Flights of Reverie

I often wonder how I became a man,

shouldering unspeakable grief as a boy.

Perhaps I am like my parents after all,

dedicated to a life studying the lost

civilization of Easter Island.

My grandmother in Oxford gave me the

courage to take a new

assignment abroad,

which would shape my

life in ways never foreseen.

In Berlin, I discovered the origin of a

disease that had spread wide and

far from birds to humans with fatal

consequences in the city.

With each death, another grain of guilt

lodged itself in the sands of my

subconscious.

I consoled myself that every fact learned,

no matter how harsh the

lesson was for a reason.

In the most Darwinian of terms, survival

and biological evolution.

And what I found all that time ago was

humanity on the edge of

a precipice, readying

itself to leap off the ledge.

I often think of Esther, the only one who

ever really understood me.

Day 42 in Berlin, not close to solving

why local bird population is dying in

ever increasing numbers. Unusual evidence

of seizures and white eyes.

Labs are closed, have

identified several vantage points for

continued observation.

I'm sorry it wasn't intentional, but in my

defense, you just wandered

into my line of sight.

Really?

So what were you looking at?

Birds.

What about you?

I take it you're not a birder?

No, I'm definitely not one of those.

I'm a land surveyor.

Do you know if there's a way down there?

It's locked.

What do you think?

Is this what you're after?

Yes, it works for my boss.

Housing, shopping mall, business park?

I don't know, I

honestly couldn't tell you.

They're keeping me out of the loop.

Sorry, I need to take this.

Hi, yes, I got the message.

I'm down here at the site now.

Did you get the schematics?

Well, no, for me to do my job properly,

I need to know what's

going to be built here.

Why won't you tell me?

What are you hiding from me?

Dad, I can't work like this anymore.

And the secrecy between you

and mom, it's suffocating.

Does this have anything to

do with people getting sick?

Too early to say.

I've been here for a month trying to find

out why certain birds are dying

in large numbers.

There's nothing to worry about,

yet.

If you wanna stay here, there

are rules you have to follow.

Read it, look.

One, no red meat.

Two, no leather.

Three, no animal by-products.

Four, rise at 6 AM on laundry day.

And five, do not

disclose camp location, okay?

These are the rules.

Think about it. It might not be for you.

I didn't join this group to be a maid.

Aw.

Hush now, child, and do what you're told.

We all have to do the washing here.

Even the men.

Just give it some time.

I think you'll be happy here.

But how much time, Shauna?

How long does it take to

become a spotter like you?

You're such a warrior.

I've always wanted to

go to that part of Spain.

Don't bother, there's not much

left of my family's homeland.

This is home now.

And it's really all because of Indigo.

You know she used to be

my professor at school, but

it was all talk and no action.

This is where the real action is.

Hey, don't worry,

we'll show you the ropes.

Just give it time, she has to trust you.

So, no one told me yet.

Why did you join, Astrid?

Are you kidding?

All of you were on the news.

It was everywhere.

It took four months to plan, and it went

off without any problems.

Wait.

But what about those

employees that were hurt?

It was their choice to

work for a cosmetics company.

They got what they deserved.

And I don't have to feel bad about that.

I don't feel bad about any

of the things that I've done.

I'm a soldier, this

is what I'm here to do.

These hippy tree huggers are the enemies of

my life, and I need a final solution.

My last shipment ended

up in their hands, and

I promise you that's not happening again.

There is somebody I've been keeping an

eye on for a very long time.

Longer than he realizes.

I want you to bring him in.

Give him a haircut,

shave, just clean him up.

You know the drill.

Okay, I go in.

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty.

Only the crazies or

clueless are out here at night.

I'm not sure which one you are, Zed.

Shana, what is going on?

I mean, what is going on?

End of days, end of days!

Listen, it's about

time we have a frank chat.

We've been dancing around this for weeks.

Ever since I left Amsterdam, people have

been pulling me left, right, and center.

We need money, real money, so we can be

taken seriously again.

Now Shana, come on, why would I get

involved with a bunch of eco-terrorists?

No, we're Earth's defenders.

You're extremists.

You see, I want a

realignment, pure and simple.

It's the new world order taking control

and putting the squeeze on all of us.

And I?

I wanna stop it.

Exactly, we do want the same thing!

I've done their bidding.

I know how this game plays out.

I've paid my dues.

It's risky, I know, but

you're a gambling man.

You know the odds.

There's this guy that I've heard about,

and he's making a lot of

money off of innocent animals.

And he needs to be stopped.

Pleasant dreams? Calm down.

Jesus!

What the fuck are you?

What are you doing in my house?

Why don't you just come to the skate park

like everybody else?

I don't like skaters.

Come here, come here.

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.

Now make us proud.

Make us proud.

Maybe we can help you

find what you've lost.

You come from a family of explorers.

Please accept my condolences even though

it's been over 20 years.

I wonder if you possess

the same keen insight?

But let's not get too morose.

Look, we're all friends here.

You might even call me a fan.

I've read all your bird books.

You sadistic prick.

You drew blood.

Indeed I did.