Reality - Ch. 18

As they stagger towards us they blur.  Some of them seem to now seem to be wearing uniforms.

What the-?

Look under our feet.  It's not rock and dirt terrain anymore.  It's flat and somehow marked with lines.  Are we on a road?  Is it a runway?

What?  You're attracting my attention.  You can see the sea.  We can see seawater.  We're not on a road.  We're on a warship.  Look at those people staggering towards us.  They're wearing naval uniforms.

Oh no.  I have this horrible feeling.  Look behind you.  Can you see any military aircraft?  Don't look up.  Not in the sky.  On the platform we're standing on.

Yes?

Okay.  I'm going to turn.  I have this horrible feeling.

That is an American Phantom aircraft.  I know what they are.  I had one as a toy when I was a kid.  And this aircraft is pointing towards us.  We're on an aircraft carrier.

No, it's not about to take off.  It's worst than that.  You see those rockets under the wings? 

Look at that rocket over there.  Move out the way.  Quick.  Move out the way.

That one's just fired by mistake.

IT'S GONE RIGHT PASSED US.  I know what this is.

I'm afraid to turn.

FIRE.

SCREAMS.

FIRE.

Oh God I know what this is.  Remember Vivian Leigh?  We know she died in 1967 and we're in July of that year.  The month when a rocket exploded on an aircraft carrier near Vietnam.  I read about this.  Over 130 officers killed on board.  160 plus were injured.

I don't want to see this.  I don't want to see this.

So much suffering.