Mind Webs - The Hell Bound Train

A surreal sci-fi series exploring speculative concepts, dreams, and philosophical what-ifs. Each episode is a cerebral journey into the mind’s deepest questions.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Mind Way, mind Wave short stories from the Worlds of
Speculative Sections.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Our story this time is one that originally appeared in
the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction September of nineteen
fifty eight. It's The Hellbound Train by Robert Bly. When

(01:50):
Martin was a little boy and his daddy walked the
tracks for the cbn Q, and he was proud of
his job, and every night when he got drunk, he
sang his old soor any other words, but he couldn't
forget the way his daddy sang them out. And when
daddy made the mistake of getting drunk in the afternoon
and got squeezed between the Penzi tank and an HT
and SF gondola, Martin sort of wondered why the Brotherhood

(02:12):
didn't sing the song at his funeral. Four or five
years before he realized he wasn't getting any place. Of course,
he tried his hand at a lot of things, picking
fruit in Oregon, washing dishes in a Montana hash house,
stealing hubcaps in Denver, tires in Oklahoma City. But by
the time he'd put in six months on the chain
gang down in Alabama, he knew he had no future

(02:34):
drifting around this way on his own, so he tried
to get on the railroad like his daddy had when
they told him the times were bad. But Martin couldn't
keep away from the railroads. Wherever he traveled, he rode
the rods. He'd rather op afreight heading north in subzero
weather than lift his thumb to hitch a ride with
a Cadillac added for Florida. Whenever he managed to get

(02:55):
hold of a can of Sterno, he'd sit under a
nice warm culvert think about the old day. Isn't often
as not. He'd ummed the song about that hell Bond train.
That was the train the drunks and the sinners rode,
the gambling man and the grifters, the big time spenders,
the skirt chasers, and all the jolly crew. It would
be really fine to take a trip in such good company,

(03:16):
But Martin didn't like to think of what happened when
that train finally pulled into the depot, winding eternity, stoking
boilers in hell, without even the company union to protect him. Still,
it would be a lovely ride if there was such
a thing as a hell Bond train, which of course
there wasn't, at least Martin didn't think there was until

(03:38):
that evening, when he found himself walking the tracks heading south.
The night was cold and dark, the way November nights
are in the Fox River Valley, and he knew he'd
have to work his way down to New Orleans for
the winter, or maybe even Texas. Somehow much feel like going,
even though he'd heard tell that a lot of those
Texas automobiles had solid gold hubcaps. No, sir, he just

(04:00):
wasn't cut out for petty larceny. It was worse than
the sin. It was unprofitable, too bad enough to do
the devil's work, but then to get such miserable pay
on top of it. Maybe he'd better let the Salvation
Army converting. Mart waiting for a rattler to pull out
of the junction behind him. He'd have to catch it.
There was nothing else for him to do. It was

(04:22):
a train, though he felt the steel shudder and sing
beneath his feet, And yet how could it be? The
next station set was Nina Menasha, and there was nothing
due out of for ours. The clouds were thick overhead,
and the field mists rolled. Oh, Martin should have been
able to see the headlight as the train rushed on,
but there was only the whistle screaming out of the

(04:43):
black throat of the night. Martin could recognize the equipment
of just about any locomotive ever built, but he'd never
heard a whistle that sounded like this one. It wasn't signaling,
it was screaming like a lost soul. He stepped to
one side, for the train was almost on top of
him now, and suddenly there it was, looming along the
tringling to a stop in less time than he'd believed possible.

