Dorian West - Chapter 2

The taxi driver was not English. This was normal. He didn’t speak English too well. This was also normal. He was speaking very fast in his own language now. This was slightly unnerving, but still, not out of the ordinary. He was now beginning to flail his arms almost mindlessly at Don. This was not normal. Well, not on this planet anyway.

He tried to protest. He tried to explain that he had nothing to do with the engine, indeed, he wasn’t even the one driving the cab at the time.

It was all lost on the taxi driver.

Just when Don thought his number was up, a tatty red VW Beetle pulled up just behind them.

“Need some help?” asked a sweet voice.

“Yes!” cried Don, half in a last act of desperation and half in celebration.
They quickly moved Don’s baggage from the taxi to the Beetle, and set off, though not before Don shoved a moderate wad of cash in the cab driver’s hands. He didn’t want a cab driver with a grudge on his tail.

...

“Thank you so much...” Don started, looking in his saviour’s face for the first time.

She was pretty.

Not incredibly attractive, at least not enough to assume she was stuck-up, but there was something that exuded from her; a sort of naturalness. A contentment that allowed a certain satisfaction not only in herself, but the people around her, almost as if she was sharing it.

She had dark chestnut hair, with a hint of scarlet; pastel blue eyes; a round face, and pale skin that looked as though it might feel like paper. On the dimple between her nose and her top lip was a small silver stud, and she was wearing a summery, flowery dress.

“Oh it’s no problem at all. Where are you headed?” she asked.

“Erm...” Don paused. He looked at the roadside signs telling him where he was.

“Are you going anywhere near Thurlby?” He posed.

“Oh yes, I’m going past there on my way to Bourne.” Don made a quick mental note. Bourne was very close, maybe he could ask to buy her a drink?

“Its where I drop this rust-bucket off and get a lift to Grantham.” Don quickly erased the mental note he had just made. Grantham was not close.

What had he done to karma to deserve this?

Oh right. The sunny beaches thing.