The howling wind caressed the curtains, bringing with it the hot breath of the wastelands along with the scent of dried grass and desiccation. Despite the heat, the swift movement of the air still provided a refreshing coolness to the body.
Once again on the high-speed train to another district, Hexia looked out of the window at the landscape. The desolate earth reflected the white light of the scorching sun, with gray Gobi and rubble stretching off into the distance. Only at the horizon could she make out the faint outline of tall mountains, stacking up like giant steps upon the land.
Every time she traveled afar, she was awed by the majestic scenes of this planet. The girl couldn't help but shake her head, reflecting that Payin City was ultimately just a small place.
As this was a train heading to Northern Second District, there were few passengers in the carriage. There was nobody sitting beside Hexia, nor in the seats in front or behind her, with only the occasional gust of wind stirring the curtains and the fabric on the chair backs, creating a rustling sound.
She looked around her; the train must have been in operation for several decades, with a strong industrial and rugged style. The interior exposed some of the steel rivet structures, and even the flooring was made of diagonally patterned steel.
A lot of the structure was made of steel, bypassing some complex and cosmetic decorations, which significantly reduced manufacturing costs and time. As for the comfort of the passengers, the use of soft sponge cushioning was the greatest act of mercy and consideration.
The stainless steel tabletop felt warm to the touch under the hot wind and sunshine. The girl rifled through her shoulder bag beside her and pulled out a brochure introducing Jielou City, which she had acquired from a travel agency in Payin City. She didn't join a tour group for her trip, because that would have restricted her freedom too much.
The train sped past the vast wilderness, advancing steadily northward. The hot breeze by the window gradually cooled, as the intense heat of summer slowly receded.
Afterwards, the train climbed the increasingly high mountain steps, seemingly getting closer to the sky. The world ahead grew brighter and brighter, while the earth behind became distant and seemed to shrink, as if standing on a skyscraper and looking down at the ground below.
Gradually, on the ruin-like streets, she could also see some vendors pushing carts, selling simple food to the residents. Most of these foods were homemade, mainly fried in oil, with only the occasional steamed snack vendor.
Because it was a high plateau, water boiled at only about 85°C here, so boiling wasn't very effective for heating food, making frying more prevalent.
The train slowly entered into the heart of the city, its speed also slowing down, weaving through a forest of high-rise buildings, with the brightness and shadow shifting in the windows on both sides of the carriage. Until at last, it came to a gentle stop.
[Jielou City]
[Arrival]
[Jielou City]
...
The carriage's yellow display board kept alternating between these two lines of conspicuous text. Then steam dispersed, and the doors slowly opened. A few passengers disembarked.
Stepping onto the slightly cool ground, Hexia felt the air was a bit chilly, not nearly as hot as in Payin City.
Soon enough, groups from various travel agencies began to gather in front of the station. Hexia followed the crowd, intending to briefly learn about their general itinerary and direction.