Death Of A Planet

Gone.   History.  He’s one big dude that fades like water into water.  No one sees him go.  Jack leans, squints in the light, empty and pensive.  He cabs to the bus terminal, sees the bus, hands his ticket to the driver and finds a seat.

A bunch of elderly folk, a giggling young couple and a smattering of people in between occupied the other seats.  The bus was three quarters full and Jack wondered which ones were "fellow travelers".  He sees a knock out red head and makes a wish that she's one, and then he smiles.  So much so fast, he hasn't even thought of Denise or Edward or being wanted by the police.  That brought Jack to the realization that he had no money, no ID no nothing but the clothes on his back.

"Hope this outfit feeds the troops." He muttered, pointedly aware of the five-hour trip to Tahoe.

Then where?

As if his mind were bugged, Jack pondered on that thought, the driver announced that dinner was included as part of the package.

"So, sit back and relax as we begin our adventure filled journey."

A few of the older travelers giggled and got a kick out of that.

“Adventure, Tahoe, slot machines.”

"Oh I can't wait."

The trip was uneventful.  No one spoke to Jack.  Three hours into it they stopped at a national food chain restaurant and ordered the national food chain food.  One woman did ask him to pass the ketchup.  Shake before opening and it comes right out.

Back on the bus.

Denise, sister, mother, father, college chums and barflies.  Not knowing the future, Jack's brain reversed.

He came to at the Tahoe hotel as people filed off the bus.  The driver was handing everyone a piece of paper.  "Good for fifteen dollars in quarters.  Just hand it to the cashier."

The driver gave Jack his chit. It didn't say anything about fifteen bucks.  It said "be back on the bus in fifteen minutes." 

Bam!  There it was and here you are.  Jack took a trip to the men's room.  Took a leak.  Slowly he washed his hands and toweled his face.  He combed his hair, looking at himself in the mirror.  His eyes asked, "Is this for real?"

In fifteen minutes he re-boarded the bus. No red head.  Oh well.  She was just a passing fancy.  The bus started and headed out on the road.  The engine hummed, the stars twinkled in a clear clean sky.  No one spoke.  He was lost in a reverie of what had been and what could be.

An hour and a half of winding roads and the bus slowed.  It pulled into a small parking area next to the diesel pump of a country store.

"Okay folks, this is as far as the bus can take you.  Follow the signs that say hiking trail.  Good luck."

As in a trance, the passengers disembarked.  Jack was the last one off.  The air was chilly the aroma of trees and mountains wafted into his nostrils.

Jack didn't feel the cool air, simply anticipation.  The troop walked single file uphill along a hiking trail that appeared to be heading for a heavily wooded area.  As they approached the woods, Jack looked back.  In the glow of a street lamp he saw the store and bus.  As he gazed at the scene the bus departed, lights and a dim growl in the distance.

Jack turned and discovered that only the trail was in front of him.  He hurried to catch up.  No moon, the stars had to show the way.  In a few minutes he reestablished contact with the group as it pressed upward.

Forty minutes passed and Jack was beginning to sweat in the evening coolness.  After an hour Jack was again thinking "wild goose chase."  He turned a corner and the sky reappeared.  Stars shone.

The single file disintegrated into a cluster.  Jack joined the crowd and saw reason to pursue.  In the center of the small meadow, they'd arrived at a floating UFO.  Genuine, caught on films and talked about for years, UFO.  It was round and shaped like a Frisbee.  It made an indistinguishable noise as it sat on air about two meters off the ground.

Jack felt relief tinged with fear.  Feelings, he sensed, everyone in the group shared.  He watched as a hole appeared in the side of the craft and a creature appeared.  It was big and ugly, a bony snout, beady eyes, scales and claws.

"Welcome Earthmen to your ride to the stars.