Prologue
After days in the air interrupted only by brief stops for refueling, the travelers began the descent to their destination. Entire families spanning generations—young adults, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents—were anxious to arrive at their homeland. Though exhausted and hungry, they were on schedule. As the fliers banked in formation, the sun reflected off white wings. In the blue skies over Los Angeles, they passed high above the film lots of Century City, before making their way up through Hollywood over Paramount Studios with its iconic water tower and entrance gates. Up the hill, past Gower Street, the famous Hollywood sign was partially concealed by the famous Los Angeles smog. As the group continued over Universal City, they saw King Kong and the Jurassic Park dinosaurs giving tourists a thrill ride, then soared over the Santa Monica Mountains, still green from the winter rains. In the distance, the 101 Freeway traffic was moving well; before long, rush hour would bring commuters to a crawl. Moments later, the fliers entered the airspace above the town of Tarzana, California. Catching sight of their destination, all systems were readied for touchdown at the place their ancestors had raised their young for centuries. Each bird bobbed its head forward, arched its breast back and held its wings still and wide to let the winds slow them down before their feet hit the surface of the lake. The white trumpet cranes had returned to Bellstone.
