So how did he end up there, wherever there is…

Lonely roads and lost towns. Quiet places where you can think.
Not that that necessarily gets you anywhere.
Space is what it is, as are people.

This is a work of adult fiction.
No resemblance to reality should be inferred or expected.
Copyright : KLS 2007

Escape to Yourself - Before

By Kristina.L.S.

He sat arms on knees and watched as the road train pulled away, slowly gathering speed and gradually disappearing into the heat haze. Pulled himself to his feet and looked toward where his hat had sailed after being tossed Frisbee like from the drivers window. His small leather duffle sat only a few metres away, covered in soft red brown dust. He patted himself down a little raising clouds of dust. Crossed the road and after a minute or so found his hat snagged on a piece of brush, slapped it twice on his thigh to clear dust and maybe a bug or two and jammed it back on his head.

Re-crossed the road to his bag and searched for a patch of shade, to sit and gather his thoughts. A few dusty eucalypts offered some small respite from the heat so grabbing the shoulder strap of his bag he wandered the few hundred metres along the road and sat on the sparse grass against the trunk.

The view was slightly uninspiring, a few scattered farm buildings away to his right across the road. He briefly considered heading there and asking for… what? He had two one and half litre water bottles tucked in his bag, he'd eaten only a few hours before and unfortunately had drunk coffee. Expecting to be riding in the truck cabin for a few hours the diuretic properties had taken a back seat to warm pleasure after the post dawn chill. He shrugged slightly, he'd walk and see where the road went.

Slipped a little more upright and into a cross-legged position, absently pulling the hat from his head and the elastic tie with it, shook out his hair. Running his fingers quickly through it a few times to shake loose a bit of dust and grit. His gaze wandered the other way spotting a big wedge tail sitting on a fence post some hundred metres or so up into a paddock, slowly and deliberately pulling pieces from what appeared to be the carcass of a small roo. As he watched he almost unconsciously finger combed and slowly plaited his hair twisting the tie to hold its end between his shoulder blades.

Every so often the Eagle would hop slightly, stretching its wings for balance, to resettle itself and adjust the position of dinner. He tried to judge its size and guessed the wingspan would be wider than he was tall. That brought a small wry smile to his lips, 'outclassed by a bloody bird'… impressive though it was. He sat there for a while just daydreaming and half watching the bird feed. Eventually it launched itself lazily into the air, the remainder of its food clutched in the talons and trailing out behind and below. As it slowly gained height and drifted almost effortlessly off toward the distant hills, his thoughts returned to the immediate past.

He'd been dropped at a crossroads, the taciturn, fortyish driver of the old Landcruiser seemed troubled by his near silent passenger.

The quiet, semi question, "I can take you as far as Taylors Rd, if that's any good…"

He had no idea where Taylors Rd was so just nodded and climbed in. The ride had been completely silent after that until, the Toyota pulled over, "Well this is far as I go this way. You take care ok. Not everyone's as easygoing as you might hope."

"Thanks, I'll be careful." He'd climbed out as the guy watched silently sucking his teeth as though trying to decide something. Then blowing out softly he nodded through the open window and with a languid wave, headed on to wherever he was going.

He stood for a minute watching the Toyota kick up the dust on the dirt side road and then turned to head along the edge of the tar strip heading vaguely north. Walked for an hour or two waving off a couple of cars that slowed as if to ask…'lift?' Finally as dusk approached he had come across one of those semi official truck stop lay-bys. Seven rigs pulled off the road forming a makeshift camp. The drivers, all men were either sitting on small folding camp chairs waiting for the water suspended over the fire to boil, or doing end of day checks before settling down for the evening.

As each became aware of the lone figure they had stopped talking or doing and silently watched, making those automatic assumptions we all make and asking silent questions.

As he got close the question was called, "What the hell are you doin' walkin' around out here on yer own girl? Come in and have a cuppa."

Another small folding chair was produced and he sat with a silent nod as they all gathered closer and watched silently. The conversation slowly resumed as they quietly watched from the corners of their eyes. As the water came to the boil each poured their preferred poison, a cup was produced as both tins were waved in question, 'tea or coffee?'

"Coffee, please." A Long life milk carton and a small container of sugar were nudged with a boot toe to indicate, 'help yourself '. He fixed his cup and sat, leaning forward elbows on knees, sipping… silently aware of the unasked questions.

The conversation rambled on around him as he half listened and half daydreamed. Memories of old battles, scars both emotional and physical for some reason seemed closer than normal tonight. He was peripherally aware of the quiet scrutiny of those around the fire, but it was distant as he gazed into the flames, sipped his coffee and remembered.

