CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
On many occasions since my arrival in New Orleans, I had walked to the nearest railroad tracks during my free time. Watching the trains pass gave me a sense of peace, even though the feeling was always tinged with sadness. Out of habit, I had studied the train routes and schedules. Even without Jake, the routine was comforting. The night Leni and I left the Jolie Fleur, I knew it would be easy to identify which track to follow toward Houma and Bayou Lafourche from Union Station.
It was too risky for Leni to try to train hop with me, so we walked for the better part of two and a half days. At night we found places to sleep near the tracks, and I taught Leni how to use what we had with us to prepare a bed and to protect herself. We were both terrified of snakes but wit
