Liars' League

The Connection by Ingrid Jendrzejewski

The Connection MP3

Read by Sarah Feathers

Our long-haul arrived late and a cluster of us are waiting by the plane for luggage that had been checked at the gate – a pushchair, in my case – and all of us with connections to make can feel the seconds dripping away like hot butter. The baby and I have a flight to catch, a flight home, a flight that we are surely going to miss, and at first I was irritated by you, you showing off your fancy phone with internet, you reading out people’s departure gates while you wait for a suitcase that hadn’t quite fit in the overhead bins.

 

A Model World by Owen Booth

A Model World MP3

Read by Jim Cogan

The internet had killed the mail-order business and I was broke. I had to go back to Big Frank Metcalfe and beg for a job.

“You know I can’t use you David,” he said. “You're a loose cannon. A maverick.”

“I’ve changed,” I promised him. “No more fancy stuff. Nothing avant-garde. I hardly care about perfection at all these days.”

He sighed wistfully. “You were the best railway modeller I’ve ever seen.”

“Were?”

“Times change. These days it’s all computer simulations and Thomas the Tank Engine. Nobody’s interested in the craft any more.”

“Except?”

He stroked his chin. “Well, there is this one job…”

 

Arkham Roadside Assistance by Gregory Adams

Arkham Roadside Assistance MP3

Read by Katy Darby

“Shit,” said Veronica.

She wasn’t expecting car trouble, even though the check engine light had been on for a few days. The Acura didn’t sputter or complain in any way: the engine just quit, and the car rolled to a stop on the ugly shoulder of Azathoth Road. The headlights still shot their halogen spears into the darkness, and that was welcome, because the long, narrow road that joined Arkham, where she’d visited, to Derleth, where she lived, had no streetlights, and by her observation, even less traffic. It was only 8:30, but the world outside showed nothing but solid September darkness.

 

500 Miles by Liam Hogan

500 Miles MP3

Read by Max Berendt

Shortly before the end of the world, Kyle, while trying to read an obscured street sign, accidentally ran a red light on the Dalston Kingsland road. The traffic camera blinked away the last points on his much-maligned licence and, as he caught the flash in the rear view, he hurled an expletive through the half-wound-down-as-far-as-it-would-go window, startling a passing hipster into dropping his fairtrade Ethiopean double-decaf soya latte.

 

Greenlanders by Cherry Potts

Greenlanders MP3

Read by Tim Aldrich

Caleb and James met on a whaler out of Hull. Caleb was the younger at the time, but now, after two voyages to the Greenland waters and one to Nova Scotia, and stranded in London, he feels he is the elder. The clatter and roar of multiple voices is too much for James. The slap of wave and rope at sea, even the harsh cry of the storm are a lullaby to him; and it is not land legs he must develop, but a land ear, and he cannot do it.

 

The Anonymity of Buses by Robert Paul Weston

The Anonymity of Buses MP3

Read by Silas Hawkins

The woman introduced herself as Greta. She matched the office. Attractive, compact, precise.

“Good morning, Mr. Grantham. I’m afraid Mr. Leigh is out, but I’ll be able to help you with the last of the paperwork.”

Alan watched her, spreading his file across the desk like slices of deli meat.

“We have almost everything we need. The only thing left is for you to provide us with the name of a dead child.”

 

 

NEXT EVENT: Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Tuesday 14th June

It's the season of holiday heaven (or hell), so our next event on Tuesday 14th June is a travel special, featuring trains (model and life-size), planes, cars, ships, bikes, trucks and even buses, as well as stolen identities, missed flights, sinister AA men and - what else? - the end of the world as we know it ... Click here for the Facebook event and do mark yourself as Going or Interested so we have some idea of how many berths to prepare ...

WINNING STORIES for PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES

A Model World by Owen Booth
Greenlanders by Cherry Potts
500 Miles by Liam Hogan
The Connection by Ingrid Jendrzejewski *NEW AUTHOR*
The Anonymity of Buses by Robert Paul Weston *NEW AUTHOR*
Arkham Roadside Assistance by Gregory Adams *NEW AUTHOR*

As ever, tickets are £5 on the door, and include a programme and the chance to win FREE BOOKS in our justly infamous interval literary quiz. See you on Tuesday 14th: we don't care how you get here - just get here if you can ...

Liars' League events are held at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) on the second Tuesday of every month. Seating is first come first served - so it's a good idea to get there a bit ahead of time if you want a good table - but if you have a party of 5 or more you can reserve a table by calling 07808 939535.

The venue is downstairs at:
The Phoenix
37 Cavendish Square
London
W1G 0PP

(The Phoenix is 5 minutes' walk from Oxford Circus tube station, which is on the Victoria, Bakerloo and Central lines). Map here