The Stranger
At a lonely, desolate station, a stranger stands, anxiously waiting for a train that seems lost in time. This intriguing figure, one of the two central characters, is unfamiliar to this land, a fact laid bare by the switchman's curious inquiry, "Haven't you been in this country very long?" When he first appears, the stranger is gasping for air, sweat pouring down his face from the exertion of lugging his suitcase. Driven by an urgent need to reach the elusive town of T__ by the following day, he is initially crushed by the fear that his train has already departed. Desperately, he questions the switchman about the train's departure, and upon hearing about this enigmatic land's rail system, he reacts with disbelief and terror. He meticulously interrogates the switchman, clinging to the logic that his purchased ticket surely guarantees his arrival at his destination. Yet, as the tale unfolds, the stranger reluctantly comes to embrace the switchman's peculiar reasoning. Ultimately, he alters the name of his destination to mirror the absurdity of his predicament, resigning himself to the role of a traveler in this bizarre journey.

The Switchman
The titular switchman, now retired, frequents the station to relive "the good old days" of his past. He materializes from the shadows, clutching a red lantern so diminutive it seems almost like a child's plaything. When questioned by the stranger about the train's elusive schedule, the switchman suggests that he might as well settle into the inn indefinitely, hinting that a train's arrival is a distant dream. Thus begins his surreal narration of the railway's erratic operation, delivered with serene sincerity and devoid of sarcasm. Throughout their exchange, the switchman exudes warmth and friendliness, unwavering in his fantastical tale, all the while remaining patient with the stranger's frantic queries and objections. He offers guidance and solace with a cheerfully reassuring demeanor, and when the long-awaited train finally appears, he races toward it, his lantern swinging wildly as he vanishes into the dawning light.