Our third distraction of the day appears near sundown. It's not an obstacle but a city, rising from the horizon until it dominates the skyline. A worn sign reads "Albuquerque" so I know we're in New Mexico, still a long way from our destination but at least closer. It's almost nice to see the buildings appear, as though we're making progress at last.

I rush forward to the locomotive, find Chime hovering over Ande's shoulder.

"Do we stop?" Beckett almost runs into my ...