The Train Ride to Nowhere

The Train Ride to Nowhere

Direct? That would’ve been far too easy.

Prologue: Love, Longing, Timetables

It had all been planned so beautifully. Reinhold was returning from Detroit, I from Radolfzell. Meeting point: Munich – a romantic reunion, a weekend for two. He by plane, I by train. We wanted to fall into each other’s arms, as if someone had already written the perfect ending to the film.

Only – my film turned out to be more of a comedy. To be precise: a dark railway comedy.

Scene 1: The Wrong Train

In Radolfzell I boarded. I did wonder why the train pulled in several minutes early – but the conductor assured me: “Everything’s fine.” So off I went, into the adventure.

Many stations later, with a new conductor in the carriage, the bitter truth came to light:
“You’re on the train to Karlsruhe.”
Karlsruhe? But I wanted to go to Munich!

“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Scene 2: Stay Seated!

Panic. “I need to get out – right now – or at least at the next station!” I cried. But the conductor only smiled gently:
“That won’t help you. You won’t get away from here today. Stay seated.”

Stay seated! A word like a verdict. And so I was trapped – on a train that stopped at every tiny station, confined as if in a straitjacket. The conductor, pragmatic as ever, added: “The dining car is further up, in case you need a schnapps.” – No, thank you.

Scene 3: Reinhold in Munich

Munich waits – patient, magnificent, and just a little mocking.

While I rattled kilometre after kilometre in the wrong direction, Reinhold was already checking into our hotel in Munich.

“Where is Edith?” – He could hardly be surprised. After all, I’m often late for appointments: standing in the wrong place, doubting, rushing. But this time I outdid myself.

At last, after countless track changes, the conductor pointed the way: “Get off here and take the train across the platform to Stuttgart.”

Only on the train from Stuttgart to Munich did I dare to call Reinhold.
“I’m on my way from Stuttgart.”
A pause. Then his voice: “Stuttgart? What on earth are you doing in Stuttgart?”
A good question. Still unanswered to this day.

Epilogue: A Closing Line with a Punch

Finally arrived – tired, late, but happy. Cheers, Munich!

In the end we did meet after all. Later than planned, more tired than intended – but still.

And sometimes I have to smile when I think about it: I managed to travel all by myself from New York City to Frankfurt, on to Johannesburg and finally to Mauritius – without getting lost, going astray, or boarding the wrong plane. Only the railway once managed to deliver me, with absolute reliability … to nowhere.

And in the end, what matters is the reunion – no matter how many detours it takes.