.
.
.
I stand motionless on a moving stairway as it carries me down, down, down.
A gaudy tunnel taunts me, envelopes me. To my left and right, behind and before me, a silent hoard stands motionless like a museum of statues seemingly unaware of others around them.
The stillness is disturbed by a sudden rush of wind. A distant rumble becomes a roar as an enormous silver snake shoots from the tunnel and then rattles to a halt. A row of doors hisses open, like so many hungry gaping mouths. I watch as a surging mass makes its escape, buffeting me in its frantic bid for freedom.
‘Mind the gap’ commands an echoing voice.
‘Mind the gap’
A throng carries me forward, seemingly eager to be swallowed up. We cram against each other like sardines in a can. A jerk. I grip a post. We sway as one, this way and that. Nobody speaks.
We are hidden in darkness deep underground. My body’s down here but my mind is up there in a bustling street where folk are going about their lives oblivious to what is happening beneath them. I was there not an hour ago. I break into a sweat.
Is this what it’s like? Is this the end?
‘We are now approaching Angel’ shrieks an amplified voice. ‘Mind the gap’
‘Mind the gap’.
.
Thanks to Jenne Gray and CEAyr for hosting The Unicorn Challenge
© Ayr/Gray
*I’m travelling on the London Underground tomorrow – I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt me!
I like how you’ve captured the different experience of travelling underground, Keith.
Thanks so much CE, despite what I wrote, I actually enjoy it, and went on 4 of them in London yesterday!
it all sounds so mechanical, and the human factor is missing. such a loud absence
…like so many robots! Cheers, Beth.
Oooh! An intriguing story Keith.
Frrom the mind of a metrophobe! Thanks Sadje.
You’re most welcome 🙏🏼
Oh, a touch of Danté here! Yep. Riding the subway is just like that.
For some, it is!
Well, that took a spooky turn, Keith.
Such a true to life description of travelling on the underground, but is this the end?
‘Approaching Angel’ gives me hope!
I’d like to think that it offers hope, but who am I to say?
It’s been years, but I remember. Approaching Angel does sound at once a bit ominous and hopeful, may it be a good destination, temporary or permanent.
There is a station called Angel in London, but is that the angel he’s approaching? No good asking me!
Nicely and concisely detailed, Keith. Excellent mood-setting with repeated ‘mind the gap’. You made me think of the years I spent riding the subway and how much I detested it, especially when it broke down in a tunnel and lost power. That’s when the perverts come out.
Fortunately, a breakdown’s not something I’ve experienced! I travelled on several really packed tube trains yesterday, but I have to say, I quite enjoyed it – I was of course very careful to mind the gap!
err… much as I ‘probably’ (lol) won’t be given a choice, but going to stand before Final Judgement in a crowd… nah… (Milton said it best ‘Non cum vulgo’ lol)
fave line: “We sway as one, this way and that” totally can see the movement of the crowd
Thank you for taking the journey with us!
Brilliant, Keith! The underground – back in the day for me. That’s exactly how it feels and sounds… and smells.
The sounds and smells certainly are unique!
Unfortunately we have no undergrounds in Detroit. But I love them. In Moscow I thought we would never get to the bottom. A descent in to hell….
I’ve travelled on quite few abroad, but not Moscow. My favourite has to be the Beijng subway system. Fast, clean and very efficient!
I loved listening to you read your tale, Keith. Your voices are perfect, especially the mechanical imitation of the loudspeaker voice. Great story.
Thanks so much, Sally, mind the gap!
Love it! I enjoyed riding the tube in London; it was like almost 40 years ago.
Very atmospheric. ‘Down, down, down … ‘ as if into the inferno, and the imagery continues to create a feeling of suffocation and despair – monsters and horrible noises. Then it’s over. ‘Angel’! What a great name for a station. Good one, Keith.