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Updated: June 4, 2025
As I have said, the night is very dark, without moon, without stars. Long clouds are creeping across the lower zones of the atmosphere. It will be easy for me to enter the van without being noticed. And I have not been too liberal in my visits to Kinko during these twelve days on the road. At this moment Popof says to me: "Are you not going to sleep to-night, Monsieur Bombarnac?"
How could I tell this unfortunate girl that her sweetheart would never reach Pekin station? Everything ends in this world below, even a voyage of six thousand kilometres on the Grand Transasiatic; and after a run of thirteen days, hour after hour, our train stopped at the gates of the capital of the Celestial Empire. "Pekin!" shouted Popof. "All change here."
The passengers were only too glad to help Popof and the officials who had at their disposal a few tools, including jacks, levers and hammers, and in three hours the engine and tender were again on the line. The most difficult business is over. With the engine behind we can proceed at slow speed to Tchertchen. But what lost time! What delays!
And who is this Kardek they are talking about? The conversation continues. "We must wait until we get the signal," says Faruskiar. "Is that a green light?" asks Ghangir. "Yes it will show that the switch is over." I do not know if I am in my right senses. The switch over? What switch? A half minute elapses. Ought I not to tell Popof? Yes I ought.
Beyond the stretch of verdant oasis watered by a number of creeks, we crossed wide cultivated plains through which the line made frequent diversions. Having discovered that Popof did not intend to go to sleep again, I went back to my corner. At three o'clock there was another stop. The name of Askhabad was shouted along the platform.
These valves and levers, what shall we do with them? "I must tell Popof!" I shout. "And what can he do? No; there is only one way " "And what is that?" "Rouse up the fire," says Kinko, calmly; "shut down the safety valves, and blow up the engine." And was that the only way a desperate way of stopping the train before it reached the viaduct? Kinko scattered the coal on to the fire bars.
But why should I have doubted what Popof told me, and why should Popof have suspected what the Persians had told him regarding this Yen Lou? There was no reason for our doubting their veracity. I am none the less deeply humiliated in my self-esteem as a journalist, and I am much annoyed at the call to order which I have brought upon myself.
It was without the shadow of an accident, and after a particularly fine run, that we entered Yarkand station at four o'clock in the afternoon. If Yarkand is not the administrative capital of eastern Turkestan, it is certainly the most important commercial city of the province. "Again two towns together," said I to Major Noltitz. "That I have from Popof."
I came out of the van, I shut the door, I assured myself that Popof was still asleep. In a few minutes, after a breath or two of the night air, I go into my place near Major Noltitz. And before I close my eyes my last thought is that, thanks to the appearance of the episodic Kinko, the journey of their energetic "Special" will not be displeasing to my readers.
I will go back to Popof. Impossible. I seem to be nailed to the floor of the van. My head swims Is it true we are running towards the abyss? No! I am mad. Faruskiar and his accomplices would be hurled over as well. They would share our fate. They would perish with us! But there are shouts in front of the train. The screams of people being killed. There is no doubt now.
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