cost as well,"

The pegasus blinked, "Well, thank you for your generosity your Highness, but we still won't be able to go anywhere for a few hours yet," He turned to gaze down at the ship bobbing in the ocean, gouges of wood missing from the bow and all sorts of other damages to her deck. "Unless that thing flew off to get a tugboat at least,"

"Well, at least we've got ourselves a cloud!" Lyra shouted from the back of the group as she hopped up and down, "Clouds are cool,"

"Yeah, I gotta admit this is pretty fun," Vinyl said as she bounced in place, the cloud acting like a giant trampoline.

"Vinyl, do stop that," Octavia said from beside the bouncing DJ.

"Awe, you're just jealous cuz you can't bounce with a stick in your rump Octy,"

"Yes Vinyl," The grey mare deadpanned, "I want you to stop jumping around like a foal and shaking everypony around because I have a stick in my rump,"

Vinyl and Lyra both stopped and looked around, noticing that indeed their bouncing had shaken the cloud and caused a few ponies to fall to their bellies. "Oh, hehe oops?"

"Anchors away!"

The ships anchor chains rattled as they shot overboard, following the two anchors as they crashed into and below the waves.

"Status?" Captain Zephyr asked as he paced the ship, watching aircolts turned sailors and the ship carpenter as they repaired the damages done.

"A bit of surface damage to the deck, a fair bit of flooding in the lower levels and the loss of our flight ability," Aurora listed off as she followed behind him.

"Could have been a lot worse," The blue stallion said, "Bilge pumps are already going I assume?"

"Yes Captain,"

"Alright, send somepony up to tell those Canterlot fillies and the Princess they can come down out of the clouds now,"

The deck was mostly cleared of splinters and the damaged wood was largely replaced by the time the girls returned to the Zephyr.

"My notes!" Twilight yelped as soon as Rainbow deposited her back on deck, galloping to where she had been seated at the bow of the ship. Predictably, all of the papers were either missing or ruined. Twilight plopped down on her rump and stared out over the water.

"Uh, Twi?" Rainbow said as she walked up behind the sulking mare, dodging splinters of wood and pools of water left on deck, "They're just notes, you can re-take them easily enough,"

"But they won't ever be the same," Twilight lamented as she observed the torn, soaked and ruined notes that were left.

Rainbow just gave the unicorn an incredulous look before trotting off, muttering "Eggheads..."

"No no no no NO!" Vinyl shouted as she galloped towards the entrance to below decks.

"And just what is the matter now Vinyl?" Octavia asked as she followed behind the white unicorn.

"Ship...water...flooding...RECORDS!" Vinyl squeezed out as she threw her full weight into trying to open the door. Octavia just stood there watching and trying not to laugh.

Oh Vinyl, only you would get so worked up over getting your records wet, She thought. Wait, isn't my cabin right beside hers? And there was flooding, which means... Oh sweet Celestia "MY CELLO!"

Now the poor door had the full weight and strength of a unicorn and earth pony pushing against it.

"They uh, do realize the door opens outwards right?" Daring Do asked from off to the side.

"Nope," Lyra answered from beside her.

"Should we tell them?"

"Nah, they'll figure it out eventually," Lyra chuckled, "And besides, this is funny to watch,"

"Thank Celestia we're off that cloud," Applejack said as she took careful steps on deck, "Give me some solid dry land any day,"

"Silly AJ," Pinkie chirped as she bounced over to throw a hoof over Applejacks shoulder, "We're no where near solid dry land, we're on a ship bobbing in the middle of the ocean and the only dry land is a hundred meters underwater or way over there!" Pinkie pointed a hoof at the cliff face in front of the ship.

"Pinkie dear, you're not helping," Rarity said. Pinkie stepped back and looked over at the pristine white unicorn, who pointed back at Applejack.

The farm mare was almost as green in the face as Granny Smiths coat, and the way she waved back and forth was almost like she was just now registering the gentle bobbing of the ship. With a final woozy glance around, she let out a soft *hurk* and galloped to the railing. The noises that followed made both mares cringe.