(05:05):
The wheels hadn't been oiled, because they screamed too, screamed
like the dam. But the train slid to a halt,
and the screams died away into a series of low,
groaning sounds, and Martin looked up and saw that this
was a passenger train. It was big and black, without
a single light shining in the engine, cab or any
of the long string of cars. Martin couldn't read any

(05:27):
lettering on the side, but he was pretty sure this
train didn't belong on the Northwestern Road. He was even
more sure n clambered down out of the forward car.
He walked as though lantern. He carried a lantern was dark,
and the man held it up to his mouth and blew,
and instantly it glowed readily. You don't have to be
a member of the railway brotherhood to know that this

(05:48):
is a mighty peculiar way of lighting a lantern. As
the figure approached, Martin recognized the conductor's cap perched on
his head, and this made him feel a little better
for a moment, till he noticed that it was worn
a bit two of us, as though there might be
something sticking up on the forehead underneath it. Still man
smiled at him, He said, a gleaming mister conductor, good evening, Martin.

(06:13):
What won't you here? Why you ought to know? The
answer to that, Martin, I came because you needed me
ey tonight. I suddenly realized you were backsliding, thinking of
joining the Salvation Army. Won't you well, ne'er don't be
ashamed to her as human If somebody or either once

(06:34):
had Reader's digest, wasn't it? And never mind? The point
is I felt you needed me, so I switched over
and came your way. What for why to offer you
a ride? Of course? Isn't it better to travel comfortably
by train than to march along the cold streets behind
a Salvation Army band. Hard on the feet, they tell me,

(06:55):
ain't even harder on the ear drums. I'm not sure
i'd care to ride your trains. You're considering where I'm
likely then the nice yes, yes, the old argument, Well,
I suppose you'd prefer some sort of bargain is that it? Yeah,
exactly the terms standard proposition. Anything you want, but I

(07:22):
warn you in advance there'll be no tricks. I'll grant
you any wish you can name, but in return, you
must promise to ride the train when the time comes. Uh,
suppose it never comes. Oh it will. Suppose I've got
the kind of wish it'll keep me off forever. There

(07:44):
is no such wish. Don't be too sure. Let me
worry about that. No matter what you have in mind, Martin,
I warn you that i'll collect in the end. I
want to be able to stop time right now. No,
not yet, and not for everybody. I realized that it'd

(08:07):
be impossible, But I want to be able to stop
time for myself, just once in the future, whenever I
get to a point where I know I'm happy and contended.
That's where i'd like to stop so I can just
keep on being happy forever. That's quite a proposition. I've
got to admit I've never heard anything just like that

(08:29):
one before, and believe me, I've listened to some rul
LUs in my day. You've really been thinking about this,
haven't you, Martin? For years? Well, what do you say?
It's not impossible in terms of in terms of your
own subjective time. Since yes, I think it could be arranged.

(08:54):
But I mean, really to stop, not just for me
to imagine it. Oh, I underst stand it can be done.
Then you'll agree. Why not? I promised you didn't. I here,
give me your hand. Will it hurt very much? I mean,
I don't like the sight of blood and nonsense. You've

(09:15):
been listening to a lot of poppy cock, Martin. We
already have made our bargain, my boy. I merely intend
to put something into your hand, the ways and means
of fulfilling your wish. After all, there's no telling at
just what moment you may decide to exercise the agreement.
And I can't drop everything and come running, So it's

(09:37):
better if you can regulate matters for yourself. You're gonna
give me a time stopper. That's the general idea, as
soon as I can decide what would be practical. Now, oh, oh,
the very thing, hear, Martin, take my watch. He pulled
it out of his vest pocket, a railroad watch in

(09:58):
a silver case the black, and made a delicate adjustment.
Martin tried to see just exactly what he was doing,
but the fingers moved in the blinding blur. There we are.
It's all set now, Martin. When you finally decide where
you'd like to call a halt, merely turn the stem
in reverse and unwind the watch until it stops. And

(10:23):
when it stops, time stops for you, Martin. Simple enough,
and the conductor dropped the watch into Martin's hand. The
young man closed his fingers tightly around the case. And
that's all there is to it. Huh. Absolutely, But remember

(10:43):
you can stop the watch only once, so you'd better
make sure that you're satisfied with the moment you choose
to prolong. I caution you, in all fairness, Martin, make
very very certain of your choice. I will, and since

