The Homestretch

  A long journey and a strange destination. As they walk, let us surveil Finn, Matt and Anna and eavesdrop on their conversation: “We’re gonna be there soon” Finn announced, as a low hum blocked out whatever Donny Bee was broadcasting. Having left the bat under the bridge, Anna popped the hat onto Finn’s head and then slipped her arms around Matt’s waist. She then nestled her head against his shoulder and pulled herself tight against him. It added a degree of difficulty to both of their walks, but they would overcome the small weight on their impetus. After drawing a dawdling, seemingly bottomless breath, and then releasing it through her nose, she said, “I want you to know something, Matt.” For three seconds, there was only the crunches of their footfalls and the caw of a real crow. Then, Matt replied, “oh?” “I want you to know that I love you more than I can possibly describe” she sighed. Continuing to speak, she explained, “if something happens to us today, I want you to know that t

  Matt Stonish is the primary protagonist in Hope: A Wayfarers Story . In a tunnel he is using as a means of subterranean  travel he discovers clues that inform him of an artist named Leslie Blackwell who is trapped at top-secret, not so secret Area 53. Matt decides that he must, against all odds, attempt to penetrate 53 and rescue her. Here is some of what Matt knew about the installation, and you dear reader should know this as well: He knew that the vast, underground installation in Warners known to the few as Area 53 was constructed in the shape of a hand. Residents of the area were told during construction that it was a water treatment facility, and being good sheep with short attention spans they did not question it, because TV news and local politicians would not lie, right? Politics and TV news were no longer local, but the narrative remained unchanged. In truth Area 53 was a multidimensional government facility similar to its predecessors 51 and 52. Unlike 51 and 52, it served