The Portygee

A winter storm blankets the Cape, turning the remote South Harniss station into a bleak, wind‑swept outpost. The young traveler steps off the train into a world of howling gusts, rattling trees, and a sky that barely lets any starlight through. The platform feels like the loneliest spot on earth, and the boy, convinced he’s the most miserable soul there, clutches his expensive suitcase and a glinting telescope as the cold seeps into his bones.

Only three other people share the night‑time shelter: a cheerful driver, a cigar‑puffing homeopathic doctor, and the station agent who locks up for the night. As they settle into the depot wagon, the newcomer’s nervous curiosity forces him to ask about a local legend—Captain Zelotes Snow. The driver’s amused chuckle hints at a community steeped in its own stories, and the boy’s quest to find the elusive captain sets the stage for unexpected encounters in this isolated corner of Cape Cod.