(11:03):
you've been so fair about it, I'll be fair too.
There's one thing you seemed to have forgotten. See it
doesn't really matter what moment I choose, because once I
stopped time for myself, that means I stay where I
am forever. I'll never have to get any older. And
if I don't get any older, I'll never die. And
if I never die, then I'll never have to take

(11:25):
a ride on your train. The conductor turned away, his
shoulders shook convulsively, and he may have been crying. Then
he wandered off into the fog, and the train whistle
gave an impatient shriek, and all at once it was
moving swiftly down the track, rumbling out of sight in
the darkness. Martin stood there, blinking down at the silver

(11:46):
watch in his hand. If it wasn't that he could
actually see it and feel it, and if he couldn't
smell that particular odor, he might have thought he'd imagine
the whole thing from start to finish, train conductor bargain
and all. But he had the watch, and he could
recognize the scent left by the trainers it departed, even
though there aren't many locomotives around that use sulfur and

(12:08):
Brimstone's fuel, and he had no doubts about his bargain.
That's what came of thinking things through to a logical conclusion.
Some fools would have settled for wealth their power, or
Kim Novak that he might have sold out for a
fifth of whiskey. Martin knew that he made a better deal. Better,
It was fool proof. All he needed to do now

(12:30):
was choose his moment. He put the watch in his
pocket and started back down the railroad track. He hadn't
really had a destination in mind before, but he did now.
He was going to find a moment of happiness now.

(12:57):
Young Martin wasn't altogether a ninny. He lies perfectly well
that happiness is a relative thing. There are conditions and
degrees of contentment, and they vary with one's lot in life.
As a hobo, he was often satisfied with a warm handout,
a double length bench in the park, or a canisterno
made in nineteen fifty seven of vintage year, and many

(13:17):
a time he had reached a state of momentary bliss
through such simple agencies. But he was aware that there
were better things. Martin determined to seek them out. Within
two days he was in the great city of Chicago.
Quite naturally, he drifted over to West Madison Street, and
there he took steps to elevate his role in life,
a city bomb, a panhandler, a moocher. Within a week

(13:39):
he had risen to the point where happiness was a
meal and a regular one arm luncheon joint, a two
bit flop and a real army cot in, a real flophouse,
and a full fifth of muscatel. There was a night
after enjoying all three of these luxuries to the full,
and Martin thought of unwinding his watch at the bases
of the honest Johns he'd braced for a handout that day.
Sure they were wares, but they were prosperous. They wore something. There.

(14:04):
Martin fingered his watch, put aside the temptation to hocket
for another bottle of muscatel, and went to sleep, determined
to get himself a job and improve his happiness quotient.
When he awoke, he had a hangover, but the determination
was still within. Before the month was out, Martin was
working for a general contractor over on the South Side

(14:25):
at one of the big rehabilitation projects. He hated the grind,
but the pay was good, and pretty soon he got
himself a one room apartment out on Blue Island Avenue.
He was accustomed to eating the decent restaurants now, and
he bought himself a comfortable bed, and every Saturday night
he went down to the corner tavern. It was all
very pleasant, but the foreman liked his work and promised

(14:46):
him a raise in a month if he waited around
The rays would mean that he could afford a second
hand car, and with a car, he could even start
picking up a girl for a date. Now, and the
other fellows on the job did, and they seemed pretty happy.
About six months went by, Martin met Lilian Gillis, and
by that time he'd had another promotion and was working
inside in the office. They made him go to night

(15:07):
school to learn how to do simple bookkeeping, but it
meant another fifteen bucks a week, and it was nicer
working indoors, and Lilian was a lot of fun. When
she told him she'd marry him, Martin was almost sure
that the time was now only getting messed the beginning, sure,
it was wonderful, but Lilian told him how much better

(15:28):
things would be if they could move to a new
place and fix it up. So he started taking night
courses and got a promotion to the front office. With
a baby coming, he wanted to stick around and see
his son arrive, And when it came, he realized he'd
have to wait until he got a little older, started
to walk and talk and develop a personality of its own.
About this time, the company sent him out on the

