Day time in the dark – Tales of the Courier
The day is ending, and the moon is rising. 1courier is beginning his first night shift on the planet Nalphia. Nights are extremely long here, especially at this time of year. This is one reason why the delivery corps, does so well in this place. Everyone knows night deliveries are where everything is happening. Furthermore, the competition increases every year. Therefore 1courier is racing along, and musing.
It’s not the fall that gets ya’. It’s the sudden stop at the bottom. That was something his great grandpa used to say. 1courier thinks it’s the truest statement ever. He is also trying to decide if it’s the same as, what goes up must come down. Then he downshifts the ride, and floors the accelerator. Time to make up some time. Everyone knows night delivery is different from day time delivery. In fact, almost every part of the delivery changes, when the night falls.
Even the maps change. 1courier blinks and taps the screen. The map remains frozen. This was going to be more of a gamble without the navigation. He pulls out the m-com link and tries to get HQ. Instead he gets the friendly greeting – We are experiencing heavier than usual traffic. Wait times have increased. Estimated wait time thirteen minutes.
Day Time in the Dark
What the…? He taps the screen on the m-com link. However, all this tapping wasn’t helping a damn thing. He grins. Looks like an adventure is brewing. In fact, the adventure is well underway. More road signs blaze by… 1courier has no idea what they said. He was too busy tapping screens.
The road runs even faster, under the ride, as 1courier determines to make up for lost time. The darkness is complete now. Furthermore, the only illumination comes from the lights of the ride. Darkness is all around. With any luck, the drop-off location would be well lit. However, for some reason, he has a hunch this delivery isn’t like that.
In fact, this delivery will be over soon. Even without the navigation, or the m-com link, he will gain the delivery completion. This becomes even more likely as he pulls into the small neighborhood. The darkness is absolute. The brightness of the vehicle’s lights, barely penetrates the depth of the inky black darkness. However, 1courier knows he is close to the drop-off location.
Tales of the Courier
The drop-off location. Out of all the possibilities he can barely see, the drop-off he seeks, is nowhere to be seen. In fact the whole damn street is darkness absolute. 1courier checks the m-com link again. It is still frozen, as is the navigation system. At least he had the general area right. However there were no lights. So he alerts the drop off location that he has arrived.
He hopes this will trigger a light. Or a banner, or a light show. At this point he would take a well lit parade. Anything that would illuminate his objective. Since he is certain of his general location, he decides to walk the cargo the rest of the way in. This isn’t an unusual decision. The darkness is unusually dark, but a quick walk in the dark was no big deal.
Day Time
Twenty minutes later, he decides it is a big deal after all. It isn’t day time in the dark. He hasn’t found any signs of anyone waiting for a delivery in the dark. In fact, he is almost certain he is lost in the dark now. This is even more nerve wracking when he hears the strange sounds just behind him. At that precise moment he hears a door open noiselessly in the dark. And then a whispered voice urgently beckons him.
“Is that you 1courier? Get in here quick! Before it’s too late.” 1courier is through the door in a split second. Straight into more darkness. As the door slams behind him, he can hear another of his great grandpa’s sayings: Out of the fryin’ pan into the fire…
Like, share and follow the anonymous courier on X at @Theanonymousc1. Like and follow here for the Facebook page The Anonymous Courier on FB. Also find The anonymous courier on Pinterest.
Click on the Subscribe link to receive updates on new posts, updated posts and new features. Join today.
Comment here