I wasn't quite sure how any of this business was supposed to work, on the Orient Express that wasn't really in the Orient, but I tried hard to act like I'd done it a hundred or so times before, and knew exactly what was going on.  I'd already surrendered my luggage to someone in a uniform.  I was hoping he had assumed I was Scandinavian, or at least British.

I held my ticket in my gloved hand.  I stood near the edge of the platform, next to the broad yellow line.  I was trying to hold my ground.  It seemed the other passengers were doing the same.  I wondered how many of them were like me, American and inexperienced, trying to pass for normal.

I may as well have been a Martian, really, someone or something occupying a body and hoping I wouldn't have to expose my naivete.

The platform vibrated as the train approached, its engines running louder and the brakes squeaking a bit.