Sex, death and a snake in the grass: 19 linked short stories, fiction for the Internet. Read in narrative sequence using the left-hand menu or follow characters through the in-page links
5
The two men on the crowded tube were well practised in the arts of intimidation. The larger of the two sprawled across the seats, like the toughest bear in the clan. Opposite, similarly sprawling, a smaller, thinner bear muttered into his collar.
At Green Park, a smart, beautiful, black woman laden down with Bond Street shopping bags asked Little bear to move up so she could sit. There was a brief inaudible exchange of words and then the poor woman, visibly distressed, moved away.
Big bear's mean brown eyes glittered cruelly as he looked around the carriage. But everybody seemed to be immersed in their books and papers, or staring vacantly into space while their MP3 players blared in their ears.
Two stops later, a thin, blonde woman with a black handbag got on the train and approached the men.
Surprisingly, Little bear jumped aside to make room for her. When the woman sat down, Big bear looked her over, grinning insolently, and then leaned forward, bringing his face close to hers. 'What you doin', sittin' next to goonbags and gangsters?' he demanded.
'I don't care who you are. I just want to sit down,' Alice said bravely.
Big bear half-smiled and sat back in his seat, his eyes flickering out a brief message of respect. Around them, around these two black gangster bears and one white middle class woman, the carriage stiffened with disapproval.
