freakin awesome

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So if there wasn't a train immediately in sight, was there no way that incoming trains could be halted or the power to the lines switched off, instead of just diving on top of the guy?

You can actually see the next station up at this stop, so he might've seen it sitting there getting passengers. It's unclear from the story but it obviously happened within a very quick amount of time so presumably the lights were visible from the next station up. And with that amount of time, no, I would not believe they'd be able to stop the oncoming train--someone would have to go find a station manager or a subway cop, which is next to impossible on the upper reaches of the 1, for starters...

― Allyzay heard you got beat up in a club. (Allyzay Eisenschefter), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 17:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Fergal, that was probably the first short story I've ever loved! It's called 'The Swan', and features what was a regular theme in Dahl: the seamless swerve from horrifying realism into (if you think about it equally horrifying) supernatural fantasy. He gets free when the bullies cut him free and tie a dead swan to his back, make him climb a tree and shoot him. He falls out of the tree but somehow flies home, using the swan's wings, before dying in the arms of his mother. It's an incredibly good story.

― Comrades, meet Tildo Durd (Scourage), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 17:37 (seventeen years ago) link

yes, my asslessness would also be a plus in this situation but there's no way my melonhead squash would fit between train and tie.

― otto midnight has a pudding problem (otto midnight), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 17:41 (seventeen years ago) link

beth, tit-allotment is cracking me up.

― emsk ( emsk ), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 17:43 (seventeen years ago) link

that story freaked the SHIT out of me as a kid. (xxp)

― a mediocre black-and-white cookie in a cellophane wrapper (hanks1ockli), Wednesday, 3 January 2007 17:46 (seventeen years ago) link

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