“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location on this page, from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s prompt is Melbourne, Australia.
St. Kilda Pier, Melbourne, Australia | © Paul Huang Google Maps
West Gate Bridge
Victor shook his head as he listened to the Resident Engineer.
“Listen, mates. After what happened to the bridge in Wales, you’re worried whether it could happen to our West Gate Bridge. Well, it can’t. Our best people say so.”
The Engineer glared at the assembled workmen, daring them to challenge him.
Victor spoke to his mates. Old Jack expressed their opinion best.
“Mate, if yer a pansy, don’t work on bridges.”
But the bridge was speaking. In quiet places away from the growl of motors and the clatter of jack-hammers, failing metal first whispered, then spoke, then shouted.
Before work on 15th October, Victor woke his wife Doris early to reassure her. “I was wrong yesterday,” he said. “We’ll be okay. Tell the kids I’ll be home early.”
He marched onto the bridge, straight-backed.
At 11:50 that morning, fifty metres above the ground, the bridge crashed from under his feet.
Author’s Note
This is a true story that happened in 1970. West Gate bridge was under construction and collapsed, killing 35 workers, among them Victor Gerada. It was Australia’s worst industrial accident.
Autumn Leaves 