Part Two

Reflections

Chapter Five

The Hindenburg exploded above him in a massive bellow of flames and hot air that shook the ground and cracked his teeth together. Like the fist of god, the ship descended towards him, filling his vision and driving a spike of terror into his heart.

Like his fellow reporters, Tyler Hall cringed at the sight of the fireball and descending zeppelin.

Vintage figures ran from him, their fear plain to see. A sailor ran directly at Tyler, tricks of holography, leaving shadow gaps in the image. The sailor passed through Tyler, hell bent for safety, the small reporter reacting to the expected impact before he caught himself.

Stolen novel; please report.

Around the Lakehurst airfield, tens of thousands of voices rose in amazement as flames raced through the Hindenburg. Their cry seemed to equal then drown out the recording of the catastrophe. The Retrograde artisans had outdone themselves in this display. Massive speakers piped the sound of the actual event. Huge fans and heaters ducted hot air onto the field.

Herb Morrison’s voice was heard over the roar, a plaintive voice that brought the event to life for the audience.

The zeppelin’s stern impacted, crumpling section by section towards the reporter as four vague figures darted from the stern and phantom dust rose from the earth to cloud the reporters from view. Tyler stifled the urge to run as the Hindenburg collapsed on the reporters, a conflagration that suddenly had no true interior. Tyler stared at the hollow bowls of flames, his glasses reflecting the wild dance of light.

It was an incredible sight.

The roar of the spectators crested in a long gasp. The image of the coliseum in Rome came to Tyler’s mind.

“Ladies and Gentlemen; the next showing of the Hindenburg disaster will be at four o’clock...”