May we never see such exciting times again!

After sending their visitors off with many a fond farewell, the tireless citizens of Treno had another round of Sleepless Rhapsody for good measure. Lumull tipped back his own cup, sighed in satisfaction, and looked skyward to a barrier no longer marred by signs of wear. Its reassuring glow promised shelter from the storm beyond, though the heavens above rumbled as fiercely as ever. She was really something, that sister of his. He couldn't help but smile.

Wish she could say the same about me...

Lumull sighed again, with rather less satisfaction at the thought. He was a right daft git, if he did say so himself. Not only had he managed to break Eyaney's monster detector again─what if she hadn't been able to fix it before the Doomtrain got here!?─he'd even forgotten to complete his one job of putting folk to work on repairs once they were safe. Looking back, it seemed to him that all he could be counted on to do in times of crisis was make things worse.

Reflexively, he touched his goggles. Still there. At least he'd never managed to lose those─not in ten whole years.

A decade, now, since he'd resolved to be better.

It had all happened so fast. The roar in the distance, then the thunder at the walls. A screeching of rails.

Their parents were gone.

They were good people, Noson and Matheya. They stayed to help guide their neighbors to shelter, knowing their home was only one of those that lay right in the Doomtrain's path.

Lumull and Eyaney were sent ahead, of course, and thus narrowly escaped the carnage. Many did not. So it was that Miayli had to tend to both a devastated populace and two inconsolable children.

Eyaney was far too young to suffer such grief. Lumull could still hear the choked sobs that followed once she was too hoarse to wail, and it was that sound which had roused him from his own despair. What kind of brother could let his sister suffer like that? Gran had her hands full rebuilding an entire city, yet she found it in herself to offer what comfort she could. He might manage a bit more than weeping in the corner.

I have to be brave. For her. Right, Mum and Dad?

So he vowed to cry no more. Alas, it would not be so simple for his sister. They had both loved their parents dearly, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't think of how to lessen the pain of their loss.

As he pondered the question, he found himself drawn to their old neighborhood. The streets that only recently had been so full of laughter were silent now, for none dared approach the half-collapsed houses. What a shame. Surely something could be salvaged─some proof that they had once lived happily here, together.

He considered clambering over the piles of debris that stood in the way, but Gran would be none too pleased. She did spend an awful lot of time reminding him not to break his neck...

The hard way it is.

At little more than ten years old, his skill with pick and shovel was decidedly wanting. His hands were soon blistered and aching, and both his arms and legs registered their complaints as well. Yet he recalled the vow he had made to himself.

I! Will! Not! Give! Up!

He could never be sure, even in retrospect, whether or not his grandmother had sent the townsfolk to his rescue a few days later. Given the prodigious noise he tended to make, it was possible they had noticed what he was up to and rallied all on their own. In any case, he was grateful─not only for the assistance, but for the camaraderie. Some had treasures of their own to unearth, while others simply found their burdens easier to bear when in motion, but all were united in their desire to build a future brighter than the present. And as the air filled with the music of steel striking stone punctuated by laughter, it was easy to believe that they could.

"O arms, hang in there! Hrrrgh!"

"O big rock, eat my pointy bit!"

The days marched on, and they tackled more of the rubble than Lumull had dared to imagine, uncovering familiar belongings and fond memories.

"Koymi! I went by your house and found this bag of seeds."

"I can hardly believe it's intact! I have so missed my garden..."

"I'm sure Gran will let us make room for a new one."

Occasionally, there were less welcome surprises.

"Thank you so much, Tamat! If it weren't for you, that thing would've taken a big bite out of me..."

"Haha! I've saved the birds from worse beasties. They're never half so grateful, and let me tell you, their presents make for poor compensation."

"We should ask Gran to increase the watch around here, and the pasture too... But you might be on your own with the birds."

Worst was when they came upon the bodies of the fallen.

"I'm so sorry, Pepep. If only we'd gotten to her sooner..."

"It wouldn't have changed anything, Lumull. I'm grateful to have her back now."

"We can use one of the plots we've cleared to give her a proper burial. I'll talk to Gran about it."

Even now, it was galling to have been so useless─unable to do aught but beg his grandmother's aid when serious matters arose. A more capable sort would have taken it upon himself to resolve any problems the people of Treno might have then and there, surely. Those who labored, laughed, and cried alongside him deserved that much.

Yet the most that could be said for young Lumull, in his low opinion, was that he remained undeterred. Save for short breaks to assist in carrying away bulkier stones or restore lost possessions to their rightful owners, he continued chipping away at the rubble through every waking hour.

Then, at last, he arrived at his former doorstep.

He had seen enough now to know that it would be in a sorry state, but the sight still shook him to his core. Would there even be anything left to find? Part of him wanted to give up then and there, but he steeled himself and readied his tools. For Eyaney.

