The whisper of a breeze easily drowned out by the cheerful chirping of the birds as they called to their companions. Whilst some were singing away in endless repitition of the same tune, others made their mark in a random manner. Punctuating the scene with a boisterous cackle or crow. The occassion slosh as a fish broke the glass still waters of the lake before swishing its whole body back to the depths again, there to await the next insect that took its fancy.
Of the many hours Ericson spent in these woods as a boy, he'd seen others fishing in the lake, although he couldn't swear to ever seeing anyone catch anything. Even when the wind was up or the rain was falling Ericson still loved this diversion. Either before or after his shift he would come here just to walk or to sit and listen. The glowing feeling of the sun on his face as the shadows steadily drew longer. The oddly pleasing sound the gravel made as it crunched and shifted underfoot as he made his was into the forrest.
This place was so special to him. Being a mere ten minutes walk from his home made it so easy to come here for exercise and quiet contemplation. When his days were full of statistical reports or summaries of more subjects than he cared to ever count - when it felt like his entire life would be spent either in front of a computer screen or in one of any endless meetings this was the place he came to. This place grounded him, recharged him and afforded him that which he needed in order to face whatever challenges the next day would bring him.
He felt the birds were trying to get him to stay. The tuneful whistles forming the sentences 'stay with us, always, Stay with us, always, stay with us always' or 'Stay here ! Stay here ! Stay here !' In his head. As tempting as he found the idea he know that in reality it was not an option. He had too many obligations to just walk away and set up home in the woods with the birds and animals. As romantic a notion it sounded, he wasn't entirely certain that anyone had every done it except in old books of fiction.
He watched as two ducks flying in close formation zoomed down the lake, gently decreasing their altitude with every meter, before gracefully slipping into the water and folding their wings away. Such a manoeuver made to look effortless. The ducks certainly appeared pleased with themselves as they shook off their tails and quaked muttedly. Congratulating each other no doubt on another fine landing.
The vibrations of his wristwatch tore him away from the ducks. Reminding him that the time of his escape had now passed and that now he must return to those obligations he had only temporarily avoided. By pressing the screen on his watch the comforting shade of the trees was broken by the piercing artificial light expanding in a straight line that came from the opening door. A straight line that looked so out of place here it jarred. The door open enough for him to walk through, he paused, glancing back at the forest as a squirrel made the best of it and scurried down one tree, accross the path and up another. With a sigh he stepped onto the metal deck beyond the door. Behind him the door closed and the screen indicated that the holographic program had ended.
Ericson brought his watch to his face. The flashing red icon demanding his attention. The tranquility afforded by the holographic theatre seemed suddenly no less distant than the planet the real forest was on.
"Report !"
"There's an incoming message for you sir, from command" He recognised immediately the voice of his ever eager communications technician.
"Very well. I'm on my way". He raced off in the direction of the most efficient route to the bridge.
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