Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.www.misc,misc.writing Subject: Missing in Action: Walking Man Project There used to be a writing project called The Walking Man, about a man is walking through some places. It was a group project on the World-Wide Web that was announced here some time ago. There were about 14 short stories in the project. Well, the Walking Man seems to have walked away. The URL that used to work: The Walking Man Project Home Page ...no longer does. It seems that daneel is no longer accessible, although this could be a local problem. I tried sending mail to the former owner, but there is no reply. He was jacker@nwu.edu. Nwu.edu doesn't seem to support finger, so I don't know if that account exists or not. Does anyone know what became of the Walking Man project? Oh well, in case anyone does, here's the story I wrote for it. Episode 12 Trudge Trudge Trudge Walking Man whistles, tunelessly through his teeth. Trudge Trudge The road winds through a small hamlet, past fields and farmers and tumbledown houses. A stone works its way into Walking Man's left shoe, where it remains even to this day. Trudge Walking Man breathes deeply and looks at the road, greeting it with his eyes, thinking about its day. The road has traveled almost as far as he has. Trudge Trudge Trudge The road turns, a gentle wave to Walking Man. "Howdy -- 2 Miles" says a roadsign. Walking Man tips his hat, takes an apple from his pocket. Trudge Trudge The road comes to a hill, pauses to gather momentum, and then decides to go straight up and over rather than around. Clouds gather and the temperature drops. Walking Man buttons his coat. Trudge Trudge The road gets steep, vicious. Its whole mood has changed. A hairpin turn, a deep pothole. A roadsign: "Why Won't You Talk To Me? -- 6.3 KM" Walking Man shrugs. "Nothing to say, I guess," he says aloud, his voice scattered by the wind. Trudge Trudge Trudge The mountain road twists and bucks like a rodeo bull. A black roadsign appears to mark a sudden cliffside: "Fine -- 250 Feet Be Like That -- 600 Yards See If I Care -- 9,003 Light Years I Suppose You Think You Can Get By Without Me -- 2 Trillion Parsecs Rest Area -- Never Bridge -- Out" Walking Man walked in place, peering over the cliff, noting the frayed cables that used to support a bridge over the chasm. A tap at his shoulder: "I'm the tolltaker. Sorry, but the bridge is out. You'll have to go back to Route 23." Walking Man smiles and nods to the tolltaker. He's wearing a smart black uniform and his moustache is bushy and gray. Walking Man steps over the side. The wind rushes around his ankles. He drops the apple core into the valley far below. He keeps walking. Walking Man doesn't look down; that's the secret, after all. As Walking Man nears the opposite side, the tolltaker yells, "Bridge or no, the toll is eighteen drachma!" Walking Man sticks out his arm and waves without looking back. He almost stumbles onto the road at the other side. With the road beneath his feet once again, he walks on. The road turns, a gentle wave to Walking Man. "Howdy -- 2 Miles" says a roadsign. "How do you do?" asks the Walking Man. Trudge Trudge Trudge Trudge Trudge --- E. Stephen Mack (estephen@netcom.com)