The Thrill

 

In life there are many ways to get an adrililan rush here is a story of a young man who took an unwarranted risk this story is dedicated to Graham who loves the thrill of life

Jack was a very cautious young man he had inherited a old Volkswagen beetle from his grand father of which he took very good care he was also a conscious drive never pushing the car beyond it’s limits. In his first year at university he met and fell in love with Linda who was a bit of an extrovert.

 

They fell into the habit of visiting places together in the car which Jack had sprayed orange with yellow strips, they visited out of the way places and watched as other young people took risks on skateboards on ramps and the like as Linda had a passion for skateboarding. It was on one of these occasion when they first became aware of Clive another student who also atteneded the university and was also in one of the classes they took. Clive it appeared was a fun loving risk taker to whom people were immediately drawn.

 

They began to spend more and more time with Clive over the next few weeks, It became apparent that he was very active in the sub-culture that exists round every university, and was a great favourite with the ladies for his Bohemian life style. On a few occasions when Jack had visited him he Jack had noticed that Clive was also engaged in a bit of drug taking on one occasion Jack had found Clive glassy eyed and noticed that there was a strong smell of cannabis in the room.

 

Jack did not use any drugs himself, as he believed that drugs were bad for one, however he could not very well break off his friend ship with Clive because of this. Every one had the right to live the way he or she wanted to Jack would not be the judge of Clive.

 

Jack did tell Linda about Clive’s drug use she shrugged her shoulders and said it did not matter to her either way. One of the most popular places that the young people visited was the wall, the wall was actually the side of the small dam just out side the city. The wall was a vast structure that climbed hundreds of feet into the air with a gradual grading which was used by those thrill seekers who wished to skate up the side of the wall until it became impossible to climb any further. Then turn and come down with a frightening speed onto the roof of a low residence and come flying of the roof and landing on the tarmac in front of the building.

 

When Jack had first seen one of the young people race up the face of the wall he was filled with awe and at the same time a grudging respect. As the young boy who could have been no older then twelve came down from the wall he was caught by an older lad who expertly pulled him from the board before he could do himself any injury. As the wall was known to have taken its fair share of victims over the year’s people who were inexperienced at the wall usually fell victim to accidents. There were always a few people on the roof of the flat roofed residence to catch any who came down to fast or any who came down at an acute angle.

 

Jack watched as Clive rented a board from the small kiosk that stood near by the wall, he was dismayed as he watched Linda do the same and follow Clive to the base of the wall. Clive ascended the wall and came down on the roof of the residence swiftly he flew across the roof and leaped on to the tarmac a drop of two stories with out any visible injury he came to a halt not to far from Jack. That was great said Clive. They watched as Linda ascended the wall and came down she however was not as experienced as Clive did and was pulled off the board as it reached the roof at an acute angle. Later when they spoke about there experience on the wall both young people were filled with joy at the pleasure it gave them and also at the tremendous adrenaline rush it gave them the share thrill of it was over welling.

 

Clive suggested that next time Jack should try out the wall. He replied that he did not want to, as it was not his sort of thing Linda and Clive burst out laughing and called him chicken and to be quite honest Jack was fearful. Over the next few days they attended classes as usual Clive began joining them in class sitting next to Jack or on the other side of Linda.

 

When the weekend came around again Clive suggested they go out on to the wall and watch which they did. On the Saturday afternoon Clive asked Jack how he felt about taking the Volkswagen up the face of the wall as far as it would go? Jack said he would not do it but if Jack wanted to he could take the car and try so it was arranged that the wall be cleared for this daring event. Jack would not usually have agreed to allow any one to drive his car but from early morning Clive had been plying Jack and Linda with alcohol. Jack was really not in a state to disagree as he was already drunk he did not usually drink so much but the day had been long and exciting.

 

Clive revved up the car as a crowd of spectators gathered round to watch this new trick, Clive putting his foot flat to the floorboard waited for the right moment and the little car shot forward and began to climb the wall. The engine screamed in protest but the car continued to climb until almost half way up the wall before Clive turned the car and ran at an ever-increasing speed to the roof of the building below. At this point Jack fainted.

