The Man On Route 15
by
Sogi VanGorder
A meeting along a desert highway changes the lives of a married couple, married for many years. Who did they encounter? Was it planned? Is there more to be told about them and their experience? Are visitors here as friends?
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.............an Excerpt...............
“My eyes are getting tired, I’ve a
headache, and the new car smell is almost gone. Did you get all that, honey?”
“Hm. Yes, you’re wonderful.”
“Yeah, you did.” He laughed.
“You were sound asleep. You didn’t hear a word.”
“No, I wasn’t sleeping. Just drive
honey,” she said, as she took a deep breath. “Aren’t we almost home?” She sat up and rubbed her
brow and looked out her window at the dark night. She smiled at her reflection in the window.
Putting her hand to her mouth she asked, “What time is it?”
“According to the dash clock, it’s
nearly two ” They jumped. “What in heck was that? Did you see that burst of light, Jean? It lit up
everything ahead of us.”
“Yes, Charles,” she said, raising
her voice. She leaned closer to the windshield. “What was it, Charlie!” she screamed. “Look! Over
there, honey, to the left. A blue streak. It looks like a rip in the heavens. Can you believe it? It’s
something moving fast and away from us.”
“It can’t be a you-know-what. That
light flash was close. Maybe over this next hill.” He pressed down on the accelerator. The tires
whined.
He drove rapidly over the hill
staying close to the center divider. The car went downhill into the next valley, and they saw small
scattered fires in a field. “See, Charles? Over to the right!” She pointed. “What’s burning?”
“I dunno. But we’re gonna stop.
What was it, lightning? It’s starting
to sprinkle.”
“That flash wasn’t lightning,” he
said as he stopped the car. The tires rumbled along the side gravel and were silent. “I’ve traveled this
road too many times. I’ve never seen that display before.”
They jumped out of the car and ran
toward the fence. “Charles, those fires are almost out. I don’t see a car. Look over there. Isn’t that
someone trying to get up?”
He held the barbed wire for her.
“Hurry, honey, then hold it for me.”
They ran toward the man. He
staggered. He held his head with both hands.
“What happened young man,”
Charles asked.
“Look, Charles, his suit isn’t even
mussed. Where’s his car? How’d he get here?”
“Stop. Go back! It could be
dangerous for you,” the man warned.
They stopped and continued to look
at him from a few yards away. They couldn’t see his face as they slowly walked up to him, but he
didn’t resist help as they grabbed onto his arms. He trembled.
Jean said: “It’s getting cold and ”
“No. I’m trembling because of
their intrusion.”
“Their intrusion?” Charles asked.
End of the Excerpt from The Man On Route 15
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