HORIZON
BY
NELSON LYNCH
Published by Nelson Lynch at Smashwords
Copyright 2011
This story was a writing assignment from the First Saturday writers of
Berlin, Maryland.
The story had to revolve around the word ‘horizon’.
“It's down this way.” Ed pointed down the street. “Just over the horizon. A few more blocks and we'll be there.”
Dunce waited as a diesel truck roared by in the same direction. He waved at the smoke and tried to shut his nostrils against the exhaust fumes. “I don't see any horizon. All I see are buildings going on forever. I remember reading that the horizon is nine miles away at sea level.” He gave the pistol in his inside coat pocket a reassuring pat.
“No, no, no.” Ed pulled on jack's sleeve trying to increase their walking speed. “See that big intersection up there two blocks away. It's sometimes called Horizon Avenue because it's at the top of a ridge and it runs dead north and south.” He paused as they crossed a street. “That's the horizon and what we want, is close by.”
“Do you think she will be there? I don't want to come up this way again.”
“What makes you think it's a she? The Oracle can be anyone.” Ed walked quickly along the street. “Or anything. Joe said the Oracle would point us to an easy job with lots of cash. Maybe even a few jewels”
They stopped at the red cross-walk light and waited for the light to change.
Dunce glanced up at the street signs. “Did you know we've been walking down Rainbow Street to get to Horizon Avenue.” He grinned at Ed. “Do you think there's a pot of gold waiting for us. I feel better just thinking about diamond and emeralds.”
Ed hurried across Horizon Avenue. “Above all, don't insult the Oracle or make it mad. We need it to give us an easy job.” He stopped for a moment on the other side of the avenue. “Joe was very emphatic about that. He said the Oracle can be evil if crossed.” He surveyed the street for a second and began slowly walking away from the avenue. “Here it is. The Oracle is down this alley.” He peered into the opening. “It's more like a big entrance to a cave or mine.” He glanced up at the ceiling. “It really dark in there.”
Dunce stopped in the dim light of the narrow alley. A rat scurried from a trash can to a pile of cloth materials. He ducked as something flew by his head and out into the street. “Did you see that thing. I think it was a owl. What in the hell is an owl doing in the middle of a city?” He skirted the trash cans and walked deeper into the darkness. “There should be a light switch nearby.” He ran his hand along the wall. He turned back to Ed. “Something is not right. How come this wall is warm?”
Ed stood beside Dunce. “Your imagination is running wild. It's warm in here because this wall is the back of a restaurant.” He pointed down the alley in the dim light. “There the door. See it at the end. There's a red light over it. Do you see it?”
“Yeah.” He walked ten feet farther into the alley. “Why would she have a red light over her door? Is she advertising?” He brushed at things hitting his face and ducked at the same time. “I swear that was a big bat that flew by. What kind of place is this. There's cobwebs, bats and owls everywhere.” He walked to the door and waited for Ed.
“Remember, be polite. Joe wasn't too clear about the Oracle and how it looked. But he was absolutely sure that it helped him.”