Hill bike

[2nd part of the interactive romance inspired by the forum
conspirators &; contributors to 'Ta Chucks']

Instead of answering at that moment, her mind was wandering to a time
before the caf? came about, a time in her mother's house threading an
unchanged daily life, waiting for earth-clods to be chucked up at her
college window, a sign of some secret night romance.

The shaman's face sitting here in the cafe before had altered;
agreeably
less pained and tinged with anticipaton. How Ted had changed since
those days, since his days in the institution. Still an enduring
entertainment though.

Nicky was down to the cellar of her tea jottings now; seeing in the
leaves of her bookish napkin some old depravity, making her leave her
unspeaking stasis, lift from the table and move towards the action
around Ted.

Ted thoughts also joined the rippling out towards other times, his to
the street from where he had came and then more distantly to what
happened at Mill Bank. Why had it all been demolished like this, so
roughly.

Fred's only still-born thought was for an answer, he wanted affirmation
for the possible construction.

The boy from the window was now cycling over the bridge, heading
speedily away from what he'd seen in the cafe, having picked up a
misguided vital clue for some of his own playful investigation.

Mr Ordinary man making his way at an opposite direction was walking his
whippet back down the hill grunted something to the boy on the bike,
about his back wheel catching up with the front, then sneered.

"Bloody fool!" the immature bravery of the boy's mind couldn't quite
coin his father's dismissive words so he said nothing and rode
on.

The hill broke free to wheels of ardous riding speed, slowing now as
the cafe became more of a speck and the gradient grew. The fuse of
endeavour still lit however: he had to get to Mill Bank, he knew where
it was, what he was looking for.

Ted had dropped such an important clue, sure he was of its value.

? pseudocarp 2001