"Oopsie daisy," Pinkie said. She walked up beside the sick mare and said, "Hey Applejack, you alright?"

"O-oh my!" Came a soft squeak from behind them. Fluttershy landed softly beside Rarity and looked towards the orange mare leaning over the railing. "What happened?"

"Pinkie Pie made Applejack seasick," Rarity answered, cringing again at the sounds the poor mare was making and going slightly green herself. "I-I think I'm going to go sit down now," She said as she trotted off, magically levitating Vinyl and Octavia off the door and opening it. The two suspended mares glanced at each other before racing through the newly opened portal, followed by a chuckling Lyra and Daring Do.

Fluttershy glided forward softly and after gently moving Pinkie out of the way, apologizing while she was at it, sat Applejack down beside the railing. She reached into a small bag hidden away under her wing and withdrew a small root.

"Here Applejack," She said softly, "This it should help you,"

Applejack just looked at the root in front of her before turning away. "Uh uh uh," Fluttershy admonished gently, "Just put it under your tongue and suck on it, it should help," The orange mare nodded and did as she was told.

A few minutes later Applejack looked much better, Fluttershy smiled and helped her to her hooves before escorting her back down towards the mess hall for a drink.

Two hours had passed since the Zephyr was forced to land in the waters off the coast of Terra, and the ponies were just about ready to get underway once more. The circling human aircraft had left an hour ago, much to Twilights displeasure, and neither it nor the manticore painted one had returned.

A loud blast of sound startled everypony on board. Twilight jerked skywards from where she was retaking her earlier notes for the last half hour and looked around.

"There! Over to the left!" Spitfire shouted. Twilight looked over herself and froze. Where the airplane that had circled overhead had been ingenious, what she saw now looked impossible.

Lumbering towards them was a large dark grey mass of steel easily twice as long as the Zephyr and moving twice as fast as she could. The knife like prow slicing through the waves as she approached,

The ship, no doubt human, pulled sharp to starboard, bringing the full length of the vessel to bear as she came alongside the pony ship about two hundred meters away. Where the Zephyr had the bridge located near the rear of the ship, the large superstructure of the human ship was near her bow. Behind that three large smoke stacks billowed dark grey smoke into the air as a complex system of sparkling wires ran about, far above the heads of the human crew members lining the rails.

They're just like us, Twilight observed as she looked beside her. In the amount of time in between the blast of noise and now, every single pony on board had lined the railing, pegasi floating in the air above them. They've probably never seen a ship like ours, just like we've never seen a ship like theirs, but what are the purposes of those things? She thought as she looked at about five raised and two semi raised platforms spread along her length, each with a metal box and pipe like structure jutting out.

At her rear stood the confirmation of what Twilight thought. A lone flag pole stood and there, fluttering gently in the breeze, flew the flag the Princess had described in her story, crimson and sapphire bands alongside the crest complete with the anchor.

Then something strange happened. Another loud noise burst forth, then a voice spoke.

"What did you see walk down Greatwood Avenue seven year ago?" A heavily accented voice shouted in broken Equish from the human ship.

Princess Celestia smiled from where she stood three ponies down from Twilight before she yelled out in Terran. Twilight could barely understand what she was saying. "Three pink hydras!"

"Welcome then to you, and welcome to Empire!" The same voice, female sounding Twilight thought, shouted back.

The sun was setting behind the cliff face to the right as the Zephyr found herself steaming as fast as she could behind the human vessel, now known to be a 'cruiser' named the INS Westmarch. The aircraft with the manticore motif had returned shortly after the cruiser had arrived and was now flying oblong circles around both vessels as they plowed through the waves.

Celestia had flown onto the human vessel half an hour before to talk with the human captain before returning the the Zephyr. She now sat with the six elements in the map room once more, talking with them about what she had learned.

"The Westmarch, as she is known, is captained by a fine woman," She was saying, "Both her, her ship, and the aircraft were ordered to watch the coast for us and to escort us to either port, if we arrived by ship, or directly to the capital if we arrived by air,"

"So we'll be arriving at a port soon?" Applejack hopefully asked, still slightly green in the face.

