The camera zooms in on the people outside the wall, on their gaunt, dirty, haggard faces. Scared faces. Weeping faces, with tear-streaked cheeks. Laughing faces, eyes full of hope. Shocked faces, mouths hanging open. People start jumping up and down. Clapping. Dancing. Embracing. They start calling out the news, passing the words to others farther down the street, who pass it on to more people farther down the street. And then they dance, until as far as the camera can see, people are dancing in the streets.

I can literally see the news spreading through them, wiping away despair like a physical wave, and I understand what is happening.

For the first time in four years, they have been given hope.

Epilogue

WARNING: FUGITIVE

FORMER GOVERNOR JACOBY SONESCHEN

HAS ESCAPED FROM PRISON

Age: 48

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 150

Hair: Brown with gray temples

Other: Recent bullet wound to chest

Possibly running for Wyoming

Reward: 8 oz honey for any information

leading to his recapture