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"Let's see, track layouts for the New Haven & Hartford, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, Boston

& Albanyah, here it is, the New York & Quebec Northern" He carried the portfolio over to a table and untied the strings on the cover "Great railroad in its day Over two thousand miles of track Ran a crack express called the Manhattan Limited Any particular section of the track you're interested in?"

"I can find it, thank you," said Shaw

"Would you like a cup of coffee? I can make some upstairs in the office Only take a couple of minutes"

"You're a civilized old Coffee sounds fine"

Rheingold nodded and walked back down the aisle He paused and turned when he ca the faded and yellowing maps

When he returned with the coffee, the portfolio was neatly tied and replaced in its proper niche on the shelf "Mr Shaw?" There was no answer The library room was empty

Pitt felt inspired and determined, even exhilarated

A deep sense of knowing he had opened a door that had been overlooked for generations acted on him like a stimulant With an optimism that was not there before, he stood in a sine jet to float in for a landing

Under normal procedures the feat would have been impossible: the field was pockullies The longest flat spot ran noat a moss-covered rock wall Pitt had expected a helicopter and he began to wonder if the pilot had a death wish or had brought the wrong aircraft

Then he watched in fascination as the wings and engines began to slowly tilt uphile the fuselage and tail rerees and were facing skyward the plane stopped its forward round

Soon after the wheels touched the grass, Pitt walked up to the cockpit door and opened it A boyish face with freckles and red hair broke into a cheery grin "Morning You Pitt?"

"That's right"

"Climb in"

Pitt climbed in, secured the door and sat in the copilot's seat "This is a VTOL, isn't it?"