Travels (Original Vignette)

Travels

On a narrow cobble street walked a tall thin man. Dressed in rags, he smoked a cigarette and enjoyed the cool breeze on his skin. He was dirty, and the stench of the road lingered on him like bad cologne. The dimly lit street was illuminated by twisted metal beams, with burning lanterns. His jacket was missing buttons, and he forcibly bound it with his arms. Nobody watched him, and all was still in the night.

Most of the buildings he passed were boarded up, and no noise could be heard. The only noise the man heard was his inhales and exhales, and his muffled footsteps on the cobblestone. The entire town was surrounded by makeshift walls, and the traveller knew they offered limited protection. Armed with only a club, he continued on his path.

When he turned an alley corner, he spotted the only building illuminated within this town. 

THE PINK LOUNGE GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS

He finished his cigarette, and flicked it towards the gutter. He felt his pocket, and he only had a handful of coppers. Enough to buy a pint, but nothing more. The traveller knew places like this were dens of refuse, where the washed up and lonely go to wallow.

When he entered, the entire lounge was empty – yet a smokey haze filled the room. Discordant music played over broken speakers. On the counter was a bell, and a note which read:

PLEASE RING FOR SERVICE. WE DENY WHO WE DENY!

The floor was sticky, from spilled beer – or blood. Sweat and tears filled the room with their stench, yet the Traveller did not mind. He sat down on the stool, and rang the bell.

DING DING DING DING!

“Hello?” He cried out, “Is anyone even working here?” He eyed the bottles behind the counter, before his attention was stolen by a disfigured woman. She had a cleft lip, and half of her nose was missing. She smiled at him, showing off her broken teeth.

“Whadda having love?” 

“I have four coppers. That’s enough for a pint?”

She chortled. “The worst kind, from the worst tap.” She poured him the pint. She lingered at the counter.

“Thanks,” He said as he drank some of the swill. “Town is pretty quiet, ain’t it?”

She shook her head, “Pretty busy if you ask me. Though, sometimes it can be dead. Tonight.” She nodded towards the door, “Not many people.”

The Traveller glanced around the lounge, “Must be bad for business. You’re keeping the electricity on. Expensive.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Everything is paid for. We do alright.” 

He nodded at that, “That’s nice.” He looked off as he tapped his beer on the counter.

“So, where ya from love?”

“Everywhere.”

“That’s an awful lot of places. We don’t trust Travellers round here. You a traveller?”

“I suppose I am.”

A frown. The Traveller looked at her lazily, and looked back at his drink. She forced a smile.

“Well, you ought to not travel around anymore! We got girls for you here. You like girls?”

“I’m not interested in girls.” 

“Boys then?”

“Boys neither.”

“So, what do you want?”

“Just this drink, thank you.” He continued sipping on it. It was as if time stood still in that room.

“Well, this town has need of strong men like you. You’ve seen fights before.”

“Lost fights too.” He said.

Silence deafened the room as he sipped on his lukewarm beer. She tried to keep herself busy. Both turned their heads as the door opened.

And there he stood. The Man.

“I’ll have my usual,” the Man said. “Busy night tonight?” He asked.

“Always busy,” She said to the Man. He handed her a silver coin. “Only for my favourites.” She giggled as he said that. 

The Traveller sipped on his beer, as the Man did his performance with the Bartender. He was half way done his drink, when the Bartender brought out a blue and green cocktail for the Man. Some sort of candle was in it, burning bright. The Traveller returned to his thoughts, before he was interrupted.

“You new in town?” The Man asked him.

“Just arrived.” The Traveller said, he smirked so the Man could not see. He had been through these questions so many times.

“What are you doing here friend? Looking to earn some coin? Perhaps you want to settle in? We always need new faces.”

“I’m just passing through.”

The Man took a sip from his cocktail as he examined the Traveller. “Everyone wants something! Well, where are you headed?”

“To the next bar.” The Traveller dripped with sardonic amusement.

“Sure.” The Man said, as he turned back towards the bar. He sipped on his drink some more. 

The room fell quiet once more, as the Traveller was finishing his drink. When he was done, he began to leave the bar.

“So soon?” The Man asked.

The Traveller paused as he was about to leave. He turned and said to the Man

“My time is up. The sun is rising, and I should head out.”

The door closed behind him, as he walked out into the street. The Sun was just coming through the clouds, and it burned hot. The Traveller licked his lips, and began the long walk towards the next Bar.