ISO 200 | 70mm | f 4.0 | 1/160 sec

Had a bit of a nightmare this last week.  I dreamt that the end of the world was imminent and all hope for humanity was lost.  Wars, famine, disease, and heavy meteor showers had destroyed much of earth’s population, and the few who remained lived in fear for their lives.  Those with means had constructed rockets or other forms of spacecraft and escaped earth’s destructive atmosphere, leaving those less-fortunate souls behind to perish with the planet.

I, too, had started on the construction of my own ship – my one hope of rescue from the impending apocalypse.  Progress had been slow, and acquiring the proper parts had proved challenging.  Despite it all, I had managed to build the greater-half of the ship within a week, and was now in the process of making some final modifications to the exterior heat-shields.  Working feverishly and with a heightened sense of desperation, I slowly became aware of a low rumbling sound.  Then the ground began to quake ever-so-slightly beneath my feet.  Running quickly to the door, I peered out and beheld a horrendous sight.  Great balls of fire were falling from the dark, ominous sky, casting a reddish hue over the entire landscape in front of me.  I could see in an instant that my final opportunity for escape had come, my time had run out.

Immediately I raced for my ship, and with a little effort managed to squeeze inside the cockpit.  Anxiety had washed over my entire being, and my head was full of questions and concerns.  Would the ship fly?  Were the modifications I had made sufficient to see me through to the end?  Would I survive the harrowing journey through earth’s atmosphere?  With these and so many other unknowns crowding their way into my thoughts, I gripped the yoke with both hands and began the countdown sequence.  Flaming meteors were falling all around me now, and as the seconds passed like hours, I was keenly aware that my destiny lay in the balance of this one glorious moment.  I watched in agonizing suspense as the clock made its slow and methodical countdown – 5…4…3…2…1…