Sheriff Willis Sparks surveyed the crash site, shaking his head in awe. Debris from the aircraft littered a small radius of the snow-covered field just north of Hobnar County’s landfill. The right wing sheared off during impact when the plane plunged to the ground, landing on its side.
“You are one lucky son-of-a-gun,” Willis remarked to the muscular blond pilot shivering on the gurney. Though the ambulance attendants covered the man who had been pulled from the plane naked, he continued to quake, chilled.
The disoriented pilot failed to respond as he felt himself being loaded into the back of the emergency vehicle.
Willis stepped away, hearing the sounds of snow crushing underneath his warm winter boots as the doors of the ambulance slammed shut. He walked back to the aircraft which was surrounded by speculating volunteer fire fighters; first responders dispatched to the scene.
Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Daniel Morganson acknowledged the sheriff. “Heck of a way to spend our afternoon, eh Willis?”
Willis nodded, moving closer to examine the crumpled metal and fiberglass. He crouched, peering inside the cockpit.
“Amazing this wasn’t worse.”
“Looks like the snow softened the impact.”
“Right.” Daniel stood near the sheriff, inhaling a deep breath of frosty air into his lungs.
“Nobody knows the identity of the pilot?”
Daniel shook his head. “Mystery to all of us. When we spoke to him, he was confused. I’m sure it’s the crash.”
“Why was he flying naked?” Willis queried, though he knew better than to expect an answer from the firefighter. “Especially in this cold. Doesn’t make sense.”
Scratching his head, Daniel muttered, “I don’t know.”
“Is he an exhibitionist? Is he mentally ill? Who is this man?”
Except for the markings on the exterior of the crop dusting plane, no identifying information could be found. And the pilot carried no wallet or personal documentation.
“We did find a picture, but it’s not of the pilot,” Daniel informed, signaling to a member of his department to bring it over.
Accepting the 8”x 10” glossy photo, Willis scrutinized the image in his hand. It was a picture of a military uniformed man. A familiar man. “What the hell.”
“You know him?” Daniel asked, surprised.
Nodding, Willis replied, “Yes. And so do you.”
Snatching the photo back from the sheriff, Daniel took another look.
“I’d say this picture was taken about twenty years ago.”
“It can’t be,” Daniel suddenly said, slowly recognizing familiar eyes and facial features.
“It is,” Willis assured. “It’s Luther.”
© 2006 by author. All rights reserved.
