The Sun had set half an hour ago, there was still a glow of light in the western sky. My car had broken down on the road out of town, in among the hills. I knew there was a village about half a mile a way with a pub, maybe some hot food, and at least somewhere to sit while I waited for the repair van to arrive.

so I started out, walking on the grass verge, hedges on either side, too tall to see over. On one side were farmers feilds and on the other an old graveyard with huge yew trees at the entrance to its gravelled drive. I could hear movement in the field,  snuffling and soft snorting, probably cows.

I decided to walk on the other side of the road, past the cemetry. Its grass verge was wider and tidily cut. Someone had mowed recently and the grass smelled sweet. In a short time I had walked half way to the village. It was now fully dark, and I could not see very much. There were street lights a few hundred yards in front of me but not enough to light my way.

Suddenly I stumbled, my foot had gone into a hole in the verge. I didn’t have any way of stopping myself and I toppled over onto the grass. Thud, my ankle was twisted and I was shaken. I lay there getting the breath back that had been knocked out if me. Then as I started to sit up I felt a presence, something not right.  I heard the snuffling noise again, this time it was much closer. Something loomed over me. Looking down at me, its eyes, its four? eyes gleaming in the street lights distant glow. As I squinted I thought I saw more than one mouth, several noses? What was this? It shuffled towards me, its clothes were grey and badly fitting, the four legs wearing two pairs of trousers. In that slow motion way that happens when you are in fear my brain was noticing too many details, and I was thinking “monster”……

The mouths opened and it uttered four words….”can I help you?”

I RAN……….concussion can do funny things to your sight….