James
It’s weird how adaptable the human brain is. How capable of accepting new levels of what is ‘ordinary’. Despite knowing that I am now completely alone, I settle into a kind of routine.
Read… Run… Carry…
East Portside Road… El Valderado Bar…
I have my second wind, breathing easily. Even my leg isn’t giving me the trouble I thought it might. My muscles thoroughly warmed through now, I jog along, heading for my next destination.
Read… Run… Carry…
Parkmoor Bridge over West Marine Rise…
Pacing myself, pacing my breathing to match my easy trot, I survey dark windows…
Where are they?
… Parked cars… Alleyways… Cafes and kiosks…
Then passing through shadier areas; roof lights, warehouse windows, disused garages…
I skid to a halt.
Ahead of me, blocking my route…
Under the glare of a streetlamp, a group of youngsters, swilling back beer, yelling, pushing and shoving…
Look again…
No, not kids.
Young men.
Crap…
they look entirely too rowdy
I cross
That would flag up
stroll on, all nonchalance. That’s the
Fucking limp…
up, notices me. Elbowing the next, he jerks his
jeans slung low at the belt, steps forward
Are they Finchby's?
?
No…
just louts on the lookout for an
What do they see?
Old man…
Limping…
Disabled?
Interesting looking bag…
“Evening,” he says.
“Good evening.”
for a stroll. Chilly night. Could get a nasty cold on your chest.” He nods downwards. “What you
“Nothing of yours.”
“Coming back from the gym? Sports kit,
past.” I make to step forward, through the
“Hand it over.” He holds up a knife, the neon orange of the streetlamp glinting on the edge. “I used to have a bag like that. Let’s see if I think this
turns, grinning around to the group
Moron…
“Yeah… lost.”
be a
blade held up by his own face, displayed. “Like the movie
I'm simply not in the mood for
eSg3oSzRkAa0/GHm4bzwAY4W8GsCZYBmkOdNt/GEc+SEtFsxQCCMlBwXAaNTKDL7dX5zpZUKEpmOeN0sgL8RpFCGDDc9kwmsEf7RuTsVwnJhLX+CHfLWa1eAYJS3abOyuODIZ1ImDTPdJNHIFxv399RARLhwztUrdzQp1dduJE5vW7AvE3GGJu9S3OWvyp2UsWVTmNCCWTVA2laKxK4zDJJbuxjMrDm1nGc/GsM9Y0b9ckJ3ymgwV9K1xfr57M3HXB4QD8z+V/W/pX44IhNq1unSMUJj8yQhq/hpoh+/00oLqjus2p1FeNBQEsJHjkWQMpvs3JW6+KeEmjN5SCyxoriOP0zeQSIJTIErStiZ7elFnMjWxoRugAVCN7wliPSQs+2OKz+XS3O1ymroEHG69HeLbGkpSvCat+vvxMkrOoWjZWqxwmrrW53nPb+6BsPyOLExu0SC0ZIOgNAEwUaeRj7KGGAASgRP0jMhi8Yh8rfWfpYKVTjwPkiD082dv6QsJh1Rsbf6HQGmEONCcjWbpSCsLq1e/5T4afKuFjjg9aVpSZrjZVS6V5xNhpUc8BmzJpSgX/spIwzxWXXJOa3idWQ5BRmYq2JS0kIKbQzc3CnjxdA7M/a8F48tSbQ5dxvg3/MBXqpqldpH4QYR0jmH8DrGO6UOVtPS51YlvFDBPB3X91xr60aGfy8fM5XXX4lixuewOf0jp3V1CBSBoabpOgVFsO2BMN0wTSVnW0unQCJ3CNrq9w9OjRzEYlogWv5cmfvrBW+sevgkmy/7OXP0noAjEaCkUJqcURiU1dKohYhEqY5wm3jOEub77xbthZwZw5YrcGxsHYOipVTRcUSX1LpDLWN+8UUggtJKF3rTHUxa22obm3KCHKnfQUETZ4P3bXZ1/DeludXOPtYVZz/Fnksx7ksCbC5UnO8JoU74Iq2H3vy7Q5SBodw0oOSlVb71f4v79+PJw00WTmj60dMWJmqjkxZKcwPereIYeQNRvEEv/yKPJuQ16Yz+5gFQnGvtRCdqAxAOYALxpANwBqJQWrUx0DrNnen36UskkBAWYFl9k5AXvgokpOcTgNwdDxhxsDI2pmfTAInOUSgllBNDk1o1w3uW2MOae4+wcY50dz54BXyWTY91xlOyxkWAvFhDzlryzammZHmptuSDMZPwj2453KGdm0RbZlSgrJvJY7a0+G3exsWfnuEUIBQOyLfpgPWCADzabSvWj2SnWnK6cSaQVQxTlQVbZGt59PfX+4q75M3n76WgiarMN4QHyFZ80E/6xrKjx/UdY38caY0KtOUJtsfPESi24G3Zdfjr9wl2fkjIsRkQzEOiT+b6JLHYmBpWJ54VgLZkbnWFScwAM3nYtjYXWRFJhdxxahTtudv0w34127GUuP8W4ktKTNXRHcKUxlOleEzeDefQ9wErlh6PnTuLiYoQ/McqXHEooNneOK5ImNY6y7r4yRdlsVLvQj9PdFBYsNdHpVG3HYQItGhJU3rN2uXOOiDIa2FlWxRt2yaMNoqZ28iWJZ4z6cHz3MGtVTbhvcHDrPxq4Pgsa1rGDW/00bdjyNSXKNVuGMHhmHCWLK0Gl60OpFmDCEd6WZRWGM6XUjOLf/MDT8Ve7k6ELLYl7u7b4myTsapvjA8u2pbKbN3ATBrBJ/elWVRi74eZAnS7rJQcmZ1/unj4CNN4CKakVZY7tuAbPLq+yYGsTwFW3ot9oAsrAVpb/aek2j/WSUpf3vQchkE3HO+PoUC611KLMRE2viO+nE6DNt0zQ0BfacsjM2hwRXlhOnP9RnzcrMC8+whPR+pSgynyCFf7S4S3nBYZtvEB+A+nuciT2u61iv+Pc6It/52hSySlOFxJCzGSnRBf7gSj2B054Z0VC9eQKGXfAOzdWTbiBDz5NfVT9kTtOfZtqZbx+sL0ro4gFmWBotMcW85rQAuO6cJpKlxz53/W3gI6zmB5weM28gD7nBEdKrQ4ZurSk+aRiDbnzc2uThmXcKEynDmbh+4+0D1vVRxAxITVsnN5vYEB0Bo6KF+ATYoozIPwpU6btUdPdtAlj5OW18f/jMUVjdVLudHq0EAijxBcbkRZuzM2pX5Jmz05OcYzvYk7BIF6TeOPBT0eu/BZMDC4QP6rEHxNp4hPvYSrFuS2LrdQCsttQk22Usnw+hf1WjL5h9ciGFfqfKLaXq/wYVvxPwFoi5+o9HOFyjh0Sx1vGr8/OQeyPwIIHkkpGZ6hc/aLG3DP4dCID3UeLqZGXt1+PJcsG/ZtMawnRGgGJTgHIOc8HFZyACXJXXqd1pyX8BUu2gmcc8d+ByjZc3hMHNgQGR9xuofUaedU5B60tme9+r/W0zoiaQvUrj/fHFIQGAnYApfA/nudmhR1QDRQjTEpzp6Nz27SQB3tDCW6o9im9S9fGZgNrcZQXsPGCmkD51cfcukMQ5kjRuO1wP+uRkZ3gPSs/KZUjD8rlhylwfkAZQT59QqmFkoKysB9mKBzIV/hFWP1Px7brd0fge7g7WSBwdkJzWVM2F84vpRr9UUKForiSan4RKebvVD0BrmLcs5D+nUfrrREOi80e7LX1de5SPx8fRqSch44alSNEPLDU+ab4JHaA4gm5gZTJAaJtjlW8k1cySdwowxeMAq2PkmdhraVsWMk2VuUUAHNlQm0pm3SvKY5yHxNck/AqYzN0FsA
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!