sightings

         Artie filled the gas cans. As the fuel spurted, its fragrance reminded him of Papa telling him never to inhale fumes. The antique glass-walled pump refracted the tall sunlight. Overhead the sky appeared to be a limitless eggshell dome. He wondered what Leah was up to.
          Inside the bar he found the Geist brothers seated at Friedrich's office table discussing the latest UFO sightings. They seemed to know just what the phenomena truly was. Word was that MUFON had dispatched a field investigator. They were getting their stories straight. He was amazed how quickly he had sobered up.
         "Jah, Artie," Tannhauser said. "Sit down. Setzin!"
         "You guys are serious about this stuff?"
         "It is all true," Friedrich affirmed. "People all around here have seen things."
         "What people? You're out in the middle of nowhere."
         "We think it is the Tesla," Tannhauser announced. "Little gray men? Nein!"
         "Well, I have to admit," Artie replied. "That light bulb was pretty amazing. Earth energy. Far  fucking out."
          They all laughed.
          "Vell, vee must roll if vee get back by nightfall," Tannhauser grunted.
          "Yeah," Artie agreed. To Friedrich he said, "Nice meeting you, Sir."
          The Cowboy Kraut grinned, and to Artie it almost seemed that the old man's boots clicked together in salute.



                                                                                  *


           They had driven about a mile when Tannhauser stopped. He climbed out and looked backward toward Friedrich's place. Artie did too. Above the Last Chance were two and then three seed fluffs drifting skyward. It was plain they were not organic, but electical. Faintly visible against the sapphire sky.
            "I'll be damned," Artie said. Astonished.
            "Jah, at night you should see them!"