
A chaotic clash erupts in a near‑future city where pedestrians and motorists have become bitter enemies. When an elderly woman fends off a speeding, armored car with a handful of bullets, the violent encounter ignites a wave of outrage that spreads from the gritty Slum Ring to the pristine suburbs. The driver’s crew, a mix of disaffected elites, reacts with fury, while onlookers from both sides shout curses and rally for their cause.
The incident sparks a citywide showdown: youths on crutches, wheelchairs, and makeshift weapons join the fray, while bikers and scooter riders unleash a torrent of noise and destruction. Authorities scramble to impose a curfew, deploying bizarre “centipede‑cars” and “pogo‑hoppers” in a desperate bid to keep the two factions apart. As the streets fill with graffiti, shattered glass, and whispered plans of retaliation, the fragile peace that once held the metropolis together begins to crumble, promising a deeper conflict to come.
Language
en
Duration
~10 minutes (10K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2016-08-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1910–1992
A master of fantasy, horror, and science fiction, he helped shape modern genre fiction with sharp wit, dark imagination, and unforgettable adventurers like Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. His work ranged from sword-and-sorcery classics to eerie urban tales, earning lasting praise from generations of readers.
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