His thoughts flashed back and forth following no logical pattern as dreams often did. Did that apply while you were still awake he mused to himself… seemed so.

People and places he'd been and met, names he could remember and many he could not. Confrontations and an occasional pleasant scene.

His Father, slapping him hard enough across the face to drop him to the ground because he had dared to argue. His Mother shaking him violently back and forth and screaming at him… enough with the questions just do as you're told. The spittle sticking to his face and the feeling of it drying… still vivid, as was the memory of her tears.

School days; being chased, over under and around by those deputised to bring him to the teacher, until he had finally stopped and given himself up. Later being beaten and teased until he had reacted violently when confronted by five of his main tormentors. The taunts and images still rang clear years later; that day when one of his adversaries had stopped him on the way to class. Surrounded by his peers he had held out his clenched fist as the mob slowly surrounded…'kiss it'… and when defiantly he had, then licking the knuckles and spitting on the ground, that fist had smashed into his face bringing stars and a small trickle of blood. And so it went until his retaliation had gotten so frenzied and violent that no one was willing to deliberately chance his wrath.

From then on the taunts were lessened and the abuse almost stopped. The odd 'freak' loudly whispered as he passed, an occasional slap to the back of the head when it was impossible to determine who out of a dozen. But, generally he was left alone… and that was how he liked it.

Jobs and relationships, none lasted and all were left either puzzled or saddened or angry. For him it was another question, 'what did they want that he could not give?' And so it went.

He had gradually developed a system to take menial jobs as and when to fill his account as much as possible, before heading off again in search of… what?

His thoughts were shaken back to the present by the stamping of feet and the general busy-ness of bedtime preparations. It seemed he had been dreaming for hours. His quiet request to be allowed to bed down near the fire had been laughed at, his blush and obvious anger even more.

A hand on his shoulder had caused a jump to a fight stance that had startled them all.

"Hey come on there. Easy lass. No offence was meant by the laughter, we are all bedding down here in the open, but take the cabin"… he waved to a nearby truck with a sleeping alcove behind the seats. " No one will bother ya, you have our word. Sleep easy and we'll see where ya headin' and what may be done in the mornin' eh."

He had after a few minutes accepted the invitation as genuine and after a dark behind bushes toilet break, climbed into the cabin and slept till near dawn.

The first noises of the new day had roused him and he had crept out intending to start the fire and get water boiling. It seemed though that the owner of the truck had beaten him to it. A softly spoken, "Never you mind lassie, go have a pee and coffee will be up in a minute. Then we'll see about where ya's goin'."

And so he had washed his face in the night chilled water from a small tank, re-plaited his hair and relieved himself behind a bush. Feeling slightly revived he returned to hot cup and an unspoken question.

It was perhaps another hour before all were up and about and ready to depart. After failing to get any definite destination they had all decided he would ride with the owner of the truck he'd slept in, getting out when and where it suited.

That had been fine until the questions started not long after they had set out. At first he had refused to answer. The questions became more pointed and more personal. Until finally the driver had stopped in the middle of the back country road.

"Listen you stupid little bitch. I don't care about who you are or where you are not going to. I just don't want to hear about you raped and dead in a ditch somewhere. I don't want that image in my head, do you understand. So just give me an answer to a question, why is everyone your enemy? Most people are kind and good given the chance. But you don't let anyone get even close do you."

He had sat glaring and slowly getting angrier as his passenger just sat glaring back looking to be ready for a fight.

Eventually he had grabbed the hat from the dash and flung it out his window with a yell of rage and frustration. He jumped down and stormed across the front of the truck, grabbed open the passenger door and pulled the still silent passenger out and dumped her on her arse in the dust beside the road. When she still made no sound but simply glared at him, he reached in grabbed her bag strap and flung it backwards over his shoulder.

"You stupid little cow. I hope you get your head on straight before some lowlife kicks it in. But what little I've seen of you I doubt it. Grow up before you lose the chance."

With that his anger seemed to fade and he simply stood looking at her sitting where she been dropped. When after a few minutes there was no response save a sullen glare he yelled again in an inarticulate mixture of frustration and muted anger. Raising both arms above his head fists clenched he had stared into the sky for a moment before his arms lowered slowly and he stood again, just looking. Still there was nothing but a stubborn stare. With a soft guttural grunt he had turned and rounded his truck, climbed up and slamming the door hard, headed away with a slight crunch of gears.

It was he guessed mid morning and the heat was well up. He had been walking for a few hours he supposed and had almost emptied one of his water bottles. Another car had just driven past with no hint of stopping…

This took slightly longer than the first bit. I don't think there will be any more.

