Travelling man

Looking back at that moment, the amazing thing is that I took it in my stride so easily.

One second, I'd been in Mr Smith's office - and the next, I'd found myself in a completely unfamiliar place.

Again, with the benefit of hindsight, it seems likely that it was the service corridor that Mr Smith had referred to - but exactly how he'd somehow 'directed' me to somewhere I'd never been still escapes me.

As for going instantly from one place to another, there was no real sensation of travelling: it was more a feeling of suddenly stopping suddenly, like when you step from a slowly-moving train onto a platform - like inertia, I suppose you'd call it.

It made me stagger slightly, as I reacted to a movement that wasn't physically there. The floor was as solid and steady as any.

I stood in wonder for a moment - but only a moment, as I realised that I still had to get out of there.

I began to run for the exit, and then stopped suddenly.

Why not get away from the corridor in the same why I'd arrived there?

Behind me, still a long way off, I could hear raised voices and heavy footfalls on stairs.

How had I just done it? Could I do it again? Clenching my fists and closing my eyes, I thought as hard as I could about being in the living room back at the flat, the familiar IKEA furniture, the hard floorboards beneath my feet. The sound of the voices began to fade, just like when you're on the edge of sleep...

I sensed a change in the air around me, a cool breeze.

I opened my eyes and found myself on The Shore, in Leith.

Deciding not to try my new-found trick again, it seemed to me that a bus was a much safer way to get back to the flat. As I headed for the stop, I slipped the USB memory stick into my inside jacket pocket.



Story begins here.