The End of the Line

The air was still and the morning was silent. I could hear a single bird in a tree somewhere beside the mall. There was a slight mist in the air, and I felt as if the impending sunrise would be a show designed specifically for me as the lonely, leafless trees cast a silhouette against the purple sky. I could barely see my breath through the darkness, and wondered if so tranquil a morning had ever existed in the center of this desolate suitcase metropolis. I couldn't know. It was a foreign place, having just relocated, and I was just beginning to acquire a taste for my new frame of reference.

Somehow, in those days, the natural beauty and predictability of a sunrise helped soothe the perpetual anxiety of daily life. Perhaps it was the welcome evidence that policy had not yet abated the rotation of the earth, or blocked out the sun. I slowed to a contemplative walk as I followed along side the marble surfaces, pondering the best vantage point. I wanted to bask at the fringe of the great expanse to pretend, for just a moment, that it was mine. I wanted to imagine the first light of day broke over my kingdom...the one I had conquered...that I could claim as my own. At this sleepy hour my imagination could do wonders before the sparse, open landscape, and for that point in time, the most delightful point in the day, one tiny insignificant soul could stand on top of the world and virtually taste the limitless possibilities.

However, on this morning, the extraordinary would not require imagination.

From behind a building I emerged to the edge of the urban prairie as the quiet suggested an elevated degree of desolation. But, as I moved into the open space I suddenly found myself standing in a place I had never been. Everything was new, even though I always took the exact same path. It was as if I was a child in a grocery store, suddenly realizing the skirt of the woman walking next to me was not my mother's. I paused and looked around...

Without a moon there was little resolution, but enough to verify something very unusual in front, and all around me. Where an endless plain of grass should have been sat a rugged landscape, like moguls as far as could be seen through the dark haze. I became instantly paralyzed, and squinted to identify the outlines of familiar monuments among the multitude of these foreign curiosities. They were there, and only by those white shapes could I detect my general location in this alternate world I had stumbled upon.

By now the light was invading the dawn with increased velocity, and I could see that each mound was unique, with its own shape and size. As I grew near, what began to materialize was disturbing and surreal. They were people. In front of my feet I observed a tall young man in jeans and a black suit coat. His knees and forehead were pressed against the ground, and his hands were open upon the grass in front of him. He was as still as a statue.

They were all as still as statues.

They were dressed in various styles and colors of clothing, some with backpacks, some with hats. Some wore expensive suits with ties, black polished shoes, a briefcase beside them. Others had cameras around their necks. They could have been average folks taken from the streets...maybe they were. There was such an explosion of diversity in every way, with one exception...they were all motionless, bowing on the ground, and faced in exactly the same direction.

What was this? Was it a vigil? Was it a seance of some kind? My breathing was deliberate and my hands began to tremble.

There was subtle motion. They were alive, and conscious, their bodies shifting slightly to maintain a measure of comfort against what must have been a very cold surface. I could hear the leaves shuffle under my feet as I walked beside them. A chill rushed up my spine and I shuddered as I noticed the diagonals between perfectly spaced rows, like the white stones across the river in Arlington.

"What was I missing," I thought? Why had I not been invited to this event, and why was I not taking part? I felt a sense of urgency, as if I was either imposing or acting inappropriately somehow. I noticed a few discreet eyes wander in my direction. I could not tell whether they were afraid...disobedient in looking at me, or whether they disapproved of my presence. I dared not ask, as each seemed deep in either concentration or a trance of some kind. They were very serious. I walked along, mystified and curious.

Other strange shapes began to materialize along the fringe where I was walking. I noticed abandoned machinery. I passed a jackhammer, a forklift, a truck, and all sorts of other implements, all strewn along the perimeter. It looked as if they had been dropped in a haphazard, hurried fashion. I walked by a bulldozer and noticed the door was still open and the keys were still in the ignition. Whatever their cause, I decided it must be very important. Why would anyone abandon their valuable tools like that? What was so dire that all work needed to be instantly suspended?

My inclination was to discover their purpose, and, if sensible, to join them. I wanted to know what they knew...what reason for this behavior at such an awkward time. After all, I figured no congregation of so many could be joined together without some cause.

I looked up and noticed the sun had peaked over the horizon behind them, burning the mist away. It was beautiful, and began casting long shadows toward the front of the crowd. As the visibility improved I noticed there were many more of them than I could have possibly imagined. There were tens if not hundreds of thousands of them. I turned to look in the direction they were facing.

