Pandora's Rest

A mysterious woman turns a mundane coach journey into something altogether more exciting

- A short story by Barry McCann

Sundays are a rare day for travel when it comes to public transport. They may be fine for those with their own car, but find yourself at the mercy of a national coach service and you are more likely to be doomed to a purgatory of restricted timetables, unscheduled delays and routes that go all over the known countryside before even hitting the next town. At least that is how Paul saw it.

The concrete nightmare of a monolithic and practically depopulated bus station is not the ideal place to find oneself at 7am on a miserably wet Sunday morning. Dropped off by taxi, Paul promptly reported to the nearest monitor to check from which stand his coach was due, only to find it out of order. At least he knew from his ticket that it would not be leaving for another 20 minutes, just not where from.

Being so early in the day, the information desk had not yet opened but he noticed the left luggage counter was and manned by a young man sat behind it, passing the time by flicking through a James Herbert paperback. He would be worth a try, Paul reasoned with himself.

"Excuse me, I know it's not your department, but do you happen to know which stand the 7.25 to Birmingham goes from?" he enquired.

Lifting his nose out of his book, the bean faced young man looked up at him and replied "As a matter of fact, I do. Stand 26."

"Oh, great, thanks."

"And if in doubt, just check the front of the coach for its stated destination," the lad further advised.

"Now why didn't I think of that?" Paul laughed. "I'll bear that in mind, in future."

The attendant nodded and said no more, but returned his attention to the mucky bit in the novel's plot that had been holding his interest.