Any thoughts, comments or questions
I can be contacted [email protected]
Anything short of abuse welcome.

A few hours on a Saturday night, so what ya gonna do...

Lonely roads and lost towns. Quiet places where you can think.
Not that that necessarily gets you anywhere.
Space is what it is, as are people.

This is a work of adult fiction.
No resemblance to reality should be inferred or expected.
Copyright : KLS 2007

Escape to Yourself

By Kristina.L.S.

He really had no idea where he was and surprising as that may be to some, he welcomed it. Being nowhere was good. Every-time he was somewhere; there was trouble. It wasn't like he wanted to be a trouble magnet but that seemed to be the case. All he had to do was, be… wherever and the shit hit the fan. So he avoided people. Kept away from the mobs, anywhere that so called fellow humans gathered in any sort of number.

The heat shimmered in the distance, causing everything to dance and sway to some off time beat.

Another car; the second in… nearly an hour he thought… probably should get a watch… wizzed past; windows closed, air-conditioning on max, against the heat. Not even a turn of the head to acknowledge the upturned thumb. The lone figure out here, in the middle of wherever the hell this was, slight and carrying nothing but a small duffle. Hardly a threat, there was nowhere for a gang of accomplices to hide, but still it was a risk. I mean who wants to take a chance and invite… well whatever evil no doubt lurks in the mind of this… person. Shit, I mean who would choose to walk alone… here.

The thought intruded itself… time mattered. 'Oh please, don't start that crap again. Time, what a load of shit.' All a clock had ever meant to him was failure.~ ~You were too slow. You're late. Stop thinking, just do it like I tell you. The rules are there for a reason. Time waits for no man. Get it into gear son, clocks a tickin'. ~~ There was a whole bunch more but what difference did it make. Time and him did not get on.

For some reason he had never quite been able to explain, the question, 'Why?' always hung in the air in front of everything. Since he was old enough to ask it, it had been there. At first people where pleased or amused, 'what a delightfully precocious child'… ' if only others would ask'… But that soon changed to irritation. The smile became a frown and if only became, just do what I say.

His introspection was interrupted by a strange sound. It took him a moment to realise what it was… a car was slowing to a stop beside him. Now that was odd. Here he was hands in pockets his whole body clenched against the heat, not making any attempt to bum a ride and this lunatic… stops.

The battered old cattle truck slowed and stopped just behind him. Martha took in the slight figure that she had first thought to be a girl, but now was not sure. Why on earth would anyone be walking out here? It was miles from anywhere and you could die here within hours.

She watched as the figure took another few steps before registering that the truck had stopped. Watched as it straightened, stretched slightly and turned toward her.

She… well, she had expected a smile of gratitude. But instead she got a stare of… emptiness? Total indifference? For some reason she shivered and could not think why…except… ' Was this a man or a woman? And anyway what the hell was whoever this was doing here? '

Her eyes roamed the figure that stood, what five yards away, just looking at her. Waiting for what? A bloody invitation for Christ's sake? Shit. It was 46 fuckin degrees; enough to fry a bloody egg on the dashboard. Well come on ya daft little shit, whatever you are. Get in here out of the damn heat.

Martha rolled the window down just enough to call…"Well come on then I didn't bloody stop for the fun of it, get you're arse in here. It's fuckin' hot and I wanna get home. "

Even then the girl stood as if unsure whether she wanted to get in or stay where she was, walking out here in the desert. Christ, a nutter, just what she needed. Still couldn't leave the stupid fool out here to die.

The slight figure in faded denim jeans and shirt with a light tan cotton jacket hanging loosely on her frame stood quite still. A dusty brown leather duffle slung over the left shoulder and just as dusty and similar coloured boots pointed her way. A faded and sweat stained akubra tilted low over the eyes hid the face somewhat.

Martha decided she would make one last offer. "Well are you gonna stand out here and bake or get in… and tell me your name?", that last muttered near silently.

He stood silently appraising this woman and her offer. It was a simple human gesture of help he supposed. Yet nothing was what it seemed anymore. Everything always depended on explanations and assumptions being met or dismissed. He sighed silently, ... 'why couldn't it ever be a simple, I can take you this far and then I'm gone, no questions.' ... Well that wouldn't be human would it? People have questions and want answers. Doesn't matter at all whether you want to give them or not.

With an almost unnoticeable shrug he moved toward her and Martha suddenly had a twinge of fear. 'What the hell was she doing? Picking up… whoever this was in the middle of nowhere.'

The door opened and a soft voice…"Thanks for stopping. I figured I'd be walking all day."

