Passengers

A close encounter with a tiny cat before a trip on the Eurostar, inspired this story.

Leopard-like, with grey and cream rosettes and a whiskery hello, the cat’s eyes catch yours for a second. Then, as it merges into Eurostar’s waiting mass, you lose sight of it. You search your smartphone – you must know more. There it is – it’s an Egyptian Mau, the website says, and you’re gripped by the magic of this mysterious creature. The scarab-beetle ‘M’ marking on its forward adds to its mystery. It seems to you to have stepped into the present from an ancient time zone.

Now it’s time to board the Brussels train. Stumbling with your case towards Coach 7, you spy the cat through the silhouettes of tourists travelling light. Early morning weariness weaves its way through the crowd. No-one notices the cat except you. You’re mesmerised by the stealth of this little leopard, slinking onwards and then shrinking to squeeze through the train door before it snaps shut.

You press the door release button and jump aboard yourself. Settling into seat 16b, you listen to the tannoy treating passengers to its multilingual welcome. You stop listening, wondering where the cat has gone. It’s 6am – your eyelids flutter and the hum of voices soothe your exhausted mind. You relax and let go.

*

Your gaze drifts across the landscape – a mackerel sky, with salmon-coloured clouds hugging the horizon. Morning breathes out and you’re standing in a sea of sand that stretches forever. Bastet looms before you – a regal statue, a lioness-headed goddess that grows before your eyes. Her feline face has emerald eyes that narrow to meet your gaze. You feel this goddess is here to protect you and long to withdraw into her heart.

Bastet is retreating from you, but you simply must reach her. Stepping forwards, you feel your feet sinking into the sand. The shifting surface is dragging you down. Around you, women gather, touching your arms, grasping your hands and pulling you backwards. You open your mouth to shout out …

*

He’s touching your arm. He’s shaking you awake. You breathe deeply, taking in the tannoy’s greeting and stretching your cramped arms and legs.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at Brussels-Midi. Welcome to the city of Brussels… Mesdames et Messieurs, nous sommes arrivés à Bruxelles-Midi. Bienvenue dans la ville de Bruxelles … Dames en heren, we zijn aangekomen op station Brussel-Midi. Welkom in de stad Brussel.”

There’s a flash of green at your feet and the comfort of fur against flesh reminds you of your early morning meeting with the cat on St Pancras International’s platform 7.

You look down again, but there is no cat there. Perhaps you imagined it. Gazing out of the Eurostar’s window at the gunmetal sky, you rest a moment and wait to lift your overnight bag from the rack. There’s no rush. You have no-one to meet here.

The flick of a cat’s tail and a tiny leopard-patterned cat saunters by. Before it walks into the crowd, it twists and turns towards you and your eyes meet one last time.