Is it by intention that they have left me behind? Yes this is possible. They have all insulated themselves from me. They will not forgive that on the way down I descended low to watch horses and in that way made a disarray of the perfect "V" of which Maximilian is so proud. And I have been censured for other offences like when I slept during Maximilian's speech about how we fly For the Future of the Species. But I do not despair. I will regain his respect. I will catch up.

April 11, Chattahoochee River, Georgia. I navigated to this place flying alone. That I arrived late was my own doing, having diverted from flight plan to watch horses race. It is clear that the others rested themselves here last night and that they did not wait. So they continue in their anger. C'est la guerre

April 12, Jamaica Bay, Long Island. I departed before dawn and capturing a favorable wind, arrived here at noon. There had been a thunderstorm and the squadron was just leaving. I attempted to join them but the fatigue was unconquerable. Did they really not see me? Did I hear Maximilian give the order to accelerate? These questions disturb my sleep.

April 20, A horse farm, near Ottawa, Ontario. I have been here now for 10 days, when I should be in the Arctic. Why I have remained so long requires explanation.

When I arrived, I found a small group of our species, all strangers. I enquired, not without nervousness, of a hen named Nicole if I could accompany their group north.

"You are most welcome to do so monsieur" she said "but we do not know when we are leaving or the direction we will follow."

This was incroyable. Our species always know where they are going and when. "Madame you do not desire me to be in your group" I said "That I can tolerate. But please. Do not insult my intelligence."

"You make a misunderstanding" said Nicole "We are not a group of geese—we are each of us an individual goose which is why we left our squadrons. We follow no schedule. We make no flight plans"

"But why would one live in a so uncertain a manner?"

"For the liberty" said Nicole "We go where we want. We stay as long as we like. We find this more agreeable than the practice of arriving one night and leaving next morning which is not only tedious but touristy."

"Consider this place. We have been two weeks here and there is no haste to depart. The shelter is good, the food acceptable, the horses congenial and there are sights to be seen. Tomorrow some of us are going to fly over the parliament buildings"

"But what if you arrive late in the Arctic? What of the mating? What about the future of our species?"

"Calm yourself" said Nicole. 'There are many locations in which to nest without returning always to the same old place. For me, I say take care of today and the future will take care of himself. And the species too I am sure."

I was shocked by this irresponsibility and slept poorly that night with dreams of Maximilian in the Arctic expressing a great rage.

I saw that although the sun had long ago raised himself, everyone slept. I contemplated the sky. I contemplated also the horses. Then I fluttered over to the flock. Nicole opened one eye as I settled down beside her. "You will miss your schedule monsieur" she said sleepily.

"Move over" I said. "I'm going to stay a while."