An Old Man

A story of war and that which is unimaginable, set in the distant future.

I was walking down the narrow sidewalk leading to the Mars-Ausenblatt Bridge to catch a skycar to fly home one day, when I noticed an elderly man staring out at the flying cars. It was unusual enough to see a sign of age at this point in time, it being July 2, 3761 Earth years, but what really caught my attention was the expression of inconsolable sorrow that had etched itself onto his features.
He noticed my pause and offered me a sad smile and a friendly greeting. I couldn't have been more taken aback by the familiar address, it was almost as if it were a man from Texas in the 21st century! I mumbled a polite response and almost turned away before I reflexively asked "Sir, I apologize if this seems a bit forthright, I must ask. I saw that when you were looking at the sky cars that you seemed so... sad. If you don't mind, could you tell me why?"
He seemed a bit startled and said "Well, son, it's a long story. You sure you've got the time to listen?"
I chose in that moment, on a random decision, to stay and hear the story. There has never been a single moment in my long and illustrious life that I have regretted the night spent listening to the tale of a wandering vagabond.
He started in this way. "My name is Captain Charles McGrath, and I served in the army in the Earth year 2500. I was the first and only test subject to have my life successfully prolonged. There has never been another on which life enhancements worked so well as they have on me.
"Most would think that this prolonged life would be a blessing, but they'd be wrong. I served in the army until I was released about 150 years ago, seeing as my age was finally beginning to show through and there was nothing more they could get from me anyhow."
It was at this point that I asked a question. "Please, Captain, how is such a long life a curse? Surely you had more chance than any other to make yourself a fortune?"
The captain snorted and said, "Kid, if you think it's fun to watch all your friends and family wither away all around you, you must have had one hell of a childhood. I slowly lost everyone. My whole family is died out now, none of my children's children's children's children's children are left. I think though, that the hardest part was losing my wife.
"She had cancer, see. We were 70 years old when she passed. We had been together for 50 years. I've never had another, that's how wonderful Maggie was. I couldn't dishonor her that way. It was right before they found the cure that she passed as well. Not even a year later they found a cure.
"I was still a soldier, and after her death I threw myself into my work. I was an engineer and a mechanic, and extremely efficient and punctual. I was there for the creation of nactalium too. That was, I think, one of my greatest achievements. I saw so many improvements in military and civilian technology, I have to marvel a how far it's come.
"Commercial space travel, the Chinese colonies on Jupiter, the flying cars!"
He told me all about his life for hours, waxing eloquently until the wee hours of the night. I was in awe of this man and his humility despite his fantastic achievements. I shook his hand, mind spinning and when I was about to go, something clicked into place.
"Sir?"
"Yes?
"You never told me why the flying cars make you sad."
His laugh resounded throughout the alleyway. "That!" He said. "That's nothing. It just makes me remember my old car, an old blue Spyker. Coolest car I ever laid eyes on. They were all reduced to scrap when the fliers cornered the market. Boy, I wish you could have seen that car."
I chuckled as I walked to the bridge and summoned a cab. I never forgot that night, and Captain Charles McGrath has served as my inspiration for the majority of my career, and because of him, I have never forgotten my morals, and have strived to be like him more, humble even in triumph.

Author's Note

I hope you liked it. Feel free to leave me some constructive criticism.

Reviews

[Seth Armstrong]

This is a very enjoyable story, and has a good meaning to it. There isn't really anything I can say against it, so great job!

[Lesther Ruiz]

I read the whole story, I like the conversation and the idea of flying cars, I am fairly new at writing myself, but I like reading, I enjoyed reading this one thanks.