"Yes Applejack, by this time tomorrow we will be on land," The Princess said. She chuckled when Applejack grinned in relief as she slipped the ginger root back under her tongue.

"You said they were ordered to watch out for us?" Twilight asked, "So they knew we were on our way here?"

"Yes Twilight, I did mention I had spoken with the Terran Emperor did I not?" Celestia said.

"Oh yeah, you did," Twilight chuckled nervously.

"No need to be nervous my faithful student," The princess said, "Sometimes it's easy to forget some things," The Solar diarch glanced around at the assembled ponies before adding, "Now then, I need to go share this news with the others, I'll see you all at breakfast in the morning?" Every pony nodded, so the princess excused herself to go meet with the others.

Rainbow Dash stepped out into the fresh night air hours later, Lunas moon shining bright as the crescent above illuminated the night. She glanced around and saw exactly what she expected to see, Twilight Sparkle sitting exactly where she had been earlier in the day, doing the exact same thing as she took more notes on what she could see of the Westmarch.

"Twilight?" She called out to the lavender unicorn, who didn't respond. "Yo Twilight!" She yelled. Still no response. Undaunted the cerulean pegasus flew over and landed right beside the occupied unicorn. "Don't you think you should be in bed? It's like, one in the morning!"

"Is it really that late?" The unicorn asked as she tore her gaze away from the dark silhouette of the ship before them.

"Yeah," Rainbow looked over the sizable pile of notes beside the unicorn, "How long have you been out here for anyways?"

"Clearly longer than I thought," Twilight said as she stood up, her back popping multiple times as she did so and earning a relieved sigh from the mare. "Can you believe it though Rainbow?" She said excitedly, "We're finally here!"

"Uh, weren't you scared of them for the longest time?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight looked a bit sheepish as she turned away. When Rainbow followed her gaze she saw the purple mare watching the stern of the Westmarch as the Terran vessel steamed along. They watched the small silhouettes of the occasional human sailor flit about on board in the light cast by the moon and the ships own running lights.

"I guess I was wasn't I?" She sighed, "I guess I was just worried. They had been exiled for over one thousand years, so I just couldn't help but wonder what they had done to deserve such a punishment," She looked over at the chromatic pegasus, who had turned to listen to her fully, "But now that we're here, and to see even this small example of what they have done in the meantime," She stopped as her hoof waved over the human ship and the sky above, where the airplane had been circling before nightfall.

"They have aircraft designs we could never have imagined, and ships made entirely of metal that still somehow float," She quietly said after a short pause, "What else do they have hidden away in their land? What is the history that lead to all this? What will ponies do now that the Lost Continent is no longer lost? Humans now that they're free from their exile?" Twilight sat on her haunches as she fell silent once more.

Rainbow Dash just stood their deep in thought. In all honesty she had thought of a few of those questions as well, and if she had the others certainly had as well. She looked over the Westmarch once more before looking up towards the moon. When her eyes fell back on the lavender mare beside her, she smiled.

"Well I guess we'll just have to wait and see won't we?" She said before poking Twilight in the ribs, "Come on Twi, up and at em, it's a bit too late at night for this kind of deep thinking," Twilight looked up at the moon and nodded, her lavender aura encompassing her latest collection of notes and sorting them into a pair of saddlebags that sat nearby. She was surprised when Rainbow Dash walked over and picked up the saddlebags for her.

"Come on Twi, I'll walk you to your room," Dash said in response to Twilights questioning look. She dipped into a playful half bow at the unicorns giggle, "Lead the way,"

Twilight giggled again before she let loose a big yawn, "Why thank you kind ma'am, just this way," She turned and, with a flash of magic, the door off the deck popped open, allowing both mares to walk through before another flash closed it tight.

Neither mare noticed, by some coincidence, the almost glowing figure on the rear of the Zephyr overlooking their little exchange. "Ah to be young and in love," Celestia said with a gentle smile.

Twilight couldn't believe her eyes.

