The Mystery of the Backward Riding Cyclist: A New Underwood and Prim Adventure

I.

In the early afternoon, the wind howled up and down Belmont carrying little bits of paper, empty coffee cups and something quite strange along the avenue . . . a backward riding cyclist. Otherwise, everything proceeded along as usual. The Red Line El roared along on the nearby tracks of Chicago's darkest artery with timely precision. The fortune teller kept vigil on the corner kindly inquiring readings much to the delight of the obliging straights. Cannonball messengers bolted by on skates with pink helmets and colorful wristbands. Book lovers and antiquarians stood along the sidewalk and joyfully discussed and marveled over the rarity of their latest acquisitions. Bohemians with swag-bags of abundance scurried in and out of shops as they sought out vintage clothing to set themselves apart from the herd. The Goths and real vampyres would never ever appear until the sun had set, however the tall, muscular man servant in the red vest and white cotton pants and the slim, lean Gypsy witch shawled from head to toe now paused at the entrance between the Mad Haberdasher and Gargoyle and Gin. Neither knobbed nor handled, the narrow, nondescript door opened inward unattended.







©2019 by L.P. Van Ness. All rights reserved.


Note: Mason Underwood, Adam and Cassandra appeared along with Gordon Prim in Outer Darkness, which sold on the 'zine racks at Stars the Destination book store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago, IL.


[genre: eerie fiction]