Have You Seen Molly?

March 29, 1884

       I'm worried about Molly. My little sister hasn't spoken to me for about a week now. I knew she was mad at me for what I said about the Silver Train, but I don't think that's the case anymore. Something's wrong. She's never been upset with me for this long...

My sister, Molly Stoker, at the Terne Public Library.

       I've tried talking to Mother about Molly, but Mother doesn't have time for either of us lately. She's far too busy schmoozing with the city councilmen and department heads. She sent me a message the other day to tell me that I'm worrying for nothing. That Molly will come around in her own time. But I doubt it.
       I used to see glimpses of Molly at work, disappearing into the file room or rushing out the front door, but I haven't even seen glimpses these past few days. Her desk is always empty when I come to work. I pass by her apartment on my way home, and I never see any lights on.
       It's like... she's not here anymore. Like she's not in Terne. But if she's not in the city, where could she be? I doubt she found a way out of the city, no matter how much she complained. Unless... No, it's impossible. It's not real... It's just a scam.
       Molly couldn't have found the Silver Train.

Terne Overpopulation Newspaper Article

March 21, 1884

       I saved this article from today's Terne Daily Gazette.  I guess it makes sense that, as a city that's only 9 square miles, Terne would become overcrowded one day. I just hadn't expected it to happen so soon. I thought I'd at least be retired before then. So that this would be a problem of the next generation, not mine.

       The last time the DHA had predicted such an increase was back in 1868.  I was only 11, but my stomach still hurts to remember that year.  The City Council rationed our food so much that we only ate meat once a week. Tea was a special treat.  By the second month of the rationing, I was sick of vegetable soup and pasta. You only feel full eating that for so long.

       I wonder what the City Council is planning this time...  They could enforce more strict rations, but that wouldn't solve the housing problem.  There'd still be hundreds of people sleeping in the streets if the DHA's prediction is accurate.  Well, even if the Council does ration the food more, it'll take quite a bit of effort on their part to make things as bad as in '68.

       By the way, I haven't heard from Molly lately.  I dropped by her apartment yesterday, but she didn't answer the door.  She's probably still sore about the Silver Train business.  I'll give her a few more days to sulk.

The Boiler Room

March 19th, 1884

       I nearly died today. The boiler almost exploded. If it had, you'd bet I be a melted blob of human flesh right now. Instead, I got away with a minor burn on my arm. A water injector broke. There are only two of them, and the boiler needs both working to keep from heating too quickly.
       I don't know how the city council could have overlooked this, though. The boiler was just repaired last month after it nearly exploded then. I don't know what happened, but the guy who had this job before me didn't have my luck. The guy was an old man of sixty-some-odd years, and the third degree burns from the steam almost killed him. Of course, if that hadn't happened, the job wouldn't have opened up for me to take... Anyway, the shoddy water injector should've been caught then.

       Besides a near scrape with death, I also ran into my little sister Molly.  We work in the same building, so it shouldn't be too unusual to see her. She works in administration, though. A desk job. So, really I haven't seen her since I moved out of her guest room a couple of weeks ago.
       I never thought Molly would be against the city council ordinances. Growing up, she always seemed so responsible. Keeping her bed made. Always polishing her copper gears and goggles. Never climbing on pipes, just like Mother said. But Molly told me she's tired of being under the city council's thumb. She's tired of living by their "ridiculous rules." She actually questioned their law not to let anyone beyond the dome. As if that weren't for our own safety!
       But, even worse, she said she got a letter from the Conductor.
       The Conductor is an absolute cad! He uses the Silver Train scam to lure innocent citizens from the safety of our city. Any idiot who reads the papers can see that. I never believed my sister an idiot.
       "The Silver Train is not something to be feared," Molly told me. "It will save us."  Save us from what? Why would we need to be saved from this city? Sure, we've suffered a few problems lately, but there's no reason we need to be saved.
       I only hope I can make her see reason. Before she falls victim to this "Conductor."