On The Road Again…

…..and in the middle of it, a dead crow. Freshly dead, by the brightness of the red blood and purple guts spilling amongst the shiny black feathers. A couple of feet away, another, less identifiable, road-coloured lump. Evidently, the crow had been about to enjoy some breakfast when Death caught up with it. A little strange, as crows aren’t usually so careless.
Half a mile further on, a movement alongside the car caught my eye – a small rabbit springing away through a gap in the hedge, the sun momentarily shining through its translucent pink ears. It must have been just inches away from going under our wheels – another crow would be going without breakfast this morning, at least.
I eyed the speedometer. The needle was flickering just under the 90 mark.
“I thought you said you would be driving sensibly this morning, and not doing any silly speeds.”
He took another narrow S-bend before answering. “I said that I wouldn’t be doing any silly speeds as long as there was nobody getting up my arse. And there is.”
Sure enough, there was a silver Audi keeping pace behind. It was dropping back in the bends, but gaining in the straights. So, evidently not a local who knew the road. But it was keeping a respectful distance all the way – he probably knew a mad local driver when he saw one in front of him.
We approached Parton and dropped steadily down to 30. We were passing the church on the other side of the village when the Audi turned off.
“Pity” he said, “I’m going to have to drive sensibly now, aren’t I?” And eased up to 65.