Meekford frowned at the question.

"Pass the word for all the porters to assemble for a headcount." Meekford said. In not too long a time, the uniformed staff were assembled. Tall, short, young, old, the men wore the uniform of the NER with varying degrees of pride and states of undress. The older man quickly surveyed the group to see who wasn't present. He had worked with the NER long enough to know his staff by sight.

"Where's that new fellow Carrington?" Meekford asked. The new boy had only just started, and the impression he left on Meekford was of an idle youth unused to labour who seemed to think all of this was beneath him. Yet, he had come on the recommendation of head office. What were they thinking? Any relation to the Carrington family? Meekford couldn't recall asking him. Still, Meekford recalled the lad nodding at the rules that had been laid down. Now he was nowhere to be found.

"Carrington?" Meekford repeated louder in case the lad was deaf.