Summary

The novel opens with the narrator, Otto, recounting his breakup with Honza. Otto reveals that he has not thought of Honza until four years later, when the main action of the novel takes place.

Otto and his husband, Xavier, are boarding a sleeper train called The Lucky Day. They are both 38 years old. Otto describes the outside of the train as dragon-like, and walks down the length of the platform with Xavier and Otto’s pet mongoose Árpád looking for their carriage, the Clock Carriage. Xavier thinks he sees Ava Kapoor, the resident of the train, carrying a sign that either says HELLO or HELP.

Finally, they find their carriage, and make it onto the train just in time for its departure, although Otto’s suitcase is left behind on the platform. Neither of them can find the light switch, so their carriage...