The Road

This is the other thing I've got for you this week - just a little story thing I wrote on the bus the other day. I hope it is of some interest!

It’s getting steeper.

                                Can we rest here?

                                                                Again?

                                                                                                Again. There’s a long way still to go.

                                We need to rest.

It’s hot.

                                                                Thanks, mate. Hadn’t noticed.

And the road’s getting steeper.

                                                                You said.

                                Is there any water?

                                                                Not anymore.

We drank it all.

                                Oh.

                                                                Well said.

Sweat runs in rivers. A salty mockery on dry lips, rough throats.

                                                                Shut up.

Sorry.

                                Is there really far to go?

                                                                Not that far.

                                                                                                You always say that.

                                In fact, you said that two days ago.

                                                                                                That’s true.

                                I’m starting to worry.

                                                                Starting?

                                Good point. But –

                                                                What?

                                What’s this now – number – number what?

                                                                                                                I’ve lost count.

                                                                Poet?

Me too.

                                Too many.

But, it seems, not enough.

                                                                                                                We’ll find him.

                                                                We will.

                                Yeah, we will.

Or maybe, he’ll find us.

                                                                You wish.

I do.

                                                                                                                Who’s that?

                                Who?

                                                                                                                That.

                                                                What?

                                                                                                                There, look.

                                Yes!

Who is it?

                                                                                                                HELLO!

                                HI!

                                                                HEY THERE!

                                Is it him?

                                                                It can’t be.

It might be.

                                                                                                                It might.

HELLO!

                Hello.

                                It is you?

                Who?

                                You!

                                                                Are you him?

The one?

                                                                                                Are you the one we’re looking for?

                No.

It’s not you?

                I’m sorry.

                                                                                                Well who are you?

                                Me? I’m just the road builder.

                                                                What? What road?

                The road I’ve just built.

It’s there – look.

                                                                Why build a road like that through these mountains?

Why are you smiling?

                Someone’s coming.

                                                                                                With a cart?

                                                                With an army?

                No. He’s got nothing.

So, why the road?

                Wait – feel that?

                                                                What?

                I think he’s coming.

                                The ground.

                                                                What?

It’s rumbling.

                                It’s shaking.

Trembling.

                                                                                                What’s happening?

                He’s coming.

                                We’ve come far enough?

                No, he has.

                                                                The ground’s moving.

Look!

                                What?

The mountain’s sinking.

                                                                                                We’re sinking.

                                We’re falling!

                                                                I think the valley’s rising.

I think it’s both.

                                Yeah – it’s both!

Or neither.

                                                                                                Look.

                                Guys –

                                                                                                Look.

                                The ground is moving!

                                                                                                Look at the horizon.

                                Where?

                                                                Wow.

The mountains are moving.

                                                                                                Everything is melting.

                                                                Shifting.

Like waves breaking.

                                We’re still falling.

                                                                                                Look at the road.

                                                                What?

                                                                                                The road.

It’s straight.

                                                                How can it be straight?

And it’s long.

                                                                                                Very long.

                Incredibly long.

                                I can’t see the end.

                                                                                                Where does it lead?

                It leads here.

                                                                                                No, I meant –

Look!

                                                                What?

                                What?

It’s him. I can see him!

                                                                                                It is. I can see him too.

                                                                We found him.

No. He found us.

                                Is it him? Really?

                It’s him.

                                The ground’s still moving!

                I know. It’s him.

                                                                It’s him.

                                                                                                You’re sure?

                Yeah, I’m sure.

                                                                                                Bet your life?

                I have.

                                                                He’s the one?

                                He’s the one?

                Why don’t you ask him yourself?