TIMETABLE
The
island’s steep lava flows sprawled into the Atlantic like giant starfish arms,
each inlet battered by waves that had gained strength across a thousand miles
of ocean.
Manuel
had grown up here, knew it intimately, and he had a foolproof plan. Rob the
village store just as it was closing, then escape along the railway line and
hide in the tunnel as he had when he was a boy. The police, having to use the
winding road, couldn’t catch him.
Unfortunately,
in the years he’d been away, the train timetable had changed. Jumping to the
side wasn’t an option.
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This week's photograph, thanks to Dawn M Miller and https://rochellewisoff.com/ , reminded me of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands. It doesn't have a railway, but the road around the island is cut through each starfish arm and skirts precipitous drops to the valleys. That's the mostly yellow one on this map!
I have taken on another challenge this month - one from National Flash Fiction, to produce an Advent Calendar of flash fiction using a different prompt each day. Feel free to scroll through my archives and read them.
Ouch! Good twist, Lizy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen - first comment as usual X
DeleteA shocking story but so beautifully written. Particularly lovely for me: sprawling like giant starfish arms: great stuff. Jilly, Sugar on the Bee
ReplyDeleteThank you Jilly, especially for picking out a phrase that I was pleased with X
DeleteOops
ReplyDeleteSometimes a slight miscalculation can have disastrous effects.
DeleteNicely wry ending. I've lost count of the times I've sipped a sundowner gazing across to La Gomera.
ReplyDeleteMe too - and have you driven along that road? Scary, isn't it!
DeleteServes him right I suppose...
ReplyDeleteI suppose, though a tad severe for a bit of robbery.
DeleteOh dear. More research was required, methinks :-)
ReplyDeleteManuel wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer!
DeleteAlways double and triple check your heists! If the movies teach us anything it's that they often go wrong, even when your plan seems impeccably sound.
ReplyDeleteSo true, but he didn't think, did he!
DeleteWhat did he expect? HE didn't plan very well, did he?
ReplyDeleteNope.
Deleteit looks like the long arm of the law will finally catch up with him this time around.
ReplyDeleteIf the train didn't get him first.
DeleteWhoa! Great twist.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa.
DeleteThe best laid plans...!
ReplyDeleteClick to read my FriFic tale!
... gang oft agley.
DeleteTerrible things can happen when we don't keep up with current news. And some can burn the flesh off one's bones, it seems.
ReplyDeleteA Flash Fiction Advent Calendar sounds glorious! I shall certainly take a look-see.
Manuel should have researched a little!
DeletePoor Manuel did not plan his heist properly. He may have to go away again for a long time.
ReplyDeleteBut will it be to prison or hospital?
DeleteOh! Sometimes, change is not for the better and it seems keeping up with the times would have been in his favor. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alicia x
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteManuel should've checked things out ahead of time. Hospital, prison or morgue? Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
My imagination has him in the morgue!
DeleteJust desserts?
ReplyDeleteI guess so.
DeleteLoved the writer and the backstory. thanks for both.
ReplyDeleteThank you , Violet, for commenting.
DeleteI haven't driven on La Gomera but on other islands and in Norway... those winding roads are scary...
ReplyDeleteToo damn right they are - hairpin bends, no safety rail, sides so steep it feels like you're driving off the edge.
Delete