Derecho Roars

By: Jerry Zak

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

It’s a love story! No... really! But... it’s a love story with BITE! Have you every noticed how many problems we face are “self inflicted?” Perhaps it’s ‘free will,’ inherent in each and every one of us, that may be the culprit. Sprinkle free will with that ‘inquisitiveness gene’ and mankind has an explosive situation on its hands. Somehow we seem to be missing a ‘think before you act’ gene. “Derecho Roars” walks us into one of those ‘self inflicted’ dilemmas. We’ve sent out the invitations without ever knowing who might come to the party. At first we bestow accolades on Shep Ferguson, a young dedicated NASA scientist. Then, in short order, he is singled out to take responsibility, then blame, and ultimately a frantic order to “Do something!” At this point you might wonder just what genius team would have to come to mankind’s rescue. Well, perhaps this excerpt from the story might give you a clue as to what you’re in for. (Lieutenant Hanson sat, motionless, totally spent, watching as the general scanned the report. He looked up at Hanson several times as he returned to different paragraphs in the report to be sure he read them correctly. Hanson heard the general murmur “‘illegal pool hustler?’… ‘a frickin’ ranch hand?’…‘an Uber driver?’…‘a derelict half-crazed hermit?’…‘Derecho?’…What the hell is a goddamn Derecho?... What the hell is any of this?” the general demanded aloud.) This in a nutshell is the adventure I invite you to join me in. Welcome to Shep Ferguson’s world.