Crows filled the sky. Their caws mixed with heavy breathing, and the crunch of snapping stalks. I wondered if the movement was an optical illusion. Something to do with the angle of the sun, or birds disturbing the crops.
When the shape slithered in a crescent towards me, I knew I had to run.
The creature skimmed along in synch, and claws extended over the sagging grain, going in for
The corn stuck to my boots made me stagger like I was in tennis shoes. On the left was a style, not much more than a rotten plank of wood over stones. Enough. My mud soles crumbled, and I scraped my hand to avoid going face first. The corn bubbled behind me.
That breathing turned into a growl, and spoke the following wo
I had no way of telling the best route to the car, and headed left down a mucky lane between two hedges. The foliage was so tall I would have to jump to look over. I was sure that a set of teeth lay on the other side. The remaining straw broke off in clumps, leaving a trail of shattered sculptures behind me. A perfect track to follow.
I thought of Archie. As if he was here, by my side. Four years old, and getting tired. Jolts of adrenaline told me I would soon have to scoop him up, and run with slung over my shoulder. The path was still silent behind me, but something could stagger down any second, and spot us both.
Stagger down any second, and spot me.
Archie in his suit with the lime green lining. Driving away in that yellow car.
The panic died for a few minutes, until my cycle of thoughts begin again.
At last the hedges die away, and I recognised the battered tarmac of the main road. I had somehow skirted in a huge L-sharp away from the car. It took fifteen minutes of trekking to get to my vehicle. The corn was silent. But all the while the crows cycled above, refusing to settle, their shrieks signalling primeval danger. I worried something hid under the chassis, waiting to tear out and cry ‘I’ll be bac
Bridd Scrinn is a fun walk, but the path is unkempt. You will need walking books and determination to get round properly. A shame I cannot recommend this more for families.
::You can't deny I’ve got a book here Barbara. And just look at that photo::
