Echoes and roller coasters

(Chapter Five) It won’t take long. Chris looks at the tall fence again. Once over it, there is little to slow him down. He knows where the security cameras are, and how to avoid them. Besides, there were only about five, in the entirety of the abandoned park.

Additionally, Chris knows there is no manned security kiosk anywhere in the old park.That’s the job of the fencing and cameras. Keeping out unwanted visitors. This means he will be home in time for lunch.

Chris isn’t crazy. He’s not a kid either but he is adventurous. Also he’s in trouble. Furthermore, if he doesn’t get moving he’s going to lose his chance. Grabbing the fence with both hands he scales it and drops to the other side. Then, he quickly crosses the open area that leads to the abandoned roller coaster.

Echoes and roller coasters

From here he can see the south side of the park. The view is without obstruction. In fact, he can see the hills of the valley, on the other side of the park. Taking note that the skies are darkening, he trots off toward the old derelict roller coaster.

Chris is on a mission to remove a name plate. It’s actually a job, a paid job, for a change. He angles toward the base of the giant coaster. It is one of the old wooden tributes to the past. Its sheer size is awe inspiring. Similarly, in its day it was a feature attraction.

This particular coaster was infamous, as well as famous, and had a dark history, of which few were aware. Chris reaches the base of the coaster, where the control kiosk is positioned. He only needs to get to the first car in the row of roller coaster cars. It’s the first one that will have the name plate.

He checks again to make sure he is out of the view of cameras. Furthermore, he wants to be sure he is unobserved. Not only is it his wish to be undiscovered, but also his client wants the name plate with no witnesses. An odd request from a client. However, the pay is generous, and Chris is happy to oblige.

roller coasters

Chris is an antiques dealer. He owns a small shop on the outskirts of his city. It is a modest little store where he is able to enjoy one of his most compelling interests. Antiques. Actually, he thinks of it as anything old. Lately, business has been slow. Which is an understatement. Slow would be an improvement.

With this in mind, he had been extremely surprised and grateful, to get the odd request for this particular antique. Especially considering the customer knew of the plate’s location. Which is where Chris finds himself now. He has reached the roller coaster cars, and has made it to the first car.

The abandoned park had sat empty for almost thirty years. The whole of the place had the scent of age and the feel of time long gone. Scruff weeds and windswept debris litter the ground, and make it difficult for Chris to see the plate at first.

Then he spots it on the lower part of the front car of the coaster. “The Whirl Wind”. The name of the coaster. He gets his small bag of tools out and examines the rivets holding the plate onto the car. It’s solid but he should be able to pop it free.

Echoes

Within two minutes he has his prize. The name plate is heavy in his hands and the polished metal feels as though it is more than just steel. As he examines the name plate, admiring the craftsmanship and brooding over its composition, he discovers something else. There is writing on the back as well, just two words:

Incipimus iterum