Un bouddhiste dans la métro
The subway train slowed to a halt, and the doors opened. I was a little hesitant about entering—I mean, I didn’t really know where I was going, but I was sort of pushed in, so suddenly I was in the car, and the doors closed behind me. That’s when the train got going.
I held on tight to the bar above me as the train went its course. The car I was in was shaking and rattling, but they never are smooth for me. I looked around for a map, some clue as to where I was going. I didn’t see anything. There were, however, two gentlemen sitting close to me, so I walked up to them.
They were speaking to each other, some sort of friendly debate. I hoped they wouldn’t mind my intrusion. ‘Excuse me,’ I said. They looked up at me. ‘Do you fellows know which stations are coming up?’ ‘Well,’ said one gentleman, ‘I know that one of the stations coming up is Paradise Station. I know that’s where I’m going.’ ‘Oh,’ I said. ‘And what about you, sir?’ I asked the other.
‘I don’t know what stops are coming, or when my stop is,’ he said. ‘I think I’m going until the end of the line.’ ‘And then what?’ I asked. He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Well, do you guys know whether there’s a map or station list somewhere? I’m just worried because if I miss my transfer I’ll have to wait forty-nine days.’
‘There aren’t any maps in here,’ said the first gentleman. ‘I
think that’s the way it’s supposed to be.’ ‘Well thank you both anyway,’
I said. Three stops later, I got off; but I didn’t really want to.
I guess nobody really does. I stood on the platform a bit as the
subway pulled away, going on without me. I watched it until it was
nothing more than a light at the end of a long tunnel. And then the
light blinked out.
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