Mrs. Magilikanthi was trudging exhaustedly along the station platform behind the porter who was carrying her suitcase. Mrs. Magilikanthi was short and plump, while the porter was tall and had a long stride. Additionally, Mrs. Magilikanthi was loaded with numerous packages, the result of a whole day of Christmas shopping. Consequently, the effort was uneven, and when the porter turned the corner at the end of the platform, Mrs. Magilikanthi was still climbing the straight.
Platform number 1 was not unusually crowded at that moment, since a train had just departed, but in the chaotic area beyond, a swirling crowd was hurriedly moving in various directions, towards and from the subway entrances, luggage storage offices, cafes, information offices, notice boards, and also the two exits, Arrivals and Departures, to the outside world.
Mrs. Magilikanthi was walking, banging her packages left and right, but at some point, she reached the entrance of platform number 3 and left one package at her feet while she searched her bag for the ticket that would allow her to pass through the stern uniformed guard at the gate. At that moment, a voice, loud yet refined, suddenly began speaking above her head.
"The train on platform number 3," the voice told her, "departs at 16:50 for Broughampton, Milchester, Weaverston, Carville Jackson, Rochester, and terminates at Chatham. Passengers for Broughampton and Milchester are asked to board the last carriages. Passengers for Vaniki will transfer at Rochester." The voice faded with a click and then resumed with the announcement of the arrival on platform number 9 of the train from Birmingham and Wolverhampton at 16:35.