4
Fractured Light
&
Crockery Cracks
EXT. LANDHe felt a desire to go and look over the rise of the downward slope to his left; further along past the lighthouse and as the grass past under him, a lengthy section of concrete emerged. He stopped.
It looked vast.
He decided to keep that for later.
Alex: ‘Probably tomorrow.’ As he turned, his perspective was the rows of roof tops of the township.
He decided to keep that for later.
Alex: ‘Probably tomorrow.’ As he turned, his perspective was the rows of roof tops of the township.
Nearly all the same height, size and colour.
He looked for the T intersection and felt he could see it.
One of the rows gained his interest.
His boots were on a combination of cobble stones, loose bitumen and patches of concrete.
All the glass paneling wound through the laneway both sides like mirrored serpents.
One “shopfront” lured him.
He walked into the shop and was immediately consumed by wood panelling.
The “shop” looked straight out of first settlement days. A large, long, wide rectangle counter that almost reached the far wall and was exactly the same, if not identical to the walls that seem to go up forever into a darkness but also seem to loom over him like a heavy weight. They also looked stressed.
Alex didn’t seem like he wanted to go any further. He was intrigued by the length of the counter and walked to the very end and to his surprise; emerging from the corner, was a wooden arch high and revealed another arch corridor with sunlight pouring in to another room with a vase of flowers. He looked around; back to the door which did seem just a little too far away for his liking.
A Crisp Voice: ‘Leave your money where you are on the counter.’ Alex nearly back-flipped. One of his palms nearly slapping the old countertop.
A Crisp Voice: ‘The paper is down through there. Just leave your money on the counter.’ The crisp voice again and was raised this time treating him like a school child. He looked everywhere for where the voice was coming from and then a slight movement. From the other corner at the other end of the long counter.
In a chair was an old woman. At least that is what he thought it was and then an arm moved along the armrest.
Alex: ‘I’m sorry,’ He quietly breathed out. ‘I didn’t see you there.’ He broke into a smile and went to walk around the counter to her. ‘Hi, I’m Alex.’ He extended his hand.
A Crisp Voice: ‘It’s ok. Just leave your money where you are.’
A Crisp Voice: ‘It’s ok. Just leave your money where you are.’
He could feel a cold breeze and the air around him encouraged him to go down the wooden arch corridor and into the light.
He dug into his pocket and found money and quietly placed it. He nodded and slowly walked down the corridor.
Just as he entered, he saw from the corner of his eye the figure move again but it looked weird. ‘Her knees are going up towards her head.’ He thought.
The warmth of the sun made him relax enough to look ahead.
The arch went further along but darker.
He was now in front of the vase of flowers and then he saw the table. He just shook his head.
A pile of newspapers were on the table but as he approached, the headline looked animated.
The letters seemed as if they were jumbling and mixing with one and other.
He was fascinated; curious then a warm breeze gently caressed his back and he felt himself stumbling towards the table and then he looked down severely.
The bold, two line headline read.
"Deaths at Minigan’s Blow-Hole.
Tragedy at Gap."
Tragedy at Gap."
A banging sound and it was the twin glass door being pushed open by a strong breeze.
The sunlight poured in like a beam and directly hit the pile of newspapers catching a flower stem casting shadows across the front page creating the animated effect.
He was still mesmerised then the wind turned some pages and the flicking sound.
He snapped back, turned and walked out into an enclosed courtyard. ‘Beautiful.’ He thought and was caught-up in the wind swirling up in the courtyard.
Leaves raced past his eyes and somehow he saw a gap in the brick wall and before he knew it, he was outside in the neighbouring lane.
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