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plenty of developments to talk about in a couple of weeks. With that thought, he gathered his tray and made his way through the maze of empty tables and chairs towards the exit. He placed his tray on the trash bin near the cashier’s station.
    “Have a good day, Mr. Braden,” the clerk said cheerfully.
    Marcus only slightly recognized the clerk but understood that the young man probably recognized him from his show rather than his attendance in the cafeteria, which was rare. He returned a kind response and a wave and strolled briskly to the elevators. On the journey back to his desk, he made no acknowledgment of anyone or anything around him. He remained inside his own head contemplating the same question, over and over.
    Why lead us this far in the same direction when it’s only causing destruction?
     

Chapter Two
    October 2036
     
    The early morning fall air was crisp and cold. Leaves were well into their transformation to yellows and rustic oranges. Will began packing the few items he had brought along. He meticulously rolled his sleeping pad as tightly as he could. He was pressing out any sign of air with one knee while supporting himself with the other against the frosted grass. He then moved on to his sleeping bag and rolled it up in the same manner.
    Will had chosen this particular weekend to be alone. The gloomy news of the state of the country that seemed to be around every corner permeated into his mind and drew him into a somber mood. Will needed the time alone to shake off the mood before interacting with anyone. He threw some of his camping gear into his Jeep and took off into the Sierra Nevada mountains early on a Saturday morning. It was his favorite hideaway. Less than an hour drive from his hometown of Oakhurst, California, Will would park his rusting earth-toned Jeep Cherokee off a lesser traveled dirt road not too far from the well-beaten, paved pathway that led to Yosemite National Park. He would slide the Jeep in between two tall pines he easily recognized and would then drive further in about half of a mile, dodging trees within a few inches of his side mirrors and leave his Jeep out of sight from anyone passing by on the road. From there he would hike a few miles deeper into the woods and up a small mountain. The hike would take several hours to reach his destination. He always made his camp in the same location.
    In previous stays on the mountain, Will had dug and built up a fire pit next to a large fallen pine tree that he could sit on to enjoy the warmth from the fire. In one direction it held a perfect view of the snow-capped peaks of Yosemite in the distance. In the other direction, he could see down into the lower foothills and then, on a clear day, beyond into the valleys of central California. He kept this spot a secret because as soon as he left the dirt road he had never seen anyone else nor a trace that anyone had been there other than himself and he gladly planned on keeping it this way. The alone time out in the rawness of nature reenergized him.
    As Will picked up and swung his pack around his side and onto his back, he turned and looked up at the high peaks. He thought to himself that he would not return again to his hideaway until the following spring. He had other locations he preferred for his wintertime outdoor activities. He continued his pause and scanned over the mountains in the distance, admiring their beauty. He let out a sigh and noticed the moisture from his breath in the air, swirling outwards and fading away. He turned back to his camp and did a quick scan to be sure nothing was left behind and then started his trek down the mountain to return to his Jeep.
    Will enjoyed the journey down just as much as he did hiking up. His eyes would be darting back and forth discovering new mysteries hidden amongst the trees with each adventure he took to his secret location. He would imagine what these woods were like several hundred years back. Maybe even several thousand years