*I’ve moved the train below ground for the sake of my tale!
A moving stairway draws me down.
The tunnel taunts me. To my left, right, behind and before, silent figures stand like statues.
A rush of wind, a rumble, a roar. A silver snake screeches to a halt. Doors like gaping mouths, hiss open. A surging mass spews out in a bid for freedom. I’m jostled forward.
Crammed, like sardines in a can, we jerk into motion. I grip a post. We sway as one, this way, that. Nobody speaks.
We are deep underground. My body’s here, my mind’s elsewhere. Is this what it’s like? At the end?
‘… approaching Angel’ shrieks a voice. ‘Mind the gap’
Thanks to Rochelle for hosting and to Jennifer Pendergast for the photo.
Prod Froggie (gently) to see what everyone has made of it!
I;ll stay in the wiating room
Very wise Neil!
So good, Keith! I was with you all the way
Thanks so much Dale.
Excellent Keith – add the current pandemic to being crushed close together, and that’s why I’m avoiding subway travel for the near future!
You and me too Iain!
Reminds me of days we rode the Montreal Metro, especially in the afternoon rush homeward. :0
I hope you didn’t get that spooked Christine!
Keith, this is one of your best. Your descriptions are spot on. So good 🙂
That’s so kind of you Linda, thank you.
This reminds me of the Tube in Paris and NYC. Not something I particularly miss.
Me too, and others as well! Thanks Gabriella.
Very atmospheric and poetic. “Doors like gaping mouths, hiss open.” Great line! Looks like you created the artwork to accompany. Nice package, Keith!
Creating the graphics took longer than writing the story! Thanks so much.
You are very welcome, Keith.
Like every metro/underground/subway i’ve experienced, all merged.
Sorry to bring back such awful memories Mimi!
Grim reality for some, I suppose. Great atmosphere!
Indeed it is. Thanks so much.
Dear Keith,
You had me right there with you. I’ve been a few of those subways in New York and Chicago. Although it sounds like your train has gone somewhat lower. 😉 Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
It’s not my prefered means of transport! Cheers Rochelle
Good story
Thanks so much.
The musings of a commuter, nice one! Love the artwork 🙂
That’s nice of you , thanks so much.
Oh, I enjoyed your storied journey, Keith. The descriptions worked. Mind the gap, indeed.
I’m pleased! Thanks so much Bill.
🙂
With a pandemic on the loose, an underground train ride might just be a journey to oblivion.
So true Liz!
a little incovenience perhaps but it does help reach our destination. 🙂
I can’t imagine travelling around London without it! Cheers plaridel.
You perfectly depict the mundane horrors of the daily subway commute…and now it’s speeding to the final destination…oh my. Love this.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment.
Having spent enough time on subways and trains I know they can be compared to snakes and sardine cans unfortunately..mostly by someone who doesn’t enjoy snakes or sardine cans. Nice.
In that case I can’t thank you enough for hanging aroung long enough to comment!
Having got off at Angel in rush hour more than a few times, I can very much sympathise with this piece. Lovely take on the prompt.
Me too having spent some time in and around Islington. Thanks so much.
Great descriptions in this one. I truely recognise this feeling while waiting for the train!
It’s another world down there! Thanks Laurie.
Yikes, Keith, that’s some ride!
Certainly was!
I love this. Very vivid and poetic.
Thanks so much.
Not sure why but the story part doesn’t show on my device (it’s there, I cut n paste text into a document to read).
I really like this story, it reminds me of a ghost train, a really creepy one. Nightmare quality.
I wonder why. Thanks for taking the trouble to track it down!
A nailer, Keith.
The jaws of hell every day, just before 9 am.
About right, then again at 5.30! Cheers CE.
Yikes. Scary stuff.
Just a bit!!! Thanks Danny.
WOW … Keith, this is great. I was mesmerized during the entire read.
Have a wonderful weekend … Be Safe
Isadora 😎
Thanks for your encouraging words Isadora. I did have a great weekend – I’m just back from a camping trip sleeping under the stars hence the delay in responding to your comment!
No worries … sleeping under the stars is much more relaxing than mdeia. Hope you’re rejuvenated and ready to take life head on.
Have a happy Thursday … Isadora 😎
Once a long time back I used to love traveling on the London Underground. How times change
Indeed they do. Thanks Mike.
Great description!
Thanks so much.
True, we all travel that gap and it is very wide.
Indeed. Thanks James.
Have you been following me on my daily commute? Though after working from home these days I don’t think I want to go back to the tunnel.
Haha! I think they’ll be less busy even after things get back to normal.
Keith, you grabbed on and took us with you! We made it through and STILL the train is speeding past. Super job!
I wrote it in a hurry which helped! Thanks so much.
A nightmarish quality to this. Well done.
I’m sure to some travelling underground is pretty nightmarish! Thanks Sandra.
Well done, your story is like a poem, with all the senses vividly described. I do not want to ride on this underground train !
Nor me! Thanks so much.