Just then, a bright bolt in the sky above revealed a gleam amidst the wreckage. He couldn't believe his luck.

That's them! He thrust his arm through a gap, scrabbling for the twin pairs of goggles. They were his parents' trademarks─on a normal day, they wouldn't have left the house without them.

So...close... His fingers brushed against glass, but found no purchase, so he pressed his body against the wall of detritus. It shifted. There was a clack, then a clatter, then─

"Lumull, stop!"

Strong hands dragged him away, Tamat's shout mingling into the thunderous din as what remained of the structure caved in, filling the air and his eyes with dust.

Lumull blinked, desperate not to lose track of the spot where the goggles had been. He vaguely registered that he had fallen flat on his arse.

Thinking back, he had been quite rude indeed, neglecting to offer even a word of thanks to Tamat ere standing and attacking the rubble. Though, dazed as he was, he at least had the good sense to start with the small pieces this time.

The others soon joined him, and together they made short work of the fresh mess. Alas, when they at last unearthed the goggles, Lumull's heart sank as he saw that both pairs had been shattered.

What is wrong with me? Eyaney would probably feel even worse when she saw these, and it was all his fault. Still, they had naught else left of their parents...

With a heavy sigh, he gathered the pieces and began to trudge homeward.

Eyaney was, as usual, shut up in her room at town hall, hugging her knees as she gazed out the window. When he entered, she slowly turned to face him, and offered a quiet greeting.

"Lumull."

He hung his head in reply. "Hey, Eyaney. I... I went to our house today."

"...Our old house?"

"That one, yup. And, um...here."

Reluctantly, he proffered the broken goggles. Eyaney's eyes grew wide.

"They... They were probably fine when I found them. But you know your brother! I messed up, and they got smashed. I'm sorry."

"...Smashed? Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, sure, I'm fine. Thanks to Tamat and the others."

Relieved, Eyaney reached out and took one of the goggles from him─and a moment later began to weep. She clutched them to her chest, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Oh, please be happy tears, not sad-my-brother-ruins-everything tears... He took a tentative step forward and waited. After a final sniffle, she took a deep breath, and met his eye.

"I cried so hard my head hurts." For the first time in a long, long while, she smiled. "Can I have some of that gross drink you make?"

Lumull felt a flush of warmth in his cheeks. Uh oh. He dabbed his moist eyes with a sleeve, then forced back his own tears with a smile.

Eyaney seemed better after that. She even took to studying while he was out attending to the ongoing cleanup.

"Why engineering, though?"

"Well, you work hard enough for the both of us, and you're always helping everyone else, but you can be a bit...daft, you know? Someone has to fix things for you." She grinned. "Give me a few weeks, and I bet I can fix these goggles too!"

Remembering her determination in that moment warmed him as he polished off his Sleepless Rhapsody─though he still felt somewhat self-conscious about the reason for it.

We really should visit mum and dad. They deserved to know that the Doomtrain was no more.

"Actually went over the edge that time! Whoops!"

"Most people learn the first time they nearly fall to their death, you absolute bolt-brain!"

Awoken from his reverie, Lumull raced towards the source of the shouting. Sure enough, a familiar figure was dangling from a roof. There was naught for it but to aid his beleaguered companion in hauling him back up, but as he did so, something slipped from Lumull's jacket pocket and tumbled through the air. A small, metallic, detector-y something...

"Nooo! No! Nononononono!"

Alarmed by his outburst, Lumull's but-recently rescued compatriot raced down the stairs─narrowly avoiding another slip─and retrieved the fallen device. Alas, while it remained intact, a trepidatious test of the switch proved it inert.

Though he considered going outside and letting the lightning take him, Lumull ultimately resigned himself to his sister's judgment, deciding to grovel once she returned from her preliminary work on the food systems. After what felt like several ages, he espied her strolling up the street.

Reluctantly, he proffered the broken detector.

"Lumull..." Eyaney's eyes grew wide. "Are. You. Serious!?"

"I'm sorry! It's just that you-know-who lost his footing again, and I went to pull him to safety, and I was in such a rush that it flew right out of my pocket, and─" He noted her looking to the heavens and wondered if she might find mercy there. "I am sososo so sorry! Please accept my heartfelt apologies."

Eyaney heaved a lengthy sigh.

"Fine, hand it over. With the barrier fixed I doubt we'll need it any time soon, but better safe than sorry. And do be more careful─it was the detector that took flight this time, but it could have just as easily been you."

Whew. It was always a relief when his sister indicated that she'd prefer he remain among the living.

Eyaney went to her table to prepare for the delicate repairs. Lumull pulled up a chair to keep her company. And there they sat, matching goggles atop their heads. An old routine, perhaps, but one she found as much comfort in as he did.

He hoped.