Under Handicap

The story opens aboard the Overland Limited as it slices through an endless, sun‑scorched desert. Outside, miles of barren sand and lonely telegraph poles stretch into a heat‑shimmering horizon, while inside the Pullman smoking car the world feels entirely different—cool, polished, and filled with the soft clink of ice in glasses and the faint scent of mint. The juxtaposition of the unforgiving wilderness and the genteel comforts of the train sets a vivid stage for the drama to unfold.

Inside the car, two strikingly different young men dominate the conversation. One, a pale, fastidious gentleman in lavender, complains bitterly about the monotony of the landscape, while his larger, easy‑going companion—nicknamed “Greek”—responds with dry humor and a steady hand at the bar. Their banter, laced with subtle rivalry and hidden motives, hints at deeper personal stakes as the train barrels onward, promising a journey that will test more than just their patience.