Unclaimed Luggage for a Dragon

How it begins

The dragon took a number and sat between the umbrellas.

Ada appreciated that. Most customers arrived at lost property convinced their loss entitled them to interrupt somebody else's.

Number forty-two had misplaced a hat. Number forty-three had misplaced Thursday. The dragon, number forty-four, held a small pink ticket between claws large enough to open a carriage like a tin of biscuits.

"Next," Ada called.

The dragon rose, struck the ceiling with one horn, and apologized to the ceiling.

"What have you lost?"

"My courage."

Ada reached for the unusual-items ledger.

"In a container?"

"A green suitcase. Brass corners. There was a sandwich in it as well, but I expect that has made other arrangements."

From the doorway, Milo the porter made a sound like a wheel badly in need of oil.

Dragons were rare at the station. They usually flew, and the railway charged extra for wings.

Ada held out her hand. The dragon lowered its ticket onto her palm with exquisite care.

Date deposited: thirty-seven years ago.

She read it again.

"You've left this rather late."

"I was frightened to ask."

Milo stopped edging toward the door.

The dragon's tail curled around its feet. A little smoke leaked from one nostril, rose to the ceiling and set off the sprinkler above the stationery cupboard.

Ada moved the ledger away from the dripping water.

"We'll look," she said.

Milo fetched the ladder. He climbed past shelves of spectacles, one sleeping trumpet and a jar labeled LAST WORDS, PLEASE DO NOT OPEN. On the highest shelf, where the serious losses were kept, he found a rectangle of clean dust.

"Nothing here."

Ada consulted the disposal book.

Beside the suitcase's description, someone had stamped SOLD.

Below that, in smaller letters: ROYAL AUCTION. DEPARTURE NOON.

The dragon looked at the clock. Its wings trembled.

"Never mind," it said politely. "I can manage without it."

Ada closed the book.

For thirty years she had returned gloves, scarves and one unexpectedly grateful uncle. She had never chased a king's train.

She handed Milo his cap.

"We are going to need a bigger luggage trolley."