Pegman – A New Age
Here is my post for What Pegman Saw, which this week takes us to The Poisson-Blanc area of Quebec.
I’m trying out a different writing style here. Partly because I’m really busy and this style of part-sentences took less than 10 minutes to type. Compose the general idea in your head and then just let the words tumble out, I say 🙂

Copyright Google
Thousands of miles across country, crammed into two small vans. Everywhere, signs of the Infection. Dead animals, dying plants. Rabid people. Food from tins only, all water boiled twice.
Not a nice way to live. Hardly living at all.
Onwards, always onwards, mile after mile, days into weeks into months.
At last, Canada. Rumours of safety. A sanctuary, hidden in the forests of Quebec. People there, real, live, uninfected people.
The Infection could only reach so far, couldn’t it? It had to stop eventually, didn’t it?
Arrival. At last, safety. Excited, over-excited, disembarking, shouting in joy! People coming to meet us!
Too excited… we fail to notice the shuffling gait, the too-pale skin. The smell. We fail to notice all these things and so we succumb. The Infection has us.
The last of the human race. Somebody had to be.
Goodbye Homo Sapiens. Welcome to the Age of Homo Infectus.
Excellent story. The style suits the subject matter, and really conveys the desperation and disjointedness that these people are feeling. Scary stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I was hoping that would be the case. I’m glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good flow to this one. Scary, too.
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂 Scary indeed 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Works brilliantly. Good tale, good pace.
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad it worked!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scary times! If it’s reached Canada, we’re all doomed! Good story!
LikeLike
It’s everywhere 😦 I’m glad you liked it!
I was actually quite surprised when I looked at the map and saw where Quebec is. I assumed it was in the middle somewhere. I’m like that with American states too – if I don’t know where it is, I assume it’s in the middle. Probably very flat and prone to tornadoes.
LikeLike
I love the way you bring a certain “heaviness” to the story although there is such an immediate? expected? sense of relief, too. Well written.
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad my experimental style worked out and that you liked it 🙂
LikeLike
Now I’m worried. I write like that all the time. Is it because I’m trying to get it all down on paper faster? Oh well. Back to the zombie apocalypse.
LikeLike
Splurge it all out, top speed!
LikeLike
It looks like a true story, Draliman…scary… Pawkisses for a Happy Week ahead 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Ooh, I hope not! I hope you have a good week too 🙂
LikeLike
The writing fit the story, Ali. Good job. This is one of your scariest posts.
— Suzanne
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m glad you liked my scary offering 🙂
LikeLike
You should write more when you’re rushed – this was excellent.
LikeLike
Thanks! Being rushed certainly changed things a bit, it was quite fun 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Ali,
Rushed or not, this story fired on all cylinders. Again one of my favorite quotes,”We have seen the enemy and he is us.” Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Dear Rochelle,
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it and the style worked for you!
Ali
LikeLike
Chillingly told. An epic journey in a bucket full of words. Well done. Might we see more of this style, this phantom narrator, in the future? Hope so. Hope work becomes less hectic sometime soon. Unless you like it that way.
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed the story and style!
Being busy is good but hectic not so good 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Impossible! I hear the Canadians have an excellent health care system. No infection would stand a chance there…
LikeLike
I heard that too! We’ve been lied to.
LikeLike
Great story! So chilling!
LikeLike
It’s a scary scenario 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scary story with Infectious desease that could wipe out human race. Did you steal the plot of my story I’m working on? Ha, ha. I’m kidding.
LikeLike
Darn, you caught me 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scary! I liked the writing style, Ali. Fast and in the move kinds. It suited the story well. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad it worked and that you enjoyed it 🙂
LikeLike
Awesome story
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked the story and I liked the writing style. There’s nothing wrong with short, concise sentences and I think it was Hemingway (?) who has that listed as his #1 rule of writing. Regardless, this was a great story!
LikeLike
Thanks, I’m glad you liked the story and style!
According to the interweb, it was Hemmingway 🙂
LikeLike
Another scary story, hope it is not prophetic. But somebody had to be the last…
LikeLike
I hope it’s not too. At least life is surviving in some form, I suppose 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just thinking – it is possible that we already are some form…
LikeLiked by 1 person