DISPATCH Eleven

"Oikos" by Adam Moorad. Here is the first paragraph:

Ready to explode, roadside bombs line the highway. The radio says so to Lamb. He touches the volume and thinks about roadside bombs. Feels distantly alarmed and has the urge to explode. He wishes he had a more volcanic personality. He is driving home from work. There is traffic. Lines on the highway. He observes the world in a blur. A cow. A steeple. Every other mile. Another cow. Another steeple. In the sky, an airplane. The radio says something about airplanes. Airplanes have crashed. Will crash. Are crashing. Lamb looks back at the road. An exit ramp. A flag. Telephone wire. Another cow. He wishes buffalo still dominated North America. He thinks this would be good for North America. For the environment, for everything. He closes his eyes. Keeps his foot on the gas pedal, hands on the wheel. Pistons grind under the hood. He wonders what the road looks like in front of him. Will he crash? Will he explode? Are there bombs along the road ahead? He feels paranoid and alone and attempts to envision someone he can recognize. He pictures his older brother, Michael. Michael is riding on the back of a buffalo. The buffalo looks cool and serene. Michael looks happy riding the buffalo. Lamb wants coolness and serenity. Like a buffalo. Opens his eyes: the highway, lines on the highway, an American flag, telephone wire, another cow, and no buffalo.