I was on holiday taking some time out from the daily grind, I'd been saving for what seemed like years to finance this little jaunt across the USA. I'd made my way from the east coast, heading west and was staying in a small town outside, Clarkes Ville. I chose to visit small towns and avoid the major cities as I believed this would enable me to experience the true nature of the country, rather than the usual tourist hype.
I'd been to the local bar just having a few drinks, I am always amazed how friendly the locals are and enjoyed there uncomplicated hospitality. But it was late and I was feeling the worst for wear. The Southern Comfort making me light headed. It was very quiet out on the street, hardly surprising as it was coming up to midnight.
As I came to the end of the street there was a petrol station on the corner, I was about to take a short cut around the back and miss out the forecourt, when I noticed two people. One a petite woman, the other a much larger man, something seemed out of place. The woman was standing facing the man, while he had his back to me. I could make out he had something in his right hand, thrust out before him, I couldn't make out quite what it was from this distance. His left hand was raised as it beckoned to her. I moved forward concealing myself in the shadows behind a drain pipe. I hadn't been noticed.
I could hear the man talking now "Gimme your god damn purse, I ain't gonna ask you a third time. " I could see the woman more clearly now, she was a little shorter then myself, blonde hair trim figure in her jeans and shirt, clutching the purse to her chest. She had the look of a frightened deer caught in the bright lights of a speeding car.
The man on the other hand was large, taller then myself by a few inches he was wearing jeans, trainers and a black leather jacket, I could clearly see the knife now - a vicious looking 12" hunting knife. , he lunged at the woman making a grab for her bag, she managed to skip back a couple of paces still clutching her purse close to herself.
"Hey" I heard a voice cry out, amazed to find that it was mine. What surprised me even more was the fact that I had already stepped out of the shadows and was in plain view. The mugger turned quickly pointing the sharp end of trouble my way.
My mind was racing time slowing down for what seemed to turn seconds into minutes. "What the fuck do you want asshole, I'll cut your fucking balls off" the mugger bragged. He seemed larger to me now, I could feel butterflies gathering in my stomach, my legs turning to jelly. I tried to focus my mind as sweat erupted from my brow. Stay calm I repeated in my mind stay loose, anticipate nothing react when you need to.
He was walking toward me now his frame blocking my view of the woman, I could see it all perfectly now as the blade came my way. His right hand extended, he wasn't experienced in knife fighting he had over reached. I stepped out to my left placing my right hand on his wrist pulling him even further off balance rotating my hips to my left, swiveling on the ball of my left foot as my right foot flew into his mid section.
I was rewarded with a low grunt, the wind being knocked out of him, I retained the hold on his wrist and reinforced it with my left hand locking his hand at a awkward angle trying to make him let got of the knife. He started to resist, this wasn't good. As I prepared to kick him in the face his hind quarters lifted 2 feet up in the air, instantly dropping the knife, his large frame collapsing to the floor. Ashley had kicked him between his legs from behind. I was most impressed by this. I let him drop and kicked the knife away into the darkness. As he began to rise groaning holding his hands up, the fight gone out of him. I grabbed him by his collar and his belt at the back of his jeans and run him down the ally.