She squinted a little trying to decide who she had picked up. 'Was it a girl or a guy?' Her eyes roamed up and down and her mind spun trying to make a decision.

He slammed the door not too hard and stuffing his bag between his legs turned to the woman that had called him in. The question on her face was as plain as a sign. Who or what are you? He closed his eyes and sighed softly.

Opened and looked straight at her, "Does it matter?"

She jumped as though shocked.

"What? What the hell do you mean does it matter?" 'Christ who is this and why the fuck did I stop.' Her thoughts were spinning. Maddened murderers, sex fiends, alien invaders. 'Bloody government, should keep loony's locked up instead of letting them roam wild.'

He sighed again, this time out loud.

"If you could just drop me anywhere near a town… wherever's convenient."

She looked at… her. Eyes closed and seemingly no threat. Yet, she was afraid. Martha put the truck in gear and headed toward town.

The ride of perhaps forty minutes was silent except for the whistle of the air around the truck and the quiet whir of the tyres on the road.

He stirred from a semi sleep as the truck pulled to the side or the road. Missed the first part of the woman's statement.

"…'s a nice little town. A few hundred people, easy going. Might find some work if ya's lookin'. Anyway, this is as far as I go, I'm off thataway…" she gestured with a vague arm wave. The still slightly puzzled expression on her face told him she had not made any decisions… either way. Good enough, he thought. At least he was free to go for now.

"Just a few k down the road an' ya's there. " There was a slightly hopeful expression on her face as she looked at him. Her gaze flicked up and down, trying to decide.

He nodded to her, "Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it." Climbed out grabbing his bag and softly slammed the door. Stood there as she looked at him through the glass and then without a gesture beyond a slight shake of the head, pulled out and headed away.

Martha's eye's flicked to the rearview as she pulled away. The girl just stood there looking in the direction of town. Not even glancing at the truck as it pulled away.

"Well that is something weird. Better off out of it Martha old girl." Her eyes flicked forward toward home and with them so went her thoughts.

His ears told him the truck had pulled away and once again he was alone in the wilderness. 'A few k to whereverville huh. Oh well, no better, no worse probably.'

He shifted the bag on his shoulder and pushed the hat a bit tighter on his head. 'Let's see what the future brings.'

He didn't even glance left or right, the silence told him nothing was close. Crossed the dirt verge and the strip of tar and back onto dirt and kept to the left side as he headed into…

…don't ask for answers. I probably don't have them.

Any thoughts, comments or questions
I can be contacted [email protected]
Anything short of abuse welcome.

A road into a small town that leads…

Lonely roads and lost towns. Quiet places where you can think.
Not that that necessarily gets you anywhere.
Space is what it is, as are people.

This is a work of adult fiction.
No resemblance to reality should be inferred or expected.
Copyright : KLS 2007

Escape to Yourself - After

By Kristina.L.S.

The heat hadn't gotten any less not that he had any real problem with heat. It was just there and as long as you weren't stupid was not a problem. He guessed he'd been walking about long enough to see some sign of the town shortly. If it was really a few k as she said. Distance was sometimes a bit vague with people out here. A few k might be 50, but he guessed not in this case. 'She seemed to expect a short walk would get you there, so it wouldn't be long now', he thought.

Of course the question of, 'what then?' wafted in and settled in his head like a fat fly in a shop front window.

It was only a short while later when the tar ended at a sign, 'Little Creek' with an old single lane wooden bridge over the small winding gully that was presumably the creek. Non-existent was probably more accurate, the few stunted and droopy acacias and dwindling brush following that wavy line in each direction making it plain that water was not abundant. As he crossed his gaze wandered up both ways following the creek, not even a small puddle could be seen. But a strange whining up and down buzz seemed to drift closer.

He had just come off the wooden planking and onto graded dirt when a screaming whine from his immediate left caused him to stop and turn to see a green and black and silver thing fly up from the creek bed straight at him. Adrenaline surged as he threw himself flat as the thing soared maybe waist height above, landing a metre or two away and spinning in a swirl of dust, before stopping and then… silence.

As the dust slowly settled he rolled sideways and sat on the roadside looking at the slowly dissipating cloud. When it had cleared enough to see he realised he'd been 'attacked' by a giant hunchbacked praying mantis. The black goggle eyes stared blankly at him and then the figure straightened and he realised it was a fancy dirt bike, mudguards, tank and wrist guards all lime green, a smattering of silver alloy here and there. The rider in dirty black and green leathers and the insect head helmet.

It took another few seconds before the helmet was pulled off and the figure shaking out long dark brown hair stomped over to him and stopped almost standing on his toes.