(15:48):
road as a troubleshooter on some of those other jobs.
And now he was eating at those good hotels, living
high on the hog in the expense account. More than
once he was tempted to unwind the watch. This was
the good life. Of course, would be even better if
he just didn't have to work. Sooner or later he
could cut in on one of the company deals and

(16:09):
he could make a file and retire. Then everything would
be ideal. It happened, but it took time. Martin's son
was going to high school before he really got up
there into the chips. Martin had a strong hunch that
it was now or never, because he wasn't exactly a
kid anymore. But right about then he met Cherry Westcott,

(16:29):
and she didn't seem to think he was middle aged
at all, in spite of the way he was losing
hair and adding stomach. She taught him that a tupe
would cover the ball spot, and a cummer bund would
cover the pot cut. In fact, she taught him quite
a lot, and he so enjoyed learning it that he
actually took out his watch and prepared to unwind it. Unfortunately,
he chose the very moment that the private detectives broke

(16:51):
down the door of the hotel room. And then there
was a long stretch of time when Martin was so
busy fighting the divorce action that he couldn't honestly say
he was and moment when he made the final settlement
with Lil, he was broke again, and Cherry didn't seem
to think he was so young, So he squared his
shoulders and went back to work. Martin went around the

(17:12):
world by plane and luxury liner. For a while. It
seemed as though he would find his moment after all.
Visiting the taj Ma Hall by moonlight, Martin pulled out
the battered old watchcase and got ready to unwind it.
Nobody else was there to watch him, and that's why
he hesitated. Sure, this was an enjoyable moment, but he
was alone. Lil and the kids were gone, Cherry was gone,

(17:35):
and somehow he'd never had time to make any friends.
Maybe if he found new congenial people, he'd have the
ultimate happiness. That must be the answer. It wasn't just
money or power, or sex or seeing beautiful things. The
real satisfaction lay in friendship. So on the boat trip home,

(17:55):
Martin tried to strike up a few acquaintances at the
ship's bar. His people were much younger, and Martin had
nothing in common with him. Also, they wanted to dance
and drink, and Martin wasn't in condition to appreciate such pastimes. Nevertheless,
he tried. Perhaps that's why he had the little accidents,
and Francisco the little accident was the ship's dock, describing

(18:18):
it that Martin noticed he looked very gray, called the
ambulance to meet the liner at the dock and take
the patient right to the hospital. At the hospital, all
the expensive treatment and the expensive smiles and the expensive
words didn't fool Martin any He was an old man
with a bad heart, and they thought he was going
to die. But he could fool them. He still had

(18:39):
the watch. He found it in his coat when he
put on his clothes and sneaked out of it. He
didn't have to die, could cheat death with a single
Jean out there under a free sky. That was the
real secret of happiness. He understood it now, not even
friendship as much as freedom. This was the best thing

(19:02):
of all, to be free of friends or family or
the fury. Martin walked slowly beside the embankment under the
night sky years ago, but the moment was good, good
enough to prolong forever. Once a bumb, always a bumb.
He smiled as he thought about it, and then the
smile twisted sharply and suddenly, like the pain twisting sharply

(19:25):
and suddenly in his chest. The world began to spin,
and he fell down on the side of the embankment.
He couldn't see very well, but he was still conscious,
and he knew what had happened. Another stroke and a
bad one. Maybe this was it, except that he wouldn't
be a fool any longer. He wouldn't wait to see
what was still around the corner. Right now was his

(19:46):
chance to use his power, and he was going to
do it. He could still move, nothing could stop him.
He groped in his pocket and pulled out the old
silver watch, fumbling with a stem. A few twists and
he cheaked death. He'd never have to ride that hell
bound train. He could go on forever forever. Martin had
never really considered the word before, to go on for

(20:10):
you want to go on forever? Like this? A sick
old man lying helpeyzed in. There was a roaring in
his ears. He recognized the roaring, of course, and he
wasn't at all surprised to see the train come rushing
out of the fog up there on the embankment. He
wasn't surprised when it's steeler, or when the conductor climbed

(20:31):
off slowly towards him. The conductor bit even his grin
was still the same hell, Martin, all aboard, I know,
but you'll have to carry me. I can't walk. I'm
not even really talking anymore, am I? Yes you are, Martin,
I can hear you fine, And you can walk too.

