Vertigo 2

Freddy was scared of heights, really scared of heights. He’d regularly dream of being stuck on a ledge after making his way half way along and then looking down, it would be then that he’d freeze like a statue unable to move back to where he’d come from or on to where he was going. He’d wake up in a cold sweat, shaking like a leaf, breathing like he’d just orgasmed. If he found himself at the top of a tower, it was backs against the walls stuff as far away from the edge as humanly possible. Occasionally he’d have the urge to throw himself to the floor and crawl back to safety and once or twice he would.

But if you’re really scared of heights, it’s the fear you feel for other people that really puts butterflies in your stomach. Those bloody goats who are nimble of foot and have no regard for their own lives. They sit on walls, walk too close to the edge and generally lark about and  unknowingly scare the beejesus out of you.

Fred was feeling that fear now, he strutted around the grounds of Vysehrad, the picturesque second castle in Prague that has terrific views of the river and the spires, and winced as he saw countless tourists sitting on the walls, dangling their legs freely, seemingly unaware and certainly unperturbed but the 20-30 yard drop beneath them. The kids from the school trip were especially fearless, one was standing on the wall while two were fighting as they sat precariously close to the edge.

Fred felt sick watching them, the butterflies were like eagles, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He didn’t want to watch, he needed to move on but he was captivated by the sight. Suddenly, he moved forward one, two steps, then he really took off.

He didn’t push the boy that hard, it was only a tap really. It was probably the shock that caused the youngster to lose his balance as much as the force of the blow. The boy tumbled off the wall and down the grassy bank below. Screams and angry shouts directed at Freddy filled the air. The boys friends were in a state of shock, not knowing how to get help to their stricken friend.

Amongst the palaver Fred smiled to himself, the act of teaching those goats a lesson gave him an amazing sense of relief, a cathartic feeling. He happily flew off into the evening sky, had he found a cure to his phobia?  

If you think you recognise Freddy from a previous story or if you don't but would like to find out more about him, click here.