Flight Of The Anasazi
By David Billiot
Copyright 2026: All rights reserved
Not for distribution
Notice of Authentic Artistic Expression: This novel was entirely created by a human being. No AI was used in the creation process of this book. The text of the finished book was submitted to an AI to see if the AI would be able to guess the twist ending. It could not.
Chapter 1: To The Moon
Boom!
The sound of the rocket being launched was not an unfamiliar sound but it could still startle the local residents. Over in a green field of tall grass near the treeline that was part of the property of a family farm seven boys had been playing and running around trying to catch each other. Suddenly they all stopped to look in the direction of the loud boom only to see that because of the distance the sound had to travel the actual rocket was already up high enough to be seen. The sight of the rocket was familiar enough that once it was recognized the boys went back to playing. All but one that is.
“Clark, come on.” a boy named Mark said.
Clark kept looking up and he smiled. “I’m a go to space one day.”
Mark laughed. “They’re never gon let you in a rocket.”
Clark turned and took a swing at Mark in jest. “They will.”
Mark easily dodged and then patted Clark on the shoulder. “Tag. You’re it.”
Mark ran away and Clark chased after him as the two rejoined the other boys in the game.
Later as the sun was going down Clark’s father honked the horn of that old truck which was manufactured in the days before what the young people called planned obsolescence took over everything. The boys all came up to the dirt and gravel parking area between the front porch of the house, the big red barn, and the road. Clark said goodbye to his friends and then went to wash up before going to the dinner table.
“Did Jack come over today?” Clark’s sister Angie asked him.
“Did you see him?” Clark answered with a tone that suggested he was ready for a fight if his sister turned this into one.
“No, but I was just asking.”
“Jack’s stupid.” Clark said as he dried his hands on the towel.
“He is not.” Angie said.
“Oh, you like him.”
“What!! I do not.”
“You like him. You like him.” Clark started to taunt.
“Shut up.”
“Enough of that.” their mother said. “Get to the table. Your father’s ready to say grace.”
“Mom, Angie’s got a boyfriend without permission.”
“I do not.” Angie defended.
“Get to the table.” their mother repeated.
“At least boys are interested in me. You’re never going to get a girlfriend.”
“Ew. Wouldn’t want one. Gross.”
…
Knock, knock.
The young man stood at the door of the old farm house in a pose that was similar to standing at attention. He was in uniform even though there was no official reason for it that day. The gray uniform of an ensign fit well with perfect crease lines. His commencement had been the day before but it had taken time to drive back to his hometown. The matriarch of the family opened the door and recognized the young man. It had been a few years since she’d seen him but his black hair and dark eyes were unmistakable.
“Mark. How are you?”
“Very good ma’am.”
“You’ve grown up so much. What brings you here?”
“Uh …” Mark started as he let out a deep breath. “I’ll be shipping out. If it’s no trouble, I’d like to pay my respects.”
The woman looked down. “Oh, of course.”
She welcomed Mark into the house and asked him to take a seat.
“Is Mr Wilson around?” Mark asked.
“He’s having problems with that tractor again. Something about the software. Again. I’ll call him in to say hi to you before you go.”
Mark waited as Mrs Wilson made him a cup of coffee. She offered him milk and sugar but Mark took his coffee black. After the pleasantries Mark was shown out to the side of the house and down the hill where the family cemetery was.
“I’ll leave you to it.” the woman said while placing a hand on Mark’s back. Mark turned his head and nodded to her. She walked back to the house and then Mark stepped forward.
“Hey lazy bones. It would be just like you to take a long rest while the rest of us are out here busting it.” Mark said as he went up to the headstone. He took a moment to try to remember all the things he had thought up to say. Just then in that moment his memory was failing him. He choked up for a moment and wiped his eyes.
Mark let the emotion pass and then got back to the task at hand. He knelt down and put a hand on the stone. “Clark, I miss you man.” Mark went into his pocket and got out a small plastic sample bag. Inside was a small white porous rock. “Alright, now you don’t tell nobody I done gave you this. Ok. This here, moon rock. Yep. That’s right. It ought to be in a lab or a museum but I nabbed this one just for you.”
Mark looked around from side to side over his shoulders. Then he took the rock out of the sample bag and placed it down at the base of the stone and pushed it into the soil to hide it.
“There you go. Keep it safe.”
Mark stood back up and stood there without saying anything. He couldn’t tell if he was being foolish or solemn.
