strangers in the night

Strangers in the Night.

It was dark. The doves called softly in the trees. The wind blew gently through the rustling leaves. The people were gathered safely in their houses, some already asleep. Their doors were locked, and their windows shut. Far off, a lonesome dog howled at the moon. It was the season of darkness, and the strangers were on the prowl. Moon shadows were flickering across the meadows. The dog howled again.

It was the nights of mystery and magic. The strangers were on the prowl. What man knew the powers they possessed? Who knew the extent of their goodness, and evil? Strangers. Strangers in town, with stardust in their eyes, and poisonous honey on their lips. Strangers with strange tongues. The darkness cloaked the town and the streets like a blanket. The streetlights glowed dimly in the dark night. Alley-cats around the corner screamed and fought each other on a wall. A dustbin lid fell to the ground, and rattled as it rolled away. The sound of the fighting cats eventually died away.

The moon came out from behind the clouds, and shone a brilliant pale-white for a short while, before vanishing behind the cloud-cover once more. The wind whistled softly around the corners of the houses and the shops. The trees danced a sad waltz in the gentle breeze. Their was a feint smell of wood smoke in the air, and here and there a swirl of smoke rose up from the chimneys of some of the houses, like probing fingers. And whether awake or asleep, the thoughts and dreams of the people inside were all occupied with one ghostly spectre. The strangers.

No one knew where they came from, or exactly what they looked like, for their faces were always shrouded. They spoke to no man, but only amongst themselves. Where did they come from? What were they doing here? What did they want? The strangers…

The moon came out briefly once more, and then hid behind the clouds again. The wind danced with leaves in trees, and they rustled softly with pleasure. Far away a lonely dog howled at the moon. It howled for a long time as the dark night drew on…