Why Would The Train Run Late?

The train was late today and it was always early. Why was it late? The train was an apparatchik. The train always arrived at Chestnut Hill station at precisely 08:03am and departed five minutes later at 08:08am. It had arrived thirty-four seconds late. That meant they were running thirty-four seconds late. She stepped on first; followed by Amara and Annora Willowrider, then Margo Lilygrow, and finally Vulwin Heartgust and his obnoxiously large briefcase that took up a whole seat. She reached her compartment thirty-four seconds late. This was a problem.

They reached Hollyhead station thirty-four seconds late where Valentine should then get on thirty-four seconds late. There had to be a problem in the Magisterium. Why else would the train run late? It had to be faulty wiring or plain incompetence but that has never happened before in all the years she had been alive. Surely her father would know? The phone rang seven times. No answer.

Peculiar.

It was cold today. Not cold enough for frost or snow but cold enough that the windows were fogged up with condensation from the warm atmosphere inside the empty compartment. She sat down on her usual seat, perplexed already by the day she was having. Nothing made sense. Her mother had still been peacefully asleep when she had awoken, her father's shift hadn't started yet he didn't pick up
Valentine had paused midway through biting her apple. She continued biting until she had a chunk in her mouth and proceeded to chew, all while in complete silence. Finally, she swallowed the bite and spoke, “Tori, the train was here on time. Eight-oh-three for you and eight-eleven for me, just like it always is.” She was wrong. Why did she always have to be wrong? And Tori? Valentine knew she preferred Astoria.

“No, it arrived thirty-four seconds later than usual; that doesn't happen. It always arrives exactly on time and on time is precisely three minutes past eight. The train was