David Gulbraa

Autumn Flyers David Gulbraa

A season in the life of a high school cross country team. Montana, 1977. Danny Gold is the best young runner in the country-if he doesn't kill himself first. You can't run when you're dead-but Danny is so talented, he just might pull it off. Struck down by a dangerous illness, kicked out of school for attacking a classmate, and tormented by a girlfriend who refuses to watch him race, Danny has one thing he can depend on: his teammates, the Flying Broncs cross country team of Billings Senior High: Paul Prince, a rich kid headed for Harvard who should envy Danny's talent, but honors it instead--Kevin Cramer, an intense financial whiz whose no-nonsense practicality keeps Danny grounded--Bill Oliver, a computer jockey who is sure he can change the world with code--Steve Francis, an artist who paints the way Danny runs--Derek Andrews, a musician who rocks to the cadence of Danny's sprint kick--Wally Wilson, a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who is just happy to be a member of the team--Coach Max Chisholm, an ex-national class marathoner who thinks his team can win a state championship-if Danny Gold makes it to the starting line. And the girlfriend, Diane Nagle, nicknamed "the wicked witch of the west." Will she ever make up her mind how she really feels about Danny, and come to see him race? Get on the bus with Danny and his crew for a journey into the soul of high school sports--and discover what lies at the intersection of running and life.