Short Fiction · Chapter
X Marks the Pedwalk explained
A futuristic conflict between pedestrians ('Feet') and motorists ('Wheels') escalates after a little old lady shoots at a car that runs her down, killing two occupants.
What happens
A futuristic conflict between pedestrians ('Feet') and motorists ('Wheels') escalates after a little old lady shoots at a car that runs her down, killing two occupants. The incident sparks riots and reprisals, leading to government intervention and a tense compromise that restores an uneasy status quo.
Themes in this chapter
Violence and Survival
The conflict between pedestrians and motorists escalates into lethal violence, with both sides arming and retaliating in a struggle for survival.
Conformity and Rebellion
Government enforces compromise and conformity through force and therapy, while both Feet and Wheels rebel with secret preparations and attacks.
Alienation and Otherness
The deep societal divide between the 'Feet' and 'Wheels' reflects alienation and dehumanization, with each side viewing the other as less than human.
Characters to notice
- Smythe-de Winter
Driver of the car that kills the little old lady and the girl in the wheelchair; feels the world is crumbling.
- Witherspoon-Hobbs
Passenger in Smythe-de Winter's car; expresses hatred for 'Feet' and cheers 'Wheels forever!'
Key passages
“The little old lady dipped into her shopping bag and came up with a big blue-black automatic. She held it in both fists, riding the recoils like a rodeo cowboy on a bucking bronco.”
The elderly woman pulled a large pistol from her bag and fired it with both hands, struggling to control the recoil.
Highlights the unexpected violence from a seemingly harmless pedestrian.
“They oughtn't to let old ladies carry magnums.”
Smythe-de Winter complains that elderly women should not be allowed to carry powerful handguns.
Reflects the motorist's perspective on pedestrian armament.
“I like a normal orderly world, where you always have a little success, but not champagne-heady; a little failure, but just enough to brace you.”
Smythe-de Winter expresses contentment with a balanced life of moderate successes and failures.
Shows his desire for stability after the chaos.