Liars' League

Worldly Goods by Cheryl Powell

Read by Tony Bell - podcast here (third story)

He was eager. Not like the others. There was swagger in him still; a soul revelling in the memory of his own body.

‘Well, here I am.’ He grinned, eyes full of nervous brilliance, and spat out a coin. I let him saunter towards the coracle, hands in pockets, as if about to embark on a pleasure cruise. I’d seen bravado like this before, of course, but it never lasted.

Here, at the threshold, there is a blood-red sky, and the souls turn their faces, craving warmth. This soul was different, though. ‘Always look forward,’ he breezed. ‘Never back.’

Then he jumped the queue.

Holiday Wardrobe by James Burt

Read by Jennifer Aries - podcast here (final story)

Even in a magic kingdom, pizza tasted the same as anywhere else. Maybe it was intentional – if something was bland then no-one would send it back saying they didn’t like it. Maybe that was the reason this fast-food place looked like any such place: the same bright lighting, the same plastic chairs, the same bored look on the staff’s faces. Same tasteless food. He reached for the menu, wondering if there was anything more interesting that he should have ordered.

“Paul? I’m talking?”

“Sorry, love.”

To Saad Zaghloul Square (by the sea) by Guy Howie

Read by Stephen Butterton - podcast here (first story)

The sun feels still now, like it has stopped rising and settled into the position where it can do most damage. Its heat is relentless, melting any breeze the sea has to offer our backs. My neck is raw, and Anwar’s enlarged forehead gleams like polished metal, the shine blurring his wrinkles.

Six lanes of fast-moving traffic are raising their fanfare in front of us. Each honk produces three more in response. Yellow and black Lada taxis revving their dying breaths in third gear scold the Uber drivers racing them to San Stefano Mall in their freshly imported Emgrands. The bells of four identical white microbuses occupying various lanes (some more than one at the same time) chime in unison.

Billy and Gerry by Will Mann

Read by Jeremiah O'Connor - podcast here (4th story)

He’s waiting for me when I come out of the hotel, stood in front of his black cab. Leaner than I remember, face a little more lined, hair now a gunmetal grey.

I thought he might be wearing one of those khaki field jackets – that unofficial uniform they all seemed to favour – but he’s wearing a neutral beige zip up and light grey slacks.

“Are you Gerry?” I ask him. “From Gerry’s Famous Belfast Taxi Tours?’

If he recognises me, he doesn’t show it.

“That’s me. Are you Billy?”

On the Corpse Way by Dan Hinge

Read by Lin Sagovsky - podcast here (2nd story)

The coffin stone was not far now, and George Walker hurried forward as best he could through the chaos of snow, stumbling over the rocks, gasping at the pain in his shoulders. He was stiff with the weight of his burden, chilled by the wind, panting with exertion. Near the resting place was a cleft in the mountain, just big enough for a man to shelter, if desperate enough.

Minutes later, George made it to the stone. Full of relief, he tilted his back to roll the body onto the wide, flat surface.

But the jolting of the journey had loosened the wrappings around the corpse. As George dropped the weight onto the slab, a pale hand lolled free and brushed the bare earth.

The Land the World Forgot by Ibar Murphy

Read by Katy Darby - podcast here (5th story)

In Search of Guatelumbia: An Open Appeal to the Global Academic Community

The European colonisation of the Americas is a story riddled with wonder and tragedy. The dark interiors of the New World have long withheld secrets, with rumours of ancient civilisations and great treasures enrapturing adventurous souls from across the ocean.  However in this modern age perhaps the most curious mystery remaining is the case, not of a lost city, but rather an entire country that has eluded the sweeping march of discovery.

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In flaming June, we presented tales of travel to take you from the frozen lakes of Hell to the sweltering cities of North Africa, via Northern Ireland, fantasy-world theme parks, a trip up the Amazon and a slip back in time.
Destinations included: The Yorkshire Dales, Alexandria, Hades, Narnia, Belfast, central Guatelumbia.
Methods of travel: On foot, Charon's ferry, Egyptian microbus, Gerry's Famous Belfast Taxi Tour, Spanish galleon & stolen unicorn.