This is a story that occurs in the United Kingdom. The writer is unknown. It is centered

around some British folklore of an entity called the Black Shuck. I can't remember what

time of year it was, but judging by the scenery and what I was doing, it must have been

the end of summer or the cusp of autumn. I can be confident that I was on one of the longer

school holidays children are given much to the dismay of parents everywhere because my girlfriend

of the time had been sent to stay with her nann in a small market town almost 20 miles away from

where we live. Her mom and dad diligently limited our time together. We were young teenagers

full of eagerness to act on our own natural drives and they had good reason. When I received a

written message from my girlfriend, cell phones were not a thing yet, letting me know that she was

not under the watchful eye of her parents, a 20-mile bike ride didn't seem like much of a barrier

to some alone time. Children had more freedom back then. I had more than most being the fifth of

six children. My parents had most likely had enough of parenting by the time it came to me and

my little sister. My independent nature and my ability to stay out of trouble meant the arrangement

was agreeable for everyone concerned. So with a backpack containing a sleeping bag and a change

of clothes, I headed off to visit my girlfriend. England is a relatively small place lined with

narrow lanes and dotted over with farmhouses and small villages. There's always a place to stop

and have a bite to eat. There isn't much there to pose a danger to a bicycleist or a hiker,

except perhaps stinging nettle. That'll give you an itchy rash for an hour or so. But otherwise,

I didn't feel as though I had anything to worry about as I made my way cross-country to the village of

Bungie. The 20 miles seemed to pass quickly as I rode through the landscape that had changed very

little since the days when the Romans ruled a Britain. And soon I found myself on a country road

to narrow for two cars to pass, and it was separated from a farmer's fence by an overgrown grass

...