Claustrophobia

*For a recap: see posts with label "Henry's Story"*

The world around Henry was consumed by the scene, which was taking place in front of him. Crowds of people, ranging from crying toddlers to old ladies waving farewell to their children, stood in front of an enormous steam engine. Massive huddles of kids were lined up, ready to board the magnificent train. Hordes of people surrounded them, fishing for a quick last glimpse of their loved ones. Henry found himself caught, like a salmon swimming upstream, in a current of bustling strangers. His heartbeat echoed inside his head, and he suddenly felt dizzy. A blurry haze veiled his sight, and he struggled to remain upright as the swarms of people closed in on him from every direction, sweeping him up into the monstrous throng. He started to topple over, but caught himself with a firm grip on his cart. His eyes closed as he fought to keep a grasp on the compact, airtight world around him.

Henry was abruptly jerked back into consciousness by a sound from directly above him. “Lad, are you all right? You look faint.” Called the voice. Henry felt a hand on his shoulder. The fog hindering his vision began to lift as the man above him cleared his throat. Henry shakily turned his head upward to face the fellow who’d woken him from his sudden sickness. A pair of golden eyes stared back down at him from a broad, angular face, dominated by wrinkles and a short, white beard. It seemed, to Henry, that the old man standing above him couldn’t possibly be any younger than his grandfather.

“Well, Mr. Talbot. I’d say you had best hurry, or there’s a fair chance you’ll miss your train.” Henry took a glance around him to find that he and his senile companion were the only two people not huddled in front of the train. Henry started to shuffle off in the direction of the train when suddenly a thought dawned on him.

“Wait, Mister, how did you—“ But the man didn’t seem to hear him, as he was already too far in the opposite direction. How does someone that old walk so fast? Out of the corner of Henry’s eye, though, he could swear he saw the man give a wink.