"Shit you scared the crap outa me. I thought I was gonna die when I seen you standin' there on the edge a the road. Lucky I didn't run ya skinny arse over, eh." Then she burst in to laughter. "Damn girl, you shoulda seen your face. Ya gotta brown patch in the back a them jeans or what, eh?"

He sat looking this lunatic up and down as her eyes did the same to him. Her smile was infectious and he couldn't help but return it.

"Do you always run over visitors to your town?"

"Nah not regular like. Some people get a bit shitty if ya use their arse as a bike rack, eh. Not sure ya can call this little shit pile a town though. So what ya doin' walkin' along out here, puttin' me off ma ride? I can see the road and there's dust from this side… didn't expect some skinny arse girl to be walkin', that's fer sure. You gonna sit there all day, come on…" she held out a gloved hand to help the dusty girl to her feet.

He took the gloved hand and felt the strength as she almost pulled him to his feet with a soft grunt. The wide grin that could easy sell toothpaste was still there, set off a little by the light brown skin.

"So blondie what ya doin? Ya don't say much do ya?"

Rather than answer he looked around for his hat and steeped across to grab it up and again slap the dust off. His duffle was still slung bandolier style over his shoulder.

She was still standing in the same spot… waiting for some sort of answer he guessed.

"I was hoping to get a bit of work for a little while, top up the account before I head on. " He shrugged slightly and stood looking and waiting…

"Huh, might be ya lucky day blondie. Me Uncle Jimmy runs the pub in town. Could use someone on the bar at night. I help out, but still a skinny arse white chickie would go down well with the local blokes. They all know me and I don't take their shit. A bit a fresh meat will cheer 'em up no end." She laughed at her own joke and he had to smile.

She might be mad, not to mention a chatterbox, but she seemed ok. 'As long as she doesn't ask too many questions.'

"So come on blondie, jump on the back here and I'll give ya's a lift, show ya the sights an all, eh."

She remounted the bike and he gingerly climbed on behind and at a prompt hung on tight. She grabbed his hat off and stuck it under her thigh…and took off.

He did manage to get a look at the town as they passed through to the far end. A church hall, with a smaller church next to it. A dozen businesses or so, a bank with a for lease sign on the door. Garage with two pumps out front and that was it.

She dinnn, diinnnn, diinnnnnned behind the pub and shut off the bike. Both climbed off and he looked around casually.

"Just so's ya know blondie. Jimmy is me Uncle and the owner licensee. He's half Irish half blackfella. Me Dad got his head kicked in a few year back after a drunk and me mum took off. He was full blackfella she was a blondie like you. The old ladies in town call me coffee oh lay with a click a the tongue. I think they want me ta be embarrassed. Screw that… I like, me." Her grin was wide and easy and he could not help but smile back.

"Oh Jimmy don't drink by the way. Reckons grog an' him don't get on. Seems funny him runnin' the pub an' all. Oh yeah…I'm Genna."

She took him by one hand and led him to a large corrugated iron shed.

"Don't wanna offend ya or nuthin' blondie but you stink. So get ya arse in there and have a shower huh. You do have a change in ya little bag, right?" He nodded dumbly.

"Good, so get on, I'll be back in a bit. Gotta go tell Jimmy I've picked up a stray. He'll laugh. Oh…you are eighteen aren't ya?"

"Um…what's the date? "

"Shit, I don't bloody know. Mid September somewhere. "

"Well my birthday was late August, so I guess I'm eighteen."

"Good, ya's legal. Saves complications with the license. Get on then, I'll be back in a bit."

He sniffed his armpit and shrugged… well it had been a few days. Pushed the swing door open and dropping his hat and bag on a wooden bench, began to strip.

Hair loose he twisted the taps and soon had steam billowing. With a delighted shiver, walked under the steaming water and soaped up, didn't want to be long.

It was only a few minutes and he was rinsing off, when the door swung open, letting in a swirl of cool air.

"Figured ya might want a coupla towels blondie. Ya could tell me a name one a these days too I guess…" She stopped with a slightly puzzled expression as he stood stark naked, with nowhere to run.

Her eyes roamed up and down a few times before she threw him the towels.

"Shit girl, skinny thing aint ya. Or is that boy? Nah, me seven year old cousins got a bigger mushroom than that, eh. You're a girl, not much up top though. Come on then. Get dressed I need ta shower meself and Jimmy'll get in a snit if we's late fa dinner. "

Hope this does the trick. It told itself to me during the day and story knows best.

Any thoughts, comments or questions
I can be contacted [email protected]
Anything short of abuse welcome.