Escape On An Iron Horse

Escape On An Iron Horse

By Paul McCann

I met a young man in a fast-food joint on the road to a meeting with a client in a resort near by getaway beach . He seemed to have some issue with not having enough money to buy a meat pie and he was getting angry at everyone in the store  .

I paid for his pie to prevent the issue getting out of control which the young man was very grateful for . As I left the store , I noticed him sitting at a table outside eating his pie and went over to have a word with him .

“Hi . How’s things going today .’

He looked at me and smiled and said .

“Thank you for what you did . I was sure that I took my wallet before leaving this morning but I guess I was so eager to get out on the bike I’d left it at home ?”

“No problem . You enjoy bike riding then ?

I asked and he stopped eating his pie and sat there motionless before saying ,

“It’s like I’m one with the wind , leaning around the bends as fast as I please . I am free out there on the back roads with no one to answer to on my iron horse”.

I shook my head and said ,

“I uses to ride myself so I understand what you’re saying . Now I’m married with kids and those days bike riding are gone .”

He stood up and looked into my eyes and said ,

“ There’s a reason why I have to live like a wild gypsy on my bike . If you have time, I’ll tell you what happened to me “

I looked at my watch and said ,

“I’m early for my appointment so I have time to listen to what you have to say ,”

“ One morning I was on my way through the hills on my bike and I noticed something ahead of me in a clearing off the road and slowed down to see what it was , The next thing I know a crowd of strange creatures had come out onto the road blocking my way . They stood there on the road and I had nowhere else to go . The next thing I knew they shot a needle into my neck and all I felt totally relaxed . They carried me into their spaceship where they examined me before bringing me into a room where these strange lights were flashing on and off , my head went into  a spin . There was a voice telling me lots of thigs that I  can’t remember now . I think I was brainwashed because since that day I’ve never really been able to remember anything of what happened and I’ve never been the same since . Most of what happened during the abduction I can’t remember and remember is when they left me off the road on a hillside beside my bike.   These days I can’t smell the roses, or feel the breeze, I can’t hear the bees and my eye sight is limited . Most of my senses have gone . I had some lens implants to help me see better which has been a lifesaver for me because if I can’t escape out there  my bike I definitely would not cope . I spend most everyday now on my bike . It is like my personal lifeline to keeping alive and feeling normal or whatever normal is “

I was stunned by what he said and didn’t know what to say .

“Just keep on doing what you do best . seems that you’ve already found an escape hatch . Good luck with everything “   I said. 

We shook hands and I left him there to finish his pie . I thought to myself now that’s a story I could tell my kids tonight before they go to bed .

The End

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