“I’ll make sure to … uh … take some pictures when I’m back up there.” Mark said and then let out a laugh. “It’s sort of funny. When doing photography in space the colors don’t actually match up with what you see with the eye. They had me hanging out of a capsule snapping shots of a color card. They don’t know why it won’t match up. I think I know why but you know, I ain’t no scientist or nothing. All I know is my eyes work and their camera, maybe not so much. Least not the same way.”
Mark took a few more moments and then headed back to the house. As he went up to the door it opened just as he was reaching it. Right there in the doorway was Clark’s sister. Angie was wearing cut off blue jean shorts and a top that was too small.
“Hello, Mister man in uniform.” she flirted.
“Angie.” Mark greeted her. “You’re looking well.”
She brought a hand to her blonde hair to move it and then she tilted her head. “You should have called to say you was coming. I’d a dressed up for ya.”
“There’s no call for all that.” Mark said. “But I thank you for the thought.”
“Angie, ask Mark if he wants to stay for dinner.” Mrs Wilson came and commanded her daughter.
“That would be lovely, ma’am, but I’d hate to impose.” Mark answered.
“But, Mark, I was so looking forward to having you for company tonight.” Angie told him as she brought a hand to his sleeve and traced the line of his arm down to his wrist.
Mr Wilson finally came in, his hands cleaner than Mark had ever seen them. There wasn’t a trace of hydrocarbon based lubrication or fuel on him. It turned out that he was on the phone with the IT department of the manufacturer of the tractor all day and still couldn’t get the thing to run. There had been a software update and it bricked the tractor.
“Somebody tell me why they had to put computers in these things to begin with.” he lamented.
Mark went up to Clark’s father and the older man put his troubles to the side and the two men shook hands.
“I’m real proud of you boy.” Mr Wilson said. “When they sending you up?”
“On the first.”
“Hew, that don’t give you much time, now do it?”
“But I’ll be back in six months.”
“Well, if you ever need a bed and a home cooked meal off base you come on by.”
“I appreciate that, sir.”
“Don’t be calling me sir. You’re the military man. I’m just a farmer.”
“I’m an officer and I respect my elders. Especially in your house.”
At that moment Angie came back to the living room and had changed into a dress fit for the summer heat. Mark joined the family around the table and Mr Wilson held his wife’s hand as he said grace. The meal sure did beat chow. Mrs Wilson was a fine cook.
“I think while you’re in town you should go visit Donald.” Mrs Wilson said. “He got remarried if you didn’t know.”
“He posted about it on the internet.” Mark answered.
“Where are you staying tonight?” Angie asked Mark.
“Well, I got a long drive to get back to base. I better head that way.”
“Well, I am just sure that we would all be delighted if you would stay here and head back in the morning.” Angie said.
“Angie!” her mother snapped at her.
“Well, mama, you don’t want him driving in the dark and you just said he should go visit his dad.”
“I don’t mean to impose.” Mark said.
“Well, now, hold on. Angie’s got a point.” Mr Wilson said. “Mark, I know it didn’t end well with you and your foster parents but they took you into their home. That man doesn’t deserve for you to act like he doesn’t exist.”
“Well, it’s a bit too late to call him now. I can try to reach him in the morning if he even wants to see me.”
“I’m sure he does.” Mrs Wilson said. “We know he’s proud of you.”
Mark agreed to spend the night and he was put in a guest room. No one in the house had to say whose room it used to be. The night should have passed peacefully but in the middle of the night Mark was awakened by the sound of a car horn honking loudly and repeatedly.
Mark got up and looked out of the window. He saw Angie go out to the front of the house and talk to whoever was in the car. She started to go back into the house and a man got out of the car to stop her. The two were arguing. Mark told himself that this was none of his business but maybe just in case he would go downstairs and just be available to help just in case. Be out of sight and just be ready. Just in case.
Angie was arguing with Jacob, who hadn’t gone by the nickname Jack for many years at this point. As Mark was on silent guard in the dark Mr and Mrs Wilson came down and turned on the lights.
“Those two at it again?” Mr Wilson asked.
“Has this happened before?” Mark asked.
“Too many times.” Mrs Wilson said.
“Life is short. Jack’s getting too old for this.” Mark said.
“Maybe you should go out and talk to him?” Mrs Wilson suggested.
“Nah, he won’t listen to me.” Mark answered remembering back to middle school when Jack was the older one in a higher grade who told all the rest of them what to do.
“Angie, please.” Mark heard Jacob’s voice say.
“I done told you no.” Angie said.
“After everything we’ve been through.” Jacob pleaded.
“What are they even arguing about?” Mark asked in a whisper. Both of Angie’s parents just shrugged and looked away like they were too exhausted by all this to say it.
