De baanwachter

In the mid‑nineteenth century, a small Flemish village clings to the edge of a newly laid iron road. There lives Jan Verhelst, the solitary railway guard who watches the tracks from a modest stone hut beside a repurposed carriage, his life intertwined with the rhythm of passing trains and the modest garden that surrounds his home. The narrative opens with a vivid portrait of his daily chores, his missing left hand, and the quiet companionship of an elderly woman in the garden.

As summer heat bears down on the fields, a sense of unease begins to ripple through the community, hinting that the very tracks Jan protects may conceal a hidden danger. Through gentle humor and tender observations, the story explores his dedication, the bonds of the village, and the looming threat of a tragic accident that could shatter their simple existence. Listeners will be drawn into this atmospheric slice of history, feeling both the peace of rural life and the tension that rides on the rails.