They started early this day, before dawn. Leaving Edinburgh behind, they had set out for a day’s fishing at Loch Tay. It had been a glorious day, and the fish had just kept coming. Their nets had been full by midday the sun had warmed their backs and their hearts, what better could a fisherman ask for. Well a hostelry and a wee dram to be downed to celebrate their catch.

The company in the Old Admiral had been fine, and a second dram was taken. A lunch of Neaps and Haggis was called for, along with further drams. They were torn to leave but family waited them at home. The journey would be quick, as dusk settled early in these northern parts. Anyway the roads were quiet at this time of the year. So they drove hurriedly for home as the rain clouds swept in. With the light fading and their fish and rods bouncing as the Reliant Robin reached a new concrete section of dual carriageway. The Speedo reached its limit, and a sodden lad stood before them. Braking hard they felt something strike the rear of their vehicle.

The bank manager was late as he set out for home. It was a dark and dismal night and his passenger was tired and somewhat quiet. The Rover purred along and the miles to home were quickly reducing. The rain seemed like it had fallen all day, but in a car he felt cocooned from such things and anyway the heater kept the cold at bay. As the speed built up, the corners came quicker, but the driver felt he could handle them. He approached a sweeping bend and the new duel carriageway he knew this section of road so well, as he came out of the bend he started to accelerate. It was a joy to drive. He did not see the water lying in a hollow in the road. At seventy miles an hour he hit the water. The car lifted and seemed to glide then it hit the low central verge then it spun and spun. The driver swore as something bit deeply into his shoulder then his car struck something solid.

His passenger was catapulted though the front windscreen, her scream was cut short as she hit the ground and the car rolled across her. The driver knew pain then but not from his seat belt which had held him secure. It was a look of death that he saw upon the face of the young women, her face exposed to his sight, whilst the rest of her was covered by the car. She was so pale, so deadly pale, and so still. Not at all like his companion of last night.

For a brief moment he wondered if he was dreaming, for as he looked for help he saw the body of a young man, around which lay several trout like those he had caught earlier on Lock Tay. The trout reminded him of the few drams he had taken earlier in the day with the two fishermen from Edinburgh.

He wondered why was their crushed Reliant Robin lying next to his car, was he seeing things? Could the whiskey be playing tricks with his mind, maybe he might relieve himself of this nightmare if he started walking. It was obvious that he should get out of the rain and move on, free himself of the doubts. He walked away. He knew that he was capable of sorting things out if he gave himself enough time.

The police report indicated a fatal accident with four deaths, they had appealed for any witnesses to come forward to aid there investigations, but had no response. The local TV station reported that the only survivor from the crash had been found twenty-four hours after the crash. That he was concussed and unable to assist the police due to loss of memory, it was reported that he was lucky to be alive, that he had been found with a mild head wound and a broken shoulder in a farm outbuilding, three mile from the crash site. It was reported that he had been found warm and dry, and would suffer no lasting ill effects. A local farmer was pleased that his farm buildings had provided shelter for the man, for they were due to be demolished soon as the farmer had financial problems.

Postscripts:

The City Post: Reports that a city centre bank had reported a robbery, apparently a man had walked in and demanded cash. The bank manager had handed over a rather large sum, it was said that the bank were concerned about the amount and why the manager had such a large sum out of the safe. The newspaper noted that the bank manager had last year had the misfortune to lose a young female colleague, who had died when his car apparently was in collision with a parked vehicle.

The Country Advertiser: Is pleased to report that a local farmer has managed to avoid bankruptcy following receiving an anonymous donation from a well-wisher who had heard of the part his farm buildings played in saving the life of an injured car driver.