Monica and Kavitha had a spooky trip on the train from South Africa to Zimbabwe. Well, it got them thinking they should write a ghost story. See if you can guess what is true and what isn't. Hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of us:

Click image for larger view

"Clickety-clack, clickety-clack," went the train as it sped from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, under half-moonlit skies. Kavitha had booked a two-person coupe for the overnight express ride leaving at 9 o'clock, and she and Monica were finally getting settled in.

Click image for larger view

The pair had arrived early, boarded, and found their coupe with the help of a very friendly porter. However, upon putting down their backpacks, they realized the light wouldn't turn on. Monica tried flipping the switch. Nothing. Kavitha tried jiggling the switch. Still nothing. Hmmmm... strange things were just beginning!

Click image for larger view

They called for the electrician and with a wave of his fingers; the light flickered back on. He blew out their candles without asking and hissed in a sort of scary voice: "I hope you have a good trip". The electrician flashed them a sinister smile and was gone.

Click image for larger view

Finally, all seemed peaceful and they were off to the great Victoria Falls! Feeling thirsty, Monica made her way through first class to the dining hall, and ordered a "Mazoe orange" with soda water. She had heard that Mazoe was a unique Zimbabwean flavor and she was eager to give it a taste-test. On her way back to Kavitha, the train swayed from side to side and Monica began to feel a bit motion sick. But she made it safely back to cabin 1073, coupe C, only to find a big surprise! The image of Kavitha, lit by candlelight, seemed to have appeared in front of the door for just an instant, but when Monica blinked hard, it disappeared. "Kavitha?" she called out. She looked up the hallway but there was nobody there. She entered the cabin and screamed! There was Kavitha, banging wordlessly from inside the cabinet mirror.

Click image for larger view

There was no sound but the clickety-clacking of the tracks while Kavitha mouthed out some urgent message that Monica couldn't seem to hear. "Kavitha! Are you okay?" Monica rapped on the glass. Kavitha's mirror image suddenly looked frightened turned around and moved away, vanishing into the mirror. Monica was left staring at her own image.

Click image for larger view

She ran to get help from the man in the next coupe. He said he would be there in just a moment. When he arrived he pulled open the sliding wooden door to the coupe. There was nobody inside, but there were backpacks, the remains of a meal, and some burnt-out candles. He frowned, then shrugged his shoulders, shut the door and went back to his room. He didn't notice the image of Monica, reflected in the top cabinet mirror, silently yelling for help.

"Clickety-clack, clickety-clack," went the train as it arrived into Victoria Falls Station. It had traveled the Bulawayo-Vic Falls route many times before. It would go this route many, many times again.