“Hi there,” she said. “You must be new here. I’m Alice.”
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He stared at her in disbelief. She looked like someone from his past life before the apocalypse.
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“Who are you?” he asked.
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“I’m one of the residents of Eden,” she said. “That’s what we call our city. It’s hidden under the ground, powered by nuclear fusion and solar panels. We have everything we need here: food, water, medicine, entertainment, education… You name it.”
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She gestured to the other passengers.
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“These are some of my friends. We’re going back to Eden after a scouting mission on the surface. We’re always looking for new survivors to join us.”
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She paused and looked at him curiously.
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“What’s your name?”
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He hesitated for a moment. He didn’t know if he could trust her or anyone here.
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“My name is Jake,” he said.
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“Nice to meet you, Jake,” Alice said. “Where are you from?”
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“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been wandering for a long time. I don’t remember much of my life before the apocalypse.”
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He didn’t want to tell her about his nightmare or his family. He didn’t know if they were real or not.
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“I see,” Alice said. “Well, you’re lucky to have found us. We’re always happy to welcome new people to Eden. You’ll love it there.”
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She smiled and took his hand.
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“Come on, let me show you around the train.”
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She led him through the carriage, introducing him to her friends and explaining the features of the train.
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“This is our dining car,” she said. “We have a kitchen where we cook fresh food from our farms and gardens. We also have a coffee machine and a vending machine with snacks and drinks.”
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She pointed to a large window on one side of the car.
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“This is our observation deck,” she said. “We can see the outside world from here. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
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He looked out the window and saw a barren landscape with ruins of buildings and cars. He saw smoke rising from fires and dust storms sweeping across the horizon. He saw no signs of life or vegetation.
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He felt a pang of sadness and fear.
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“It’s horrible,” he said.
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Alice squeezed his hand.
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“Don’t worry,” she said. “It’s not like that everywhere. There are still some places where nature has survived and thrived. We visit them sometimes for research and recreation.”
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She smiled and pulled him along.
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“Come on, there’s more to see.”
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She took him to the library and said “This is our library. We have many stories here.” “Wow! So many books. What do you guys do with them?” “During long journeys, we often get bored. So, we read these. Do you want to read one?”
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“Nah, I don’t know how to read. Most of my life has been about survival.”
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Alice looked at Jake with concern. "You don't know how to read? That's not a problem. We have teachers in Eden who can teach you. It's never too late to learn."
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Rishang felt a glimmer of hope. He had always wanted to learn how to read, but he never had the opportunity or the resources to do so. "Really? That would be great," he said.
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Alice smiled. "Of course. We believe that education is important for everyone, no matter their age or background. You'll have access to all kinds of resources and support in Eden."
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Rishang felt a surge of gratitude towards Alice and her community. He never expected to find such kindness and generosity in this harsh world. "Thank you," he said. "I don't know how to repay you."
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Alice shook her head. "No need to repay us. We do this because we believe in helping each other. We're all in this together, Jake."
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He felt a warm feeling in his heart. He realized that he had found a new family in Alice and the residents of Eden. He looked around the train and saw the friendly faces of the passengers. He felt a sense of belonging that he had never felt before.
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As the train chugged along towards its destination, he felt a new sense of purpose and hope. He knew that life in Eden wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to face the challenges and make a new life for himself.
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He turned to Alice and said, "I'm ready to start a new chapter in my life. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
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Alice smiled and squeezed his hand. "Welcome to Eden, Jake. We're happy to have you.”
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