The Town Wasn't Here

I'm planning to write a work of fiction that deals with the subject pretty soon, actually, I've been thinking about how parallel universes might work even before this topic came up.

Most intriguing to me is the possibility that somehow our reality and another plane might merge, if only briefly. I was told a very interesting story today by a co-worker that fired my imagination in this manner.

I work at the newspaper in Abilene, Texas. I'm the business/technology reporter there. One of my co-workers has been travel editor for quite some time and knows many, many folks from his journeys.

One of his best friends is a former travel editor for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. His friend told him this story not too long ago:  Our Hero was traveling through a region of Texas known for its scenic beauty when he came upon a quaint little village.

The place seemed as if it was from another time, with storefronts, cut of dress and even mode of speech strange. The travel editor spent most of a day there marveling at how complete the illusion was -- and how cheap all of the goods were, yet incredibly well-made and authentic. He was forced to leave as the sun set because there wasn't anyplace he could find to stay in town -- there was a hotel, but a "No Vacancy" sign was prominently displayed.

Later, he decided to write a feature on this hidden treasure. He had originally located the hamlet on a  fairly modern road, which had turned more earthlike in the city proper. He traveled along that route, intent on returning to the idyllic piece of Americana he'd found.

He never found it again.

Here's what Bob, my co-worker, told me he said:

"I've been on every road in the Big Thicket, dirt or paved. I've asked everyone I can find. I've looked on road maps, in county records and exhausted every means a journalist would have at his disposal. As far as everyone else is concerned, the place doesn't exist and never has."

Now Bob is from journalism's old school and isn't one to joke around. Neither, as I understand it, is his friend.

So what happened? Did he find some ghostly village? Was the guy just lost? Or did another time and place intersect with ours for a brief, strange moment?

I'd like some thoughts.

Brian