Smiling, George pulled on the steering wheel and turned the car back up the straight tarmac river to the top of the hill. Swinging it around again to face the rising steeple and impenetrable wall, he took a deep breath and slammed his foot on the accelerator.
For a moment that lasted a lifetime the world fell completely silent. The hand of the speedometer pushing ever closer to the red, Georges’ head filled with the pressure of momentous joy and sheer exhilaration. His heart beating fast and hard, he was a child again, set firm in his intention. His mothers’ best china teacup sailed through the air and began its descent to collide with the lino floor. As it exploded into pieces, the car bounced up the pavement edge, the wall looming just a breath beyond, Georges’ world flashed searing red and then plummeted into black oblivion.