Encounter on a bus

Every morning, a certain man took the bus into town to go to work. One day, he got on the bus as usual, and chose a seat somewhere near the back of the bus. About ten minutes later, the bus arrived at another stop, and several more people boarded. One of them sat down next to the first man. He was about the same age, or maybe older, than the first man. They did not know each other, and so naturally minded each their own business. However, the first man, having nothing on hand to read, and finding the scenery outside dull to look at, decided to talk to the second man.

“Have you ever had a strange dream?” asked the first man to the second man.

The second man turned his head slightly to regard the first man.

“I don't normally remember my dreams,” he replied.

“Neither do I. But last night I had the strangest of dreams. It was actually quite frightening, to be honest.”

He looked at the second man, then forward, unsure whether or not to continue.

The second man nodded his head once, as if to say 'go on'.

Both men continued looking forward.

The first man spoke: “It's a dream that many people have had. I was being chased by someone, someone I didn't know. I couldn't see his face, though I tried to turn my head around. I could barely see him at all. But I knew he was chasing me. Then all of a sudden I found myself wading through a small pond or pool of some kind. Naturally, it impeded my progress, but the person chasing me seemed always to be getting closer. Then I was on dry land again. I tripped once but rapidly regained my footing. Soon, however, I found it difficult to keep going forward, as if my legs had no power left. Finally I was on my hands and knees, trying desperately to crawl away. And that's when my dream ended.”

As the first man was talking, the second man was nodding his head thoughtfully. Near the end, his expression seemed to betray a small amount of trepidation.

“It's alright, really. Just a weird dream,” said the first man.

“That's very interesting,” said the second man. He looked at the first man, on his left side. “I had a strange dream, too, last night. I hardly ever remember my dreams, but this one…” he looked forward again, “this one I remembered.”

“Really?” replied the first man. “Well, let's have it.”

The second man spoke: “You said the dream you had was common. Well, I had a similar dream last night.” He paused, and then went on. “I saw someone in my dream, someone far away. He was running. I saw him running frantically onward. I saw him go into a small lake or something similar, and then I saw him run out and keep running on land. He tripped once. Then I saw him slow down. He seemed to be struggling. I saw him fall on his hands and knees.” He stopped talking, staring ahead at the seat in front of him.

A cold shudder ran through the first man's body as he turned his head to regard the second man.

The second man turned his head and looked directly into the first man's eyes with a piercing gaze.

“I didn't just see the other man. I was chasing him.”