Sunday, March 7, 2010

Mind the gap

When a train is scheduled for repairs it hurtles through the station, not slowing from its tnnel cruise speed. A voice, muffled, indistinct, speaks over the loudspeakers. It is likely the officious: 'this train is not for riding' but the tone - the muffled nothingness - the empty train - are bizarre. They are a siren going off, without an accompanying danger...

I wonder, if I had lived in a big city and heard voices on the loudspeakers before I read Huxley, before all of my literary and movie associations, would I still think they sound creepy?

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