Living Target
The skeleton swayed slowly as the wind caressed it like a long lost lover once caressed it, touching it with gentle fingers. It had hung for so long that no flesh was visible. It was probably eaten by the vultures, I had noticed, who leered at it from the bough of another dead tree nearby.
Their eyes shifted to me, watching me intently. No doubt becoming excited about the prospect of a meal they haven’t had in a long time. A living target was more desirable than bones. A shiver coursed through me as visions of the corpse’s last moments flashed before my eyes. It was not an experience I would care to live.
I walked slowly on padded feet towards my car. I feared the slightest movement or noise would be all it would take for the hungry vultures to attack.
As I reached my car, I unlocked the door as quietly as I could, sat down on the seat, and then shut the door quickly behind me. Safe at last! Now I just hope my car would start and not desert me in my hour of need. I turned the key and it started immediately.
I was startled by the wail of a country song that blared out suddenly on the radio. I never did like those nasally sung country songs. It always reminded me of someone who was having an asthma attack and could not breathe. I turned the volume down and found a more relaxing station to help me regain my composure. As I put my car in gear, I let out a sigh of relief.
As I drove down the narrow road I looked out of the rear view mirror. The corpse waved in the wind and the vultures slowly disappeared into the night.
The skeleton swayed slowly as the wind caressed it like a long lost lover once caressed it, touching it with gentle fingers. It had hung for so long that no flesh was visible. It was probably eaten by the vultures, I had noticed, who leered at it from the bough of another dead tree nearby.
Their eyes shifted to me, watching me intently. No doubt becoming excited about the prospect of a meal they haven’t had in a long time. A living target was more desirable than bones. A shiver coursed through me as visions of the corpse’s last moments flashed before my eyes. It was not an experience I would care to live.
I walked slowly on padded feet towards my car. I feared the slightest movement or noise would be all it would take for the hungry vultures to attack.
As I reached my car, I unlocked the door as quietly as I could, sat down on the seat, and then shut the door quickly behind me. Safe at last! Now I just hope my car would start and not desert me in my hour of need. I turned the key and it started immediately.
I was startled by the wail of a country song that blared out suddenly on the radio. I never did like those nasally sung country songs. It always reminded me of someone who was having an asthma attack and could not breathe. I turned the volume down and found a more relaxing station to help me regain my composure. As I put my car in gear, I let out a sigh of relief.
As I drove down the narrow road I looked out of the rear view mirror. The corpse waved in the wind and the vultures slowly disappeared into the night.