Freddy's body moved forward and back in a constant rhythm as his fingers caressed the keys of his Hammond B-3. The guitar riffs blended in magnificent harmony and the mouth harp solo slid in like glass on velvet. The sounds of the blues burst through the lounge like waves of passion and sorrow.
This was Freddy's sanctuary. Where he came to make a living and where he came to find his sanity.
It had been twelve long years since his sight was taken from him. For twelve long years he'd been drifting on a sea of sadness, as devoid of hope as a sailing ship with no hint of wind. His life was a simple mix of blues music and too much booze, solitude his constant companion. Freddy had either destroyed or rejected all that was good in his life except for his music and his precious B-3. Carolyn stayed with him as long as she could, but the constant barrage of bitterness and a loveless relationship was more than she could bear. One night the axe just fell and she walked out. Freddy missed her terribly, crying himself to sleep for nights on end, but when she called he refused to talk to her. He was wrapped tightly in bitterness and anger. His only friends in the world were Loren, the drummer in his band, the guitarists, Rick and Jack and Leon, his front man who could blow a mouth harp like no one he'd heard before.
It was the last set of the night and the lounge was filled with music fans, drinking, dancing and celebrating. Freddy didn't speak much to anyone, most of the crowd gravitated to Leon, a tall, strikingly handsome man of Italian descent. It was the way Freddy wanted it. Playing his music was all he had in his life and it was all he expected to have.
As the band concluded their show for the evening, Loren threw a blanket over his drums and took Freddy by the arm. "Ready to ramble on out've here?" He asked with an upbeat sound to his voice. "Man, we knocked 'em dead tonight, huh?"
Freddy's voice was devoid of emotion. "Yea, I s'pose we did."
They made their way past the tables and chairs. As they neared the door Loren noticed a rather plain looking woman standing near the doorway wearing a simple cotton dress. She seemed terribly out-of-place in the lounge.
As they approached, she stepped forward and spoke. "Freddy, I just wanted to tell you how much I love listening to you play. I come in every night after work just to hear your music."
"Glad you like it. I've gotta go." That was how Freddy was.
Hurt showed in the woman's eyes. She turned and hurried away. Loren swallowed hard, wanting to say something, but knowing it was no use. Nothing he could say would change how Freddy was.
"Hey man, you wanna stop down the block for a cup of coffee?"
Freddy nodded slightly. "Yea, sure. I could use some coffee and maybe a burger. I didn't eat today."
As they were about to enter the diner they heard the sound of screeching tires and a loud thump. Loren looked back in horror as he saw the woman flying through the air, landing in a mangled heap on the pavement. "Oh God! Aw man, it's the lady from the club. Damn! A car just ran into her!"
Loren left Freddy standing alone as he ran back to her. It was no use. She was dead.
The woman driving the car was standing behind him, screaming hysterically. "She just walked out in front of me. I didn't see her until it was too late! Oh my God, what have I done." Loren tried to console her but he couldn't. Moments later, several police vehicles appeared, sirens wailing and lights flashing. An emergency crew appeared. Loren disappeared in the crowd that had gathered and made his way back to the diner. Freddy was still standing by the door. "She's dead, Freddy. The woman we talked to at the club, she's dead. Shit! It's weird. She just walked out into traffic, like she didn't care if she got killed."
A wry smile crossed Freddy's face. "Yup. I can relate to that."
Loren peered at him, unsure what to say. They went inside and took a seat at a nearby booth. As they sat eating a late night dinner, Loren stared at Freddy. "Hey, man, I've gotta ask ya. Where'd that new tune you wrote come from?"
"What d'ya mean, where'd it come from?" Freddy seemed annoyed. "Out've my god damn head, that's where."
"Hey, be cool, man. I mean it's been haunting the hell out've me. I can't get the melody out've my head. And the name of the song, Hitchcock Railway. It's just weird sort've, but I love the tune."
Freddy didn't respond. To him it didn't matter. There was music pouring out of his head constantly. It had gotten almost overpowering the past year or so. There was so much music going through his mind he was hard pressed to capture it all. Freddy finished his meal and pushed his plate away. "I need to go home."
Loren swallowed the last of his coffee, paid the bill and led Freddy out of the diner and down the street to a dingy brownstone. "Well, I'll see ya tomorrow night, Freddy."
"Yea, sure. Hey, Loren! Stop by a little early and I'll go over the new play list with ya, okay?"