The scene grew more coherent as I saw the figure in front of them. They all appeared to be bowing to a well-dressed gentleman who was standing high upon the steps in front of them. He was basking in the first rays of light. Apparently, he had positioned himself so that he was illuminated, as if by a spotlight, between the shadows from the distant structures. It was a breathtaking sight, and he did look very impressive, yet also casual and approachable. He seemed to be writing something on his podium. I decided to walk over to him.

As my foot pressed against the first step his head rose from the paper in front of him, and he smiled. He watched me ascend the steps with an inviting, cheerful look, as if he had been expecting me.

I spoke first.

"Hi there. Beautiful morning, isn't it?"

"I'll say so. Spectacular. So, what can I do for you?"

"Well, I just wanted to know what everyone is doing out here so early. Why have all these folks decided to bow down on the ground? I don't understand."

"Have they?" He looked out to the crowd. "Oh, yes, I suppose they have."

"They seem to be praying or worshiping, or something."

"It does appear that way, doesn't it? Well, I would not want to interfere. After all, every citizen is entitled to worship however they please in this country."

"I wonder why they are here, on the lawn?"

"Well, it's hope, I guess. Faith, maybe. Hope is the dream of a soul awake, my friend. You know, if you never give up, and follow your dreams, anything is possible."

"Yes, I agree. But, well, they seem to be placing their hope and faith in you, sir."

"Yes, I see that. And, well, since they are depending on me, I do not intend to let them down. I am hopeful myself, you see, that we can withstand any crisis so long as we stick together."

"I see. So, are you saying you are also hopeful. But, you seem to be placing all of your faith in them."

"And I am counting on you as well, my friend. Look, times are tough, and we have to get everybody moving again. Let's start with you. Are you an executive or businessman of some kind?"

"No, I'm a statistician."

"Well, then, you are nonetheless vital to our economic recovery. Please move to the end of the line, and you will receive your share of the money in due course."

"Share of the money? I'm not asking for a handout or anything. I just want to see what's going on here."

"Well, business owners and investors who have taken risks, like the ones bowing in front of us, have lost a lot of money. So, they are in line to collect some money from me so they can get back to work. If you want some, I have to ask you to move to the back of the line just like the other normal folks. I'm sorry, but all non-executives will need to wait their turn. And no, as you approach these steps, I will not require you to bow on the ground. Now, please excuse me, I have a lot of money to give away."

"Okay. I guess I don't really understand, but thanks for your time."

I turned and walked down the stairs. Indeed, I was no one deserving of special privileges or anything...just a guy who crunches numbers. I started strolling to the back of the line. I could see that it stretched far off into the distance.

By now the sunrise was gorgeous, and I couldn't help but smile as I walked along side the thousands of rows of backs and arms. As I continued, the individuals in line seemed less serious. About a half-mile back most people were just sitting rather than bowing on the ground. At the very back no one was on the ground at all. Most of them were just standing and complaining. Some were even holding signs and protesting. They just seemed to be disappointed to be at the back of the line.

I asked a guy..."What are you guys waiting for?"

"Money, man. He's got it all up there at the front, and he's giving it away."

"Where did he get all the money?"

"Everyone back here says he got it from us."

"Why did you guys give it to him just to wait here to get it back?"

"I don't know. I just did what I was told, and now he's the one who's got it all somehow. Can't get it anywhere else these days, so here I am, at the back of the line. I don't know what else to do."

I nodded and started to walk off and he yelled...

"Well, don't get out of line now, it will be twice as long by the time you get back."

"No, I can't today. I'm already late for work."

Astonished with the morning's events, I hastily finished my run and walked upstairs to my apartment. All of this was so shocking and unexpected that I didn't know what to think. But, there would be time for contemplation later. I had a very busy day in front of me, and I needed to get to the office.

I got in my car and began my commute. I was surprised to find that my radio was broken. All I got was static. Also, the roads were empty. There was no traffic. A strange silence seemed to pervade everything around me.

I pulled into my building, and the parking lot was empty. No one was there. I walked into the office to startling silence. Not a phone was ringing.

I looked out of my office window, which was also high above the street. To my amazement, the line had now stretched miles into the suburbs!

Had I missed the memo? For a moment I regretted not stepping in line earlier. I didn't know whether I should run as quickly as possible to the end of the line or let it continue for another ten miles. It was growing very quickly now.

I looked at my desk.

The work was urgent, but I was completely distracted by the terrifying circumstances. I realized my phone was out of batteries and plugged it into the charger.

21 voice mails...46 text messages...

(cont...)