 

When he came round he was laying on the back seat of his car and Linda was leaning over him. Wow was that some thing she said “and you missed it all” she said. “You fainted” she explained by way of explanation, Other then fainting Jack found a lump on the inside of his arm where he assumed an insect had bitten him he was very hungry and as night was falling he decided to go out to supper with Linda and Jack. He ate ravenously like some one who had not eaten in days. Later when the group of friends was driving back to there homes the conversation turned once more to the events of the afternoon. Jack was inclined to think that it had been a bad risk to carry out the trick with his car but Linda and Clive laughed at him telling him that it was great fun. They suggested that he should try it himself the following day he said he would think about it, but he didn’t think he would. At Clive's request they pulled off the road for a rest and Clive produced reefer lighting up he smiled and said I have been waiting for this all day. Jack said nothing but watched in dismay as he saw Clive offer the reefer to Linda who took it and puffed on it like a child with a new toy. Later that night in their room Jack and Linda had argued about it but they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

 

The following morning they set out for the wall and as usual the place already had a number of people skateboarding, The young people watched for a while chatting and drinking beer. About mid morning Clive asked if he could take the car up the wall at first Jack did not want him to but Linda came to Clive's defence. Jack was left feeling that things were getting away from him so once again the wall was cleared for the car to go up this time Linda said she was going with Clive. As she wanted to experience first hand the thrill of rushing down the wall in the little car.

 

Clive waited until the engine was screaming in protest before he released the hand brake and the car rushed forward and mounted the wall. Jack held his breath as his two most valuable possessions raced up the wall the car laboured passed the half way mark and continued for a short distance before turning and began to descend. At more then a hundred miles an hour, Jack drew in his breath thought of what he was about to loose and promptly passed out from shock.

 

When he came round his first thought was of how hungry he was Clive and Linda were standing over him in the small room in the residence. Talking excitedly, Man that was simply radical Linda was saying I want to do it again she said.

 

Jack was not happy but he thought if he could gain some time he would be able to convince Linda otherwise but first he wanted to eat so they went over to the kiosk and he bought himself four hot dogs, which he ate with great relish. They returned to the tarmac and continued to drink beer and talk about the rush one got from the wall, other young people were beginning to find the car race a great favourite and other cars were now lining up to do it.

 

Later in the day Clive took Jack apart from Linda and said I bet you that you won’t go up the wall for Linda if she dares you he said with a smile. Ill bet you your car that you are a chicken he said.

Okay Ill do it Jack said just to show you that I will but you will have to do the driving I don’t have the skill he said as he scratched his arm the lump had not gone away in fact it was now even more inflamed then before. Okay these are the conditions of the dare said Clive I drive you are the passenger also you don’t pass out again other wise your car is mine.

 

Agreed said Jack, what made him decide to do go up the wall was the fact that he did not want to be called a chicken and he desperately wanted Linda’s approval. Jack steadied his nerves before going up by drinking three double whiskeys and then climbed into the passenger seat of the car as Clive started revving the engine. Waiting for the right moment when the cars revs were at the right pitch he set of Jack watched as the wall approached with frightening speed, there was a slight bump as the car reached the wall and started climbing the wall. Clive shouted with glee that they were on their way the engine screamed in protest and the smell of burning rubber was suddenly in the car. Now the forces of gravity began to play against the occupants of the car Clive pushed the car to its limits then turned the car at the last moment when it seemed as if the engine would stall.

 

Jack watched as the roof of the residence began to race towards them at a tremendous speed just before the car reached the roof Jack felt the waves of darkness assaulting him.

 

He woke and found that he was laying on a bed in the residence with Clive was sitting at a table with a band wound tightly round his arm, Jack watched as Clive injected himself and smiled at him well you lost he said. As Linda walked into the room she walked over and kissed Clive taking the drug parfenalia from him and going to the other chair in the room and began going through the ritual that drug users do before injecting themselves.

 

Clive said well you don’t have to worry about any thing I have given you the greatest gift any one can you see heroine is the best rush you can have and you have sampled it three times now you are a veteran he said.

Suddenly Jack realised what the insect bit on his arm was; he also realised that when on those occasions when he had been unconscious that Clive had been injecting him with heroin. He had unwillingly become a drug addict because of his fear and Clive had taken full advantage of his fear and used it against him. He realised that he had lost not only his car but also his girl and his self-respect now he realised that the long night of a drug induced existence lay before him as the light faded.

 

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