Page 1 (1/1)

Preface

“…and welcoeles!”

The announcer’s voice over the loudspeaker was far too cheerful for the day that Rick Waters was having After several delays across three separate airports he had finally arrived at his destination Instead of having a night to rest before his big presentation, the flight delays had cost hiht’s sleep It was now only a few hours before hiswas scheduled to start and he would be lucky if he et there on time

“Coh the crowd of people around hieles airport was running full blast, the direct sunlight through the large glass s of the terminal made him feel like he was about to combust from the heat

As Rick walked along, he had the sudden feeling of knowing exactly what it was like to be a chicken inside a roasting rack in a grocery store After a half hour of walking and waiting, the crowd finally thinned out enough that he could start running to try and ainst the hard floor and he winced at the blisters he could feel building up on the backs of his feet and his toes

Born in the rural area in southern Virginia, Rick grew up on a far how to care for chickens and tend to crops ca how to read and write By the tih, he had been overcoinia Tech to learn all he could about co in an air-conditioned office for the rest of his life sounded faroutdoors

A few years of partying corades led to a job offer froinally went to work for the fro print cartridges It didn’t take long for Rick’s skills to becoh, and he soon found hih annual proer and more important initiatives

Like the rest of society, car ration of technology in every aspect of life, both through new self-driving technologies and through selling add-ons for older vehicles Governulations that mandated that vehicles be able to “talk” to each other were just a few years out fro law While a universal communication specification had already been decided upon, the details were still being hashed out

Rick wasn’t too keen on the new changes or ently and faithfully for his employer—after all, he who pays the piper calls the tune He worked on the team that developed the co systeer for a systeency services if the vehicle was reported as stolen or was in an accident Many of the developy, but there were more than a few that were neell

Thanks to the location of his erown up in As time passed and he worked his way up the corporate ladder, he began to miss his childhood Reconciliation with his parents cah and he soon found himself with a plot of land on the outskirts of a se of the city where he worked

Rick, along with his hoest of coincidences—and their three children spent every weekend working to rew over a third of their own food, ran half of their household appliances off of solar panels and learned the basics of survival and self-sufficiency skills Though Rick’s job robbed hih Friday, it was restored over the weekend, and every moy at ho Rick had insisted upon He already had to deal with it far too often at work and was disturbed by howon computers to perform even the most basic tasks It was for that reason that he s at home as simple and basic as possible

Rick stopped and sighed as he looked over the vast parking lot where the rental car sales Rick hated pave else, but the presentation he had to give would be the deciding factor in whether or not his co governe promotion—were on the line

“It’s not natural for it to be this hot… at least not at this tied across the parking lot He could feel the sweat pouring down the back of his neck and soaking through his dress shirt He hoped that the car’s air conditioner worked well enough to dry hi

After tenthe alar of a horn and located the se in the back and hopped into the front seat He glanced at his phone as he turned on the car and saw a newfor him

Sorry flights were delayed! :( LMK when u get there?

Rick smiled and typed out a fast reply to his wife

Safe n sound Just got car Will call after