(20:55):
He leaned down and placed his hand on Martin's est.
There was a moment of icy umbus, and then Martin
could walk after all. He got up and followed the
conductor along the slope, moving to the side of the train.
In here now, Martin, the next car. I guess you're

(21:16):
entitled to ride, Pulman, after all, you're quite a successful man.
You've tasted the joys of wealth and position and prestige,
and the pleasures of marriage and fatherhood. You've sampled the
delights of dining and drinking in the bauchery crow. Let's
not have any last minute recriminations, all right. I I

(21:40):
can't blame you for my mistakes. On the other hand,
you can't take credit for what happened either. I worked
for everything I got. I did it all on my own.
I didn't even need your watch, so you didn't, Martin.
But would you mind giving it back to me now,
Nick or the next sucker? Ah? Well, perhaps Martin, something

(22:04):
about the way he saiddenly. He tried to see the
conductor's eyes, but the brim of his cap cast the shadows,
so Martin looked down at the watch instead. Tell me something.
If I give you the watch, what will you do
with it? Why throw it in the ditch? That's all
I'll do with it. And he held out his hand.

(22:25):
But if somebody comes along and finds it and twist
the stem backwards and stops time, nobody would do that,
even if they knew it was all a trick. This
is only an ordinary cheap watch. I didn't say that Martin.
I only said that no one has ever twisted the

(22:48):
stamp backwards. They've all been like you, Martin. They've all
been like you, looking ahead to find that perfect happiness waiting.
The conductor held out his hand again. Martin sighed and
shook his head. Huff, Martin, and now you're going to
ride that hell bound train. He pushed Martin up the

(23:13):
steps and into the car ahead. As he entered the move,
and the whistle screamed. And Martin stood there in the
swaying pullman, gazing down there at the other passengers, and
somehow it didn't seem strange at all. Here they were
the drunks and the sinners, the gambling men and the grifters,
the big time spenders, the skirt chasers, and all the
jolly crew. They knew where they were going, of course,

(23:36):
but they didn't seem to give a damn. The blinds
were drawn on the yet it was light inside, and
they were all liver throwing the dice and telling their
jokes and bragging their big brags, just the way Daddy
used to sing about them, and the old song mighty
nice traveling companions. Why I've never seen such a pleasant
bunch of people. I mean, they seemed to be really

(23:59):
enjoying himself. I'm afraid to pull into that depot way
down yonder For the third time, he held out his hand,
pain if I could stop time when I found the
right moment of happiness. And I think I'm about as
happy right here as I've ever been. Very slowly, Martin

(24:22):
took hold of the silver watch stem. Now now, but
the watch stem turned. Do you realize what you've done? Now?
We'll never reach the depot. We'll just go on riding up,
Martin grinned, I know. But the fun is in the trip,

(24:46):
not the destination. You taught me that, and I'm looking
forward to a wonderful trip. Look, maybe I can even
help if you were to find me another one of
those caps now and let me keep this watch. And
that's the way it finally worked out, wearing his cap

(25:07):
and carrying his battered old silver watch. There's no happier
person in or out of this world now and forever
than Martin Martin. The new Brakeman on That Hell Bomb
Train story by Robert Block. It appeared in the September

(25:32):
nineteen fifty eight science fiction The Hell Bomb Train. This
is Michael Hanson speaking technical production for Mindwebs by Leslie Hilsenoff.
Mindwebs is a production of WYA Radio and Madison, a
service of University of Wisconsin Extensions. The expect before I