Earlier in the morning the Westmarch had lead the Zephyr through a wide straight farther along the coast to the south, which the ships had passed through under the imposing over watch of more aircraft and two impressive facilities with massive metal tubes carved into the cliff faces overlooking the water.

The sun shone brightly that morning as the two ships had then entered into what could only be a massive bay or inland sea, with islands spread out here and there ranging in sizes from small to large. A hoof full of other ships could be seen sailing in the sunshine, some truly sailing while others driven by prop.

Another hour of sailing, complete with strange looks from the other vessels directed at the wooden sail ship without a sail brought the ponies to a nearby port facility, and this is where Twilights eyes would run afoul with her as they came in to the port itself.

Where the ship leading them was big by pony standards, this ship seemingly under construction at the port was simply huge. Twice as long as the Westmarch, which herself was twice as long as the Zephyr, the ship had a skeletal superstructure in the middle and behind one completed, immense platform supporting a metal box that could serve as a house if need be. From this metal box, three massive metal pipes extended over its partially completed twin in front. A similar situation could be found behind the central tower, with one completed platform overlooking a partially completed one.

There is absolutely no way that thing could possibly float, Twilight thought as she examined the largest ship she had ever seen more closely. Although those metal tubes seem to be a common occurrence here, some kind of weapon? She shuddered at the thought of what kind of weapon needs to be so large.

"Woah," Was all Rainbow Dash could say.

"Yes, an impressive sight," Princess Celestia said as she walked over to lean on the railing. "Unfortunately we won't have long to admire it, a train is waiting for us once we get on land, so might I suggest you girls go and collect your bags?"

When Twilight had returned, saddlebags resting on her flank, she was greeted with the sight of all her co-adventurers crowded before a gangplank. Twilight pushed her way to the front of the group to see what was happening and, when she did, gasped softly at what she saw. Speaking with the Princess was a human, the first human Twilight had ever seen up close, and she was awestruck.

He was standing there, almost eye level with the princess at around eleven hooves tall, dressed in some kind of khaki coloured uniform not unlike a royal guards dress uniform with a peaked hat perched on his head. Around his waist he wore a black leather belt with a loop extending over his left shoulder with only an oddly shaped pouch on his right hip, and brown boots which his pant legs were tucked into. Rarity did not seem enthusiastic about the uniforms colour choice however as she too observed the human and his two companions.

The two other humans on board were dressed similarly to the first, with some key differences. Where the first had a peaked cap resting on his head, these two wore some type of steel pan helmet and more pouches hanging from a harness around their shoulders. Instead of their pants being tucked into their boots they had strips of fabric wrapped tight around their lower legs, streamlining them and splattered with old mud stains. Most concerning however were the two spear like weapons resting against their shoulders, butts resting in the palms of their hands as they hung at their sides with a knife like blade pointed skyward over their shoulders. They stood with spines straight as they listened to their well dressed companion speak to the Princess, eyes being the only thing that moved as they watched the ponies lined up before them.

"Ah, here is the last one now," Twilight heard Celestia say as she looked over at her and smiled. "We are all here now Colonel, and we are ready when you are,"

"Very well, as I have said my companions and I shall escort you to the train station," The human responded before nodding to his companions, "From there it is a simple trip to the Capital, so if you would please follow me your Grace," He stepped back and bowed deeply before he turned on his heel, saying something to the two other men on deck with him as he walked off the ship. They saluted and stepped to either side of the gangplank and waited.

"Come now my little ponies, our trip is almost complete," Celestia said, "These gentlemen are going to be escorting us to the train that will take us to the capital city," She said as she stepped easily between the two human guards, who did not move at all except for their eyes following the Princess.

Everypony else glanced back and forth amongst themselves, unsure what to do. Finally Spitfire took it upon herself and trotted after Celestia. Again, the guards did not move. Shining Armour followed behind, stopping in front of one to observe his stance and clothes before Vinyl poked him in the flank to get moving. Eventually all that were left on board were Twilight herself, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, who was trembling at the sight of the spears and the leather she had seen.

