as the second launch of flares from the island draws the attention of every drone in the region.

The resulting shadows behind the train from the flickering light are now almost darker than the pitch black he was operating in before their launch, and he makes use of the distraction, and the resulting noise from the yapping swarms, to run down the length of the train.

He pulls up at the wheel of the foremost carriage. The smell seeping out from the carriages is like a sewer and he holds his arm over his face, cupping his nose and mouth in the crease of his elbow. He can hear the group of drones standing to the front of the train, one of them grunting instructions to the others. Some of them run off in different directions, scouts to investigate the disturbance.