-
"You listening to what I'm saying?"
Another angry voice. A voice of concern, disbelief. They were so much drumming on the ears. The weight may become a problem. Need to re-angle the fins. The last clamp became stuck. The new ratio for fuel should be...
"Hey!"
Blink.
He looked up from his inner thoughts and stared at the source of the voice. Another elder of the town here to say their coin's worth. The full attention lasted only for a brief moment as the person said the same thing others before said. Then the eyes became so distant inward. Closing out the static. Have to focus.
The bell rang.
The day was done.
He got out of his seat. Third row, third column, on the right.
Possessions gathered. Home. The real day begins after the bell.
"Hey, it's Rocketeer! Hey Rocket Man, you know that Rockets can't get you to fly! Hahaha, hey man you're going to crash and burn! You still serious about that? Hey, I'm talking-"
There was the meeting with the others. Those who had given up trying to convince him from his path. Rocketeer's team were a reluctant bunch. All of them trying to figure out how his contraption would work. All of them trying to make sure he would survive.
"How was the model?" One of them asked in the cramped house room. Forgotten studies buried under complicated texts.
"It crashed and burned." He replied.
They were disappointed. But it wasn't the first time.
"But at least," he continued, "It got off the ground a few seconds longer."
A cheer. It would be a long night.
-
A lot of time passed. The smaller models were spent. Their time passed. Some people lost faith. Others moved on. Those who still didn't see, continued to express their disbelief. Rocketeer continued his endless pursuit. One wrench turn at a time.
Sigh...
Whenever I need to keep my own faith burning...
I see that horizon. That endless sea in the sky. I see it with my own eyes. Just like that day. That figure in the sky.
I have to fly. No matter how short my flight. This will be my life.
-
Now he worked in silence. Almost as if forgotten. The work is near complete. Some still came to watch him work; as if he were a town attraction. But he never said a word, just measured and hammered and bolted and welded. He worked. As if he were a force of nature.
-
The sun was hot. The skies have been blue with spotted clouds. He could feel it, the energy came with that sensation. He could feel that it was almost time. Wiping away summer sweat, he smiled and adjusted another piece. The grass waved in the warm breeze. He drank some water. It was a good day.
-
A phone call.
"Hey I know it's been a while, but it's time. I need you to bring it."
The friend came later that night and entered the garage. Under his arm was a wrapped package. His eyes gazed at the project.
"You finally finished it." He said. A mix of pride and inspiration in his voice.
"No." Rocketeer replied, "Not quite. It still needs that finishing touch."
The friend smiled and together they unwrapped the package. It was a design the group had originally made. Carefully with smooth strokes, they put it on... the device's name now proudly displayed.
"I never knew what the group wanted to call it." He said.
"We decided to name it after you. It seemed that this became you so it was only fitting."
Rocketeer stood out in black font.
"Now it's ready. The flight is tomorrow. Will you be there?"
"Yes. Of course."
-
The final day came. Though it was short notice the old group came together to see the dream finally realized. Rocketeer was busy with the prep. There was no large crowd. Everyone has their lives to live. This moment wasn't for them.
"Do you think it will work?" One of them asked.
Rocketeer spoke the first time that day.
"It has to work. I have to fly."
The final project was a beast. It took all morning to pull out the ramp components. A long launch ramp went on longer than an air strip. A gentle curve pointed towards the heavens. His skywing shone in the sunlight before the humble home garage. The front was like a bird. Its bullet like front trailing a graceful neck and connecting to a body of wings, even segments like feathers. A chair sat on the back. Then behind the skywing, was the numerous rockets. He just finished connecting and fueling the largest one, the initiator. The compression sling for the ramp was reaching the required pressure.
One of the group nearly forgot.
"Hey Rocketeer!"
He turned.
"Don't forget, eye protection!"
He took the offered visor and put it across his eyes. The moon shone in the day sky from behind a cloud. It shone its light on the figure of the Rocketeer. The clouds broke in silent chorus when he looked towards the sky. The stairways to the heavens - how bright they shine.
Rocketeer took his seat.
"This is my life. No matter how short my flight. I have to fly."
The ramp sling was engaged. Steam compression released in a violent roar, lunging the skywing forward. The starting rocket engaged shaking the ground. Air became thick like a wall, gripping at his face and hair. Smoke and flames from his back. The skywing shot up the ramp and into the sky. The garage and viewers became small. He didn't look back.
In the midst of the day, there was a roar. Like the wings of a goddess a silver stream crossed the sky. In its wake was the streak of cloud and a shower of parts.
-
Every muscle shuddered from the force. The air became like cold knives, clawing at his exposed skin. His jacket felt thin. His breath was hard, but he forced it steady. Slowly his heart beat. Each strong pulse keeping him focused.
Rocketeer's time was measured in pulses.
Pulses and spent rockets.
First primary disengaged cleanly. They should land in an empty district. Weight decreased. Next primaries already engaged will be spent in a few seconds. Break in... 3...2...1... Break.
His hand fought against the increased gravity forces and pulled at the switch. An audible thunk told him that the spent rockets in this phase fell off cleanly. His mind was already counting down the next series. The craft kept getting lighter, but the fuel would have to keep him moving forward.
And up.
He could see the clouds. If he lifted his arm against the straining wind, he could touch a few. Close, but not high enough. He started the fourth series for extra power. Each time something could go wrong. They could refuse to start at the same time, which would have thrown him into a terrible spin. Each time a series started, he could be sent crashing to the ground. Each switch brought him closer.
Rocketeer broke the cloud layer. He could already feel the forces slowing down. The air was much thinner. His breath came off as steam. His body creating its own streams of soft white to add to the trail. The sun's light blazed across the islands of white shooting past. Little blurs of fuzzy stars could be seen, just waking to the twilight of the evening. The moon at his back. Like a hand pushing him forward.
It was time.
"Let's fly."
Spent rocket canisters fell away, but he didn't look at that. Straight ahead. Looking at the distant blue horizon. That sea in the sky which he dreamed. Sea of clouds, ocean in the sky. Looking at the sky above the sky. Seeing again what he saw that day. Seeing what no one else saw, but can now see through him. This other world, his own eyes.
Fly... Fly... Up up here we go.
The flight wouldn't last long. He knew.
Sputter shakesputter.
The final rockets were breaking away from his skywing. The massive trail of power now diminished, leaving only his lonely craft in the cloud dotted sky. He waited. That breath was so long. Air so thin. Another world, space touched with an outstretched hand. Like taking a kiss, eyes closed so briefly. He stood up and embraced it.
On the silver wings he stood.
Tug.
He pulled hard on the control cords. The wires strained.
Pop. Pop.
The last parts finally broke off. The wings extended. With a snap the fabric picked up the wind.
Sudden lift.
He guided the skywing with gentle tugs at the wired handles.
Whistling air with the rise.
Gliding in the ocean of air.
Sailing those cloudy seas.
Up up in the sky.
Rocketeer flies.
"No matter how short my flight. I must fly. This is my life."
 |
Inspirations for this writing - Escaflowne, Cid from FF7, and Rocketeer by Far East Movement feat Ryan Teddar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk1oIrQnBzw Image owned by respective owners. |
Originally created then posted on Facebook 11/3/2010.
