CLEAR SKIES

NanC Ballard

“That's everything. Twocaribou quartered, camp gear, and rifles ready for the air taxi.”

“Look, no con trails.”

“Who cares. Read your book ortake a walk.”

Later:

“Where is our plane?

It's hours late.

This is the day, isn't it?”

“Tuesday, right? September 11?”

[A fifty-word story about the far-reaching inconveniences   one day when theskies overhead cleared of all but military aircraft.]