Railway station Bielefeld: I have just seventeen minutes to change the train. So I run upstairs to the waiting room. I hope to get new batteries for my walkman quickly, so that I don`t miss my train. There are still three long hours to travel. Next to the shop a young woman is standing in tatterd clothes. When I cross her way, she pulls my arm. "Hey!", she giggles in a silly way and bares her rotten teeth, "you want to buy batteries or don`t you?" I want to say a few hard words to her, but I stop and look perplexed. "Yes, but why ...?" I break off the
sentence, because she puts her dirty finger under my nose. "I know everything", she grins. One moment later a look of pitty covers her face: "The guy inside only sells four for 10 marks, but I`ve just 5 marks. So I got the idea to share the packet and we both are satisfied." She looks expectantly. I have no time to think it over. I run into the shop, buy the batteries and put two into her hands.

When I nearly arrive at the steps to the platform I hear her crying: "Here, your 5 marks!" I run downstairs and shout: "I`m in a hurry, it`s o.k., bye!" The girl follows me and grabs my arm. She is really getting on my nerves, but as I turn around she looks at me intensely and says softly: "Hey, take care of yourself!" Suddenly I feel cold. I rub her hand gently and run to the train.

Alone in the compartment I begin to listen to my music. But Pavarotti doesn`t give me the rest that I need. Touched by the last words of the young woman I`m worried. How can I know where and when I have to be careful? I try to relax, begin to eat an apple, smoke a cigarette. At last, I take my bag and go to the bistro, to drink a coffee. Maybe I should avoid an empty compartment ... Later, when I`m going to change the train at Cologne, I should be carefully ... I can`t see well, specially in the darkness ... - The waiter gives me my coffee. The air is very bad, but the quiet conversations of the people give me a feeling of safety. I read a paper, try to concentrate on the million dollar Sharon Stone collected for the AIDS fund, when we finally the main station of Cologne.

Opposite the train to Siegburg is already waiting. In this train I sit next to an old woman, who is happy to have a conversation partner now. Usually I like to be alone, but today I need every kind of diversion. Now the time runs away and at midnight we arrive at Siegburg on the last platform at the railway station. The old woman and I are the only ones who leaves the train. There is nobody else at the station. I am scared. The whole place is still under construction. To get out you have to take a tunnel. It`s very dark, everywhere are iron pipes and other materials, and shadows are all over the walls. I hesitate to go through.

Suddenly a horn sounds. Terrified I turn around. A taxi is standing behind the station, but there is a fence between us. The driver shouts: "Do you need a taxi? Go a few meters ahead, there is a hole in the fence!" The driver seems to be an angel to me. Gladly I ask the old woman, if she wants to come with me. But she says: "No, thank you, I`m living only five minutes away from here." I arrive at home safely. A few days later I`m told that an old woman became a victim of a robbery in the tunnel at the railway station at Siegburg.