Charley's practical joke was usually good
for a laugh when a city feller made a rest stop;
but it also aroused heavenly concern and began—
The Battle of the Bells
By Jerome Bixby
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
September 1954
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
It would happen maybe once or twice a week—never much more. Because things had to be just right.
For example, it had to be daytime for it to work. At night, nobody was likely to notice the chain hanging down with the handle on the end of it.
And naturally the victims had to be city folk. Had to be used to just reaching up and grabbing and pulling without a thought. Because when you stop to think about it, a chain like that in a place like that is about the most unlikely thing in the world.