"Come on Fluttershy, it's not all that bad," Rainbow said to the butter yellow nature lover, "They're just guards, if anything I'd feel safer knowing they're sending their own guards to watch us," She tried to prod Fluttershy up with her nose, but it didn't work. "Hey Twi, help?"

A lavender aura erupted from Twilights horn, followed by a similar one around the pink haired pegasus that lifted her off the ground and floated her down the walkway. Rainbow followed just behind her feathered companion, saying a quick thanks to Twilight as they went. Now all that was left on board were the two humans, Twilight, the ships crew, and the hoof full of royal guards Celestia had left behind to watch the ship.

Twilight started down the gangway herself and was mildly surprised when the two humans followed behind. Something about two obviously armed humans following her was slightly intimidating for the young mare, so a sigh of relief escaped her lips when her hoof stepped off the wood and onto solid ground for the first time in a week. And it looked like she wasn't the only one relieved as Applejack was laying flat on her belly a short distance away, ponies and humans alike giggling at the mares pleased face.

Applejacks relief didn't last however as Princess Celestia ushered them along, her personal guard flying slightly off the ground and around the group while half a dozen more humans formed a circle themselves. Each was dressed exactly the same, but now their spears were in their hands, blades pointed downwards as Twilight noticed that they actually rested just under yet another metal tube.

"Princess," She said, "What exactly is with all these metal tubes? I just don't get it,"

The princess glanced down at her pupil before responding. "They call them guns my faithful student, think of them as being more advanced versions of the guards cannons," She said.

Twilights eyes widened once more. The cannons of the Royal Guard were their most prized, and feared, weapons. Expensive to build, only the royally funded guards and the City Guard of the richer towns and cities could afford them, they were also considered to be one of the most dangerous non magical weapons in Equestria. And the humans had so many? Of more advanced versions? To the point where a common guardsman had one?

"B-but Princess!" She said, "Where-how did they get so many? And if that's true," She remembered the massive tubes at the straight, and the ones on the ship under construction, the smaller ones on the Westmarch and the ones on the airplanes from the day before. "If that's true, their military makes ours look like a laughing stock," She concluded sadly.

"Perhaps, but I prefer to think of it like this," Celestia said as she rested a wing over the smaller mares back, "We have magic, they do not. And the Equestrian military doesn't need to be big or advanced because Equestria is peaceful, and always will be. There has not been a war in Equestria for almost a thousand years Twilight," The lavender mare didn't seem convinced. "And if it makes you feel better, if things go well at the capital, the humans will be our allies, and their military will never be a threat,"

The sound of a steam whistle cut through the air as the ponies approached the station. The train they approached looked very similar to the one the girls had ridden out to Appleoosa years before, though the engine looked much more streamlined.

Ever since the ponies had left the port area humans had been staring at them. Men would stare uncertainly until they saw the soldiers nearby, while women would have to restrain their children from running over. But most strange Twilight though was that whenever eyes would land on the Princess, their fear would vanish and a look of astonishment would flash over their eyes. Hushed, almost reverent whispers of Solestia would drift over as some men would bow deeply, or women curtsy graciously.

There were others however. Some of the Terrans would glare menacingly at the Equestrians as their hands drifted over similar pouches as the first humans, though instead of resting on their hips they would hang about their thighs, from which gleaming metal grips could be seen. Pointed glares from the soldiers however put an end to that.

"All aboard! Express line to Kings Reach!" The conductor shouted. Everypony glanced around uncertainly, all except three. Rarity smiled as she floated her luggage towards the train to the astonished looks of nearby humans, while Twilight was frantically scribbling yet more notes as she walked. Celestia just smiled and translated what he had said before the procession arrived at the train.

The Colonel stepped forward and, after a few words and some pieces of paper exchanged with the operators, glanced back and nodded to Celestia.

"This is it my little ponies," She said, "Our next stop is a day away, so please try and get comfortable,"

With one final glance back over the sea behind her and the milling humans between them, Twilight nodded to herself and followed her friends and co-adventurers on board the train.

Five minutes later, and one last whistle, the train set out carrying her first foreign passengers into the noon day sun.