Walk: A Novel

Stephen was excited about the walk, but Benny didn't think about it until the next morning. When his dad got ill, Benny was forced to consider other options, and he invited Stephen. Now Benny and Stephen are stranded on the edge of the world, far from home, with no food or money.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Stephen had seemed enthusiastic about the walk when Benny first invited him. He kept going on about how amazing it would be, the two of them out in the wilderness – the landscape shots, the pubs, etc., etc. Benny didn't interrupt this stream of enthusiasm. They were in the car park of the Miners, and Benny was too busy concentrating on his own stream of piss. He didn't think about it at all until the next morning. When he remembered inviting Stephen, Benny laughed out loud – a single ha – then spent three minutes silent-screaming into his pillow. **** Benny thought that it would be him and his dad doing the walk. Just him and his father, hiking through the Welsh countryside, like they used to. Only, when his dad got ill, it became obvious that this would never happen. So Benny was forced to consider other options. If Benny is honest, him and Stephen haven't been close since school, but once Benny had drunkenly blurted out the invitation, he couldn't take it back. Now Benny and Stephen are on the walk. A walk Benny has vowed to finish, no matter how hard it is. But as food runs low and money runs out, Stephen and Benny find themselves stranded on the edge of the world, far from home, where the possibility of return is becoming increasingly distant. Benny and Stephen had been friends since childhood, but their relationship had grown distant over the years. Benny was a bit of a loner, while Stephen was more outgoing and social. However, when Benny's dad became ill, he knew that he needed someone to be there for him. He didn't have many friends, and his family was far away, so he turned to Stephen. Stephen was surprised by Benny's invitation, but he didn't hesitate to accept. He knew that Benny's dad was going through a tough time, and he wanted to be there for him. The two men set off on the walk, excited about the adventure ahead. At first, everything went smoothly. They hiked through beautiful countryside, stopping at pubs and restaurants along the way. Benny was happy to have Stephen's company, and Stephen was grateful for the opportunity to spend time with his friend. However, as the days went by, tensions began to rise. Benny was a bit of a perfectionist, and he was constantly criticizing Stephen for his mistakes. Stephen, on the other hand, was getting tired of Benny's constant criticism and wanted to enjoy the walk without being constantly judged. One day, the two men reached a small village and decided to stay the night. They went to a local pub, where they met a group of friendly locals. Benny and Stephen were happy to be included, and they spent the evening drinking and chatting with the locals. However, as the night wore on, things began to get out of hand. Benny started drinking too much, and he began to make rude comments to the locals. Stephen tried to calm him down, but Benny was too drunk to listen. The locals became angry, and they started to throw glasses and bottles at the two men. Benny and Stephen ran for cover, but they were quickly surrounded by the locals. They were beaten and kicked, and their clothes were ripped off. They were left naked and humiliated, with no way to escape. The next morning, Benny and Stephen woke up in a small room, tied to a chair. They were surrounded by a group of men, who were laughing and joking about their predicament. Benny tried to fight back, but he was too weak and tired. Stephen, on the other hand, was too scared to move. The men took turns torturing Benny and Stephen, using different methods. They beat them, burned them with cigarettes, and cut them with knives. They laughed and joked about their suffering, as if it were a game. Benny and Stephen were in pain, but they refused to give up. They knew that they had to fight back, no matter how hard it was. They tried to break free from their bonds, but they were too weak and tired. After several days of torture, Benny and Stephen were finally released. They were taken to a hospital, where they were treated for their injuries. Benny was in a coma for several days, but he eventually recovered. Stephen, on the other hand, was more seriously injured. He had lost a lot of blood, and he was in a coma for several weeks. When Benny woke up, he was surprised to find that Stephen was still in a coma. He didn't know what to do, and he felt helpless. He didn't know if Stephen would ever wake up, or if he would be left alone. However, Stephen eventually woke up, and he was surprised to find that Benny was still there. He was grateful for Benny's friendship, and he knew that he couldn't have made it through the ordeal without him. The two men continued to hike through the countryside, but they were never quite the same again. They had been through a terrible experience, and it had changed them both. However, they were still friends, and they knew that they would always be there for each other. In the end, Benny and Stephen's walk was not what they had expected. It was a nightmare that they would never forget. However, they had survived, and they had learned important lessons about friendship, courage, and resilience. They knew that they would always be there for each other, no matter what.

Weight: 602g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781444790153