Missing Man

Memorial Day, 2045

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600

 

     Four jets rocket in from the east trailing red, white and blue smoke as the National Anthem reaches its crescendo.  The crowd sees them: whoops, roars, cheers erupt.  On command the third pilot hauls back on the stick, stands his plane on its tail, engages the stage six afterburners and the F-500 Super Mustang III Go For Broke blasts into the heavens on a pillar of golden fire, punches through the stratosphere, claws free of gravity and flies directly into the Sun.

 

     Capt. Icarus has gone home.