Part 3
Hesitating for a moment I walked over to him. He was seated on a folding chair at small card table. Spread across the green felt was a mess of cards, dice, paper, pencils and other little ornaments. It looked like he was playing some sort of game.
'Hello again,' I said cautiously. I'd been thinking about what he'd told me all week. It had bothered me, particularly at night. So much so that I'd slept with the light on.
The man beckoned me closed. I leaned down.
'He draws ever closer,' he croaked.
'Who?' I said, feeling for some reason that I should pretend.
'You don't believe?'
I thought for a moment, remembering the terrible week I'd had. Feeling suddenly angry I stood up straight.
'Actually I'm not sure I do.'
'Then look.'
He pointed down the street. It was empty. There were no cars and no people. I watched for a while then looked back at him
'What?'
'Wait...'
We stood staring down the empty street. A slight breeze blew some old newspapers across the road. And then, in the distance, a car approached.
'Watch,' he said, gripping my arm tightly with his bony hands.
Slowly the car came towards us. It was red. The sun shone on the windscreen obscuring the driver. As it got closer I could see that it was old and battered.
'Now,' said the old man.
And suddenly, from one of the side streets, a small child ran laughing into the road...