:Dieter had not expected so many people on the train. But the Thalys was a very fast train and didn't stop before Brussels. It took only two and a half hours from Cologne to Brussels-Midi Station, but then he had to go to the airport, fly to Dublin and finally take the train to Achill Island. Ages until he was going to arrive in Ireland.
There were two kinds of passengers on the train: business people, you could tell by their cases and the grey or blue suits and tourists with backpacks, suitcases or bags wearing leisure clothes. The Thalys was a sensible alternative to taking the plane and a bit cheaper too.

While the train left the station Dieter found his seat next to a friendly looking guy in his early thirties who was sitting at the window, day dreaming and watching the people on the platform.
Dieter lifted up his backpack to the rack but left his guitar on the floor. He was lucky that there was plenty of room for bulcky luggage as well as stretched out legs.
Right behind him in the next row, Dieter saw the woman with the skateboard. She had turned her head towards the opposite window, not wanting to look at Dieter, and had tucked her skateboard between her legs. "Bloody hell", thought Dieter, "why does she sit right behind me after all? There is no such thing as coincidence." He touched his shin, pulled up his trousers and noticed that there was a very long bruise, dark, kind of reddish blue. Thank God, it wasn't bleeding. By the time they would be on Achill Island it might have turned yellow and wouldn't be as sore any longer, Dieter comforted himself: nothing serious, interesting mix of colours. "I should keep that in mind for my next picture."
The train sped up and entered a tunnel.

Dieter's neighbour was reading a book. Being curious what it was about Dieter focused on the letters and read "Achill Island".
"Sorry, may I ask you a question?", Dieter turned to the guy. "Are you also going to Achill Island?"
"Yes, I am", the guy said.
"Me too, I am going to a kind of reunion at a gallery called 'Western Light Art Gallery' run by Sean Cannon. My father was a good friend of Brian O'Donnell, an artist who painted pictures. His pictures were found in a pub many years ago and are worth a fortune. Dad doesn't know whether Brian is still alive. Since he is fairly old and sick he asked me to go to Ireland."
"Yes, I am going there for the same reason. Sean Cannon is the one who sent the letter to family and friends of Brian O'Donnell, you know what I mean? By the way, I am Bruno."
"My name is Dieter, nice to meet you. Yes, my father got that letter as well."

He heard the woman behind him mumble: "Achill Island, that's where I am also going, funny indeed. My name is Kim," she looked at both of them in an open-minded way.
"I am terribly sorry for what happened before," Kim said leaning towards Dieter, "are you ok now?"
Dieter thought: "She is probably a nice person and terribly ashamed of what happened. I guess we should be on good terms now since we have to spend the next nine days together."
Dieter slightly nodded: "Let's not mention it any more, it'll be fine by the time we arrive on Achill Island.
Let's go to the bar carriage to get a drink for a change? Would you like to join me?"
Bruno didn't want a drink, he preferred reading his "Irish Toffee", Kim wanted to have a snooze.
"See you later", Dieter said.