Loren agreed and walked back up the street. Freddy walked up the steps, put his key in the entry door lock and went inside. A few minutes later he was in his apartment. It was sparsely furnished with a chair and a worn couch. There were a pair of rickety end tables and a battered coffee table. On one wall sat Freddy's piano. He made his way across the room and sat down, running his fingers over the keys. Suddenly he launched into a haunting melody, knowing full well it would waken the neighbors and make them angry. Still, he knew they'd tolerate his late-night music. They always did. It was what they'd come to expect.
There was a half-full bottle of Jack Daniels on the piano and Freddy paused briefly and took a swallow. By sunrise the liquor had dulled his senses enough for him to sleep and he went to bed.
He was soon lost in the same strange dream.
He found himself standing on a boarding platform in front of an abandoned train depot deep in the desert. The sound of a long, lonesome train whistle sounded in the distance and soon he heard the train approaching. It was a sleek, black locomotive pulling seven rail cars behind. The conductor stepped down and helped Freddy aboard.
Something felt different this time. Suddenly he realized he could see.
"Oh God! What's happened to me?" He screamed. "I can see! I can see!"
Freddy felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see a man standing behind him with long, gray hair and piercing green eyes. The man smiled and motioned to a table by the window.
"Join me, Freddy, won't you?"
Freddy stared at the stranger. "What's happening to me? How do you know me and who the hell are you?"
"I'm sure you have many questions, Freddy. Sit with me and I'll explain."
Freddy took a seat and stared at the man sitting across the table from him. Thoughts raced through his mind in a torrent of emotion and disbelief.
Before he could formulate a question the man began to speak.
"My name is Andrew. Think of me as your spirit guide here on the Hitchcock Railway. I have watched you for some time, Freddy. You have faced considerable adversity through no fault of your own. It has given you perspective that few will ever find and it has manifested itself in your music. Your music is a gift from the gods, my friend. And now you have another gift. The return of your sight."
Freddy was speechless. He wanted to speak, but the words just wouldn't come. He peered out the window into the darkness and then back at Andrew. "But this is all a dream, right? I don't really have my sight back."
Andrew smiled. "Do you see me, Freddy?"
"Yes. God yes! I do. But it's not real."
"Take my hand, Freddy." Andrew reached out to shake Freddy's hand. His grip was firm and strong. "Is that not real enough for you?"
Freddy was visibly shaking. "I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do." Tears of joy streamed down Freddy's face and he sobbed uncontrollably.
Andrew sat quietly waiting for him to regain his composure. Gradually Freddy became more calm.
Andrew smiled. "There is something else, Freddy. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Andrew stood and walked to the table at the opposite end of the dining car. There was a plain-looking woman sitting by herself, sipping on a cup of coffee. Andrew took her hand and led her back to Freddy's table. "Freddy, I'd like you to meet Marie."
Freddy smiled shyly. "Hello, Marie. It's nice to meet ya."
Marie smiled back at him. "I already know you Freddy, but it's nice to actually meet you."
A puzzled expression filled Freddy's face. "You know me?"
"From the lounge where you play music with your band. I've seen you play many times and listen to your music every chance I get."
The voice seemed familiar to Freddy. Without sight his hearing had become extremely keen and he learned to recognize voices almost immediately. Then he froze. He knew this woman and she was the one who'd lost her life in the street only hours before. Puzzlement gave way to fear as he stared at her. "Jesus! You...You're the one...I mean, Loren said you were killed tonight. I don't..." His voice trailed off as he continued to stare at her. "You can't be real. You're just part of my dream."
Andrew interrupted. "But Freddy, you were sure I wasn't real. I am. You agreed I was. Take Marie's hand Freddy."
Freddy slowly reached out and took Marie's hand in his. As he did he saw her features shift. It was like an illusion. Her hair became longer, flowing over her shoulders, long and brown. Her features softened and her cheek bones rose higher. The large brown eyes melted his heart. Freddy stared in amazement.
He was overcome with a flood of emotion. "Carolyn? Is it you, baby? God! This can't be true!"
"Aren't you going to give your soulmate a kiss, Freddy?" Andrew stood smiling at them.
Freddy reached out and pulled Carolyn close to him, their tears running together as they stood hugging and kissing each other. Freddy held her face in his hands. "I wanted to die when you left, baby. I loved you so much but I knew I couldn't give you any kind of life. I was blind. More blind than I realized."
Carolyn put her finger to his lips. "Shhh, sweet man. I understand. I took my life seven years ago. I've been drifting on a sea of infinity until now. It is you who rescued me."
Freddy shook his head as he smiled at Andrew. "No baby, it wasn't me. It's the magic. The magic we found here on this mystic mode of transportation running through the sky. We were rescued in a special way. We were rescued by the Hitchcock Railway!"
