CHAPTER III : One More Step

It was a shortcut I had used before, a narrow passage between the back of a furniture shop and a wire fence. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo21VU5n6v2

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Beyond the fence was the main road. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbSiSG0mOx

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Cars. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUhEOZtiwP

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Headlights. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocqZlpZQ7i

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People going somewhere. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OwCoyfGon

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I could hear tyres pushing through water. The ordinary noise made me feel better, although I was still moving too fast. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeKupjkv3e

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At the end of the passage, a gap in the fence opened onto the pavement. Across the road was a petrol station, brightly lit and open all night. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRQe86d6XC

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I could go inside. Ask someone to call a taxi. Stay there until it arrived. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFHnlO9rGg

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I fixed my eyes on the cashier through the glass doors. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2eZmY4aNT

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It hung from a steel frame above the road… 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaJ2moMcBJ

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One corner lifted and settled with a metallic slap. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r9OQ9Cgfk

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I barely noticed it.

I reached the end of the fence. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUEHDAhlHc

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A white van went past. Behind it, the road looked clear. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9Qw5W1E1v

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I lifted my foot to step off the kerb. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3zoLWLmMu

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“Stop.” 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YUluaCMos

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It came from right beside my ear. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraAevSawUw

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The same broken voice. The same little wet catch in the breath. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZHgaadXIQ

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My whole body obeyed before I could think. I stood there with one foot still raised. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uA1DNAqP8

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I stood with one of my feet still raised. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxVciAsNJd

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There was nothing in front of me. No car coming close enough to explain it. Nobody beside me. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioF5XI7Dme

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But my stomach had pulled tight. My fingers had curled into fists. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iQtSTQXkD

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I put my foot down on the pavement. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1lbSB3uLE

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A bicycle bell rang on my right. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfT4Z3lcvH

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The cyclist came along the kerb, bent over his handlebars, his hood pulled forward against the rain. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57ZmHT7uMd

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His front light flickered over my shoes. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pXhc4c7FD

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He passed close enough that I heard him breathing. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzWNX26gny

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Then he rode into the crossing, directly in front of the gap where I had been about to step out. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblgtWfh5VD

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Above us, metal tore. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc8DGK5RD8

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I looked up. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kzZ3APyyA

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The advertising panel peeled away from its frame. For an instant, it hung crooked in the air, the last bolt barely holding it in place. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL0KGv9l1g

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The fastening broke. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeCmx6Xkvb

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Wind caught the broad sheet and swung its edge down across the crossing. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4YVIt1SYW

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I saw the cyclist lift his face. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaYgxiVzc1

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There was a hard, wet impact. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPUstFD7iE

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Something warm struck the right side of my face. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSav54xRrtl

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The bicycle continued for a few feet. Its front wheel turned sharply, and the rider folded sideways with it. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdDq50tR0Y

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His hood was gone. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKqYFkCzmZ

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So was everything above his collar. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVagXZEXrf

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The panel hit the road with a crash that brought people running from the petrol station. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCbcNTq9GY

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I stayed beside the fence. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyVc1o3JqL

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Blood ran from my cheek onto my jacket. Rain thinned it into pink lines along my sleeve. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ5vU1ticj

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I looked at the place where the cyclist had fallen. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzHkkerwlb

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Then at my shoes. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD3ySnV0SB

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One step. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6st5YiHyP

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If I had taken it, my neck would have been in the path of that edge. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErVQtDK9en

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Someone across the road screamed. A man was shouting for an ambulance. Cars braked and stopped at awkward angles. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49icT9BVPc

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I tried to breathe, but the air caught halfway down. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VrAaJzGUX

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I was alive. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyjVQnpgXb

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I kept thinking it, with a horrible little rush of relief that made me ashamed even then. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BkYavbAnd

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“He” saved me. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRqIyRQJKn

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I was alive, and he had saved me.

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“Oh, dear.” 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDQxiN0Va0

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The damaged voice spoke beside my ear. 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsmsWZfhGw

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“What a pity.” 75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweXktgvSD5

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