The Incendiary Man — Bob Frey

There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight

A group of people are on the run from a walking firestorm called the Incendiary Man. The narrator, the leader, in a long monologue, tells an on-the-street newscaster about a harrowing incident in which the man of fire almost caught them. He describes the monster and his destructive power, the group's intense fear of him, and how it may be next to impossible to destroy him. Funny thing is, the newscaster and nobody else seem to be aware of this menace. Is this curious tale an allegory, and, if so, what does it and the Incendiary Man represent? War, Armageddon, an impending pandemic or terrorist attack, personal fears or demons, global warming, or just one more extremist group that has lost touch with reality?