"The track is electrically controlled," Lambert said as he ran back from the rails outside the train yard to Shao Ming.
"No levers or cranks or anything?" Shao Ming asked. "Aren't there manual controls for the ones inside the yard?"
Lambert shook his head.
"These rails can be operated manually, but we'd need specialized rods from the maintenance depot. Some switches also require locking mechanisms after manual operation, and we don't have any of that equipment."
Shao Ming scanned the empty train yard. The only structure in sight was a lone warehouse near the car entrance, and it didn't look anything like a track control center.
"Alright," Shao Ming said. "So if there's no electricity, how do we manually switch the tracks?"
Before Lambert could answer, the timer on Shao Ming's watch beeped.
An hour and a half had passed.
"We need to speed this up," he said.
Lambert led Shao Ming along the rails to a switch point. He pointed to a small box on the ground beside the track.
"This box contains the control system for the rails," Lambert explained. "If it's the same as in the UK, there should be two hydraulic rods inside that move the rails."
"So, theoretically, we could move the rods manually?"
"In theory, yes," Lambert said with a nod. "But without the hydraulic system holding it in place, I'm afraid we won't be able to lock the rails securely. If the locking mechanism isn't engaged, the rails might shift when the train passes."
"Let's open it first and see," Shao Ming said. "If it doesn't work, we'll wedge something in there to hold it in place."
Lambert hesitated. He wasn't sure if a rock could withstand the vibrations of a passing train, but they didn't have any better options.
Still wearing his toolbelt, Lambert pulled out a crowbar and began prying open the hydraulic box.
With a click, the lid popped open, revealing a relatively simple mechanism.
Shao Ming crouched down and tried to pull the hydraulic rod, but it didn't budge.
"You need to disable the hydraulic system first," Lambert explained. "It's holding the rails in place."
He gestured for Shao Ming to step aside and began smashing the hydraulic system with the crowbar.
After several blows, the rod shifted slightly. Shao Ming crouched down again and gave it another pull. This time, the rail moved a little.
Lambert quickly set the crowbar aside and joined Shao Ming in pushing the hydraulic rod.
The air-raid siren still wailed in the distance, giving them a little more time.
"We need to do this four times," Lambert said, consulting the map. "Follow the tracks to a small station ahead, and that's the last switch we need to adjust."
"And after that, we're in the clear?" Shao Ming asked.
Lambert double-checked the map and nodded. "Yes. After that, it's a straight shot to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage."
Shao Ming flexed his hands and said, "Let's get to it."
As they worked through the switches, Lambert couldn't help but remark, "This system is way simpler than the rail network in the UK."
After adjusting all the tracks, the two returned to the train's cab.
Lambert started the train and slowly approached the first switch.
Although Shao Ming had wedged rocks under the hydraulic rods to hold them in place, Lambert was visibly tense.
Fifty meters. Thirty meters. Ten meters. Five meters.
The train slid smoothly through the first switch without issue.
Shao Ming checked his watch. Over four hours had passed since Asgi left.
The air-raid siren still blared from the city, but there was no word from Asgi.
"Charging into a city alone…" Shao Ming thought. "Even if Asgi seemed confident, I can't help but worry."
As the train passed the second, third, and fourth switches without incident, both men finally relaxed.
"We did it," Lambert said, unable to hide his excitement. "We got the train out."
"Let's hope Asgi's okay," Shao Ming replied.
The train rounded a large bend and began climbing a gentle slope.
The French countryside spread out before them, bathed in sunlight. Verdant grasslands swayed in the breeze, exuding a sense of life and hope.
Lambert stopped the train in the middle of a field. From there, Shao Ming could see a small town basking in the sunlight—a quiet, idyllic scene.
"This isn't a bad place to retire," Lambert said as he opened the train door.
A sea breeze blew across the treetops and hills.
"If humanity reclaims the world, you can live wherever you want," Shao Ming said. "Not that there'll be many people left by then."
Climbing onto the roof of the train, Shao Ming scanned the northern horizon with the mounted machine gun. The distant air-raid siren continued to wail.
In his heart, he prayed for Asgi. This dependable soldier had become a valuable ally.
His prayers seemed answered when a bloodstained off-road vehicle burst out of the forest.
"He's here! He's here!" Shao Ming shouted to Lambert inside the train.
The SUV screeched to a halt beside the train. Shao Ming and Lambert jumped down to meet it, finding Asgi practically rolling out of the driver's seat.
The two rushed to help him, but Asgi waved them off, staggering to the hood of the car and vomiting.
Shao Ming noticed the soldier's uniform was caked in mud and reeked of something far worse. Unmentionable substances clung to the fabric, and the stench was overpowering—worse than rotting corpses.
"Damn," Asgi cursed, standing upright with difficulty. "Those things were tougher than I thought."
Shao Ming wanted to check him for injuries but couldn't bring himself to approach the stench.
"I need a bath," Asgi muttered, pulling a towel from the trunk and wiping himself down. "Those zombies chased me into the sewers. Relentless bastards."
Taking his sniper rifle back from Shao Ming, Asgi said, "Thanks, kid. I was hoping to let you have fun with it a bit longer, but I ran out of bullets."
"Glad you're okay," Shao Ming said. "Let's go back and pick up the others."
Lambert, pinching his nose, muttered, "What a beast."
The trio drove back to the cabin. Shao Ming wished his sense of smell had failed back in the Channel Tunnel.
Seeing the three return safely, the two girls waiting at the door breathed sighs of relief.
Feng Yusheng ran straight to Shao Ming and hugged him tightly.
"What took you so long?" she asked.
Caught off guard, Shao Ming stammered, "I'm fine. I'm fine. It wasn't that dangerous…"
Meanwhile, Yamada Ryo guided Asgi to the back of the cabin to wash up.
"I knew you'd be okay," she said, her accent thick but comforting. "You're amazing."
Lambert stood by the car, watching Gordon the dog turn and walk away. He chuckled to himself.