I’m not even a land person. Driving a bus isn’t what destiny intended. A war canoe, that’s what. Like my grandfather and all the way back to my grandfather’s grandfather. Sail bellied full, outrigger flying over the sea, drips spraying like blood from a severed neck.
The harsh cry of my men behind me, weapons ready, as we prepare to land.
Another craft slips alongside—an enemy taxi. My warrior blood sings as I pull my gun. Driver, pow! Passengers, pow! pow! pow! This route is my route, my people’s route.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
The roads just got more dangerous. I particularly liked “flying over the sea, drips spraying like blood from a severed neck”.
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I thought of South Africa where such taxi wars are common
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A person born in the wrong time perhaps, though I wonder if his longing for action would last once they were in the thick of it.
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His blood is up and they are in the thick of it
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Eek! Was he just imagining the gun? The pow pow pow’s made me think of comic book characters. Hope I’m right! 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Well I imagined him, so I suppose the gun is imaginary. But in his world, the gun is real
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Great writing Neil. I thoroughly enjoyed this. You say so much in so few words.
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Thanks so much, Derek
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A chilling reminder of our time living in Jo’burg. All too common, and you captured the atmosphere beautifully.
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Interesting that you caught the South Africa vibe. Thans so much, Sandra
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Sounds like a dangerous place to be!
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Absolutely. But thrilling for a warrior
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I like ‘Pow’, reminded me of DC/Marvel Comics and softened the carnage
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Thanks, that was exactly the reference in my mind
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Dear Neil,
You took road rage to a new level. And I was enjoying the sea so much and then POW! Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle
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Very cool. I was thinking Congo, but it could apply to the Hmong too. Well done.
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Thanks, Joshua. It was an amalgum of the Pacific islands and of South Africa
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Pow. This was unexpected. You have taken the morning journey to work and made it a trip of survival. At first I thought he was a descendent of raiding Vikings and missed the rage and ravage of the landlubbers. Now I am not so sure.
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He’s a creature forged of many myths, both in his head and mine
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In London we have a problem with Uber cabs, but nothing on this level! A chilling scene indeed.
Here’s mine!
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That was the effect I was hoping for. Thanks, Keith
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I know it is a cut throat business, I just did know that it was literally “cut throat”… nice one.
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Thanks, Trent
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You can take the warrior out of the canoe but you cannot take the canoe out of the warrior. Or something like that. Exciting story, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You are very welcome.
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Fabulous descriptions, Neil. I have heard there are areas where the taxi wars are quite violent. No world for sissies, that’s for sure. Maybe it’s good he has warrior blood in his veins…
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Perhaps he only thinks he has warrior blood, Thanks so much, Dale
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Indeed. Or uses it as justification…
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Oh oh … I think I might duck … and stay down … till … well, the winds change.
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Sound idea!
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Yeah. I like my body bullet-free. …
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Hoo boy, what a shock! Wonderful descriptive prose. Loved it.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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Killing potential customers doesn’t sound like a way of attracting more custom! Ghastly to think it’s true in some places.
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Sadly, it is true. Though, of course, they’re killing the competition’s customers, not their own
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Huh. Sounds like he’s made for the LA Freeway! 🙂 Well done. I was very caught up in it.
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Thanks, Sascha
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You skillfully created a large character and a complicated scene in very few words with a chilling twist at the end. Excellent!
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Thanks so much, Brenda
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Excellent imagery – I hope his gun was as imaginary as his war canoe!
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Thanks so much, Liz. His gun may not have been imaginary.
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I’m pretty sure there’s something in the Highway Code about blowing away other drivers…
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There’s also something in the taxi drivers’ code though
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Pirates on the high seas of commuter transportation ! Loved the blood spray image!
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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Urban warriors at their most fierce! great take on the prompt and an interesting reflection on how modernity has forced us into jobs that don’t fit our heritage.
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Thanks so much, Siobhan. He may have only the loosest grip on what his heritage really is
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So that’s where the road rage is coming from!
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Taxi wars are a real thing in South Africa
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Yet another reason to stay home…
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Got a real sense of the buccaneer spirit, confined by a taxi cab. I’m not familiar with real taxi wars.
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Confusingly, what are called taxis in South Africa (those who fight these wars) are actually minibuses
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I’m pretty sure that guy the driver we hired in Sri Lanka a few years ago! We were lucky to escape with our lives. Well done Neil, great story. 🙂
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Thanks so much
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Very well done, love the tone and descriptions.
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Thanks so much, Kelly
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Sounds like another day of commute in South Africa.
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I did have South Africa partly in mind
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What a strong voice in this story. Fortunately, his sense of imagination is allowing him to live out his fantasy. I hope he won’t need to resort to bloodshed in real life!
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Thanks so much, Magarisa. It’s interesting that some people see his attack as a fantasy and others as real
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“flying over the sea, drips spraying like blood from a severed neck.”…no shaking that image any time soon!
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Thanks, Dawn. And sorry
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