Eyes of the Tollman
by David Gecic

Originally published in Hammer

You hand me your toll
and you avert your eyes.
Don't you realize
that this road has been paid for
and will be paid for
a thousand times hereafter
and I am robbing you.
I have taken your money
hundreds of times
and you avert your gaze
every time.
Don't you care
who is taking your money.
Don't you notice anymore?
What do you fear?

Look into the eyes of the Predator.
When we were young they told us
not to look into the eyes of wild dogs
for they would take it as a challenge
and rush to the attack.
You took that to heart
and you still follow that creed.
So you avoid the gaze
of any creature
which does or may
bare it's teeth.