I put on my hunting gear.



I have fond recollections of hunting in the past: Journey '08 and Architect '09.

I stand tall on the hill, with my bicycle and red armband, as the large crowd turns to look in horror at the three of us "official" chasers that start with bicycles.



Only a small handful of blues who are friends, know that my left knee is blown out. (Look how they smile so nicely at me before the game... not afraid at all, alas.)



My goal is to add to the threatening ambiance and to exhaust the herd... not to actually catch them.

A small group of blues try to break off early, but the larger crowd boos them until they wander back. After a few final announcements they are released to run. I watch hundreds of participants pour out of the park in all possible directions. The air is sharp with spring chill and the sun is low in the sky.

My first duty is to assist at Checkpoint 1B, which is just 100 yards from this prior Stripping task and a few blocks from my apartment.



I ride my bike at a very slow pace, periodically whistling at or calling out to blues, which mostly run from the sight of me. There is something very satisfying and somewhat disturbing about having large groups of relative strangers running in fear from me. It reminds me of the five beautiful, wonderful seasons I worked at a wicked haunted house many years ago.

As I make my way to 1B, meandering the streets and alleyways, I happen upon a herd of about 12-14 blues. They begin running, but it's a long block and I call out to them: "Come here my Pretties!" and "Aww, looks how delicious you all are!" One blue speaks up from amongst them, spouting out dreaded logic...

"We can't outrun her bike, but she's over on the street and won't possibly be able to get us all, or even anyone, if she has to get off her bike," he calls out.

Ack! Lucky for me, half the group is in partial-panic and doesn't listen to him, so I follow alongside them until they hit a street corner and I can rush them on the sidewalk. Feels good to exhaust them early for future chasers.

I am almost to the checkpoint when a small group of four blues begins running from me along a busy street. Three dart around a corner, but the fourth is doubled-over breathing heavily. I ride up next to him.

"You aren't to the first checkpoint yet. I wasn't planning on chasing you. Would you like to continue on for a while with your friends or shall I tag you now?" I can't understand his wishes through his gasping for air.

"Catch me." he finally gets out. I oblige him and honorably take his blue ribbon, wishing him well.



I arrive at Checkpoint 1B. Excited players, pumped up about making it to a checkpoint, surround us volunteers. The blues must write "something you want to do before you die" wishes onto stickers before I sign off their maps and send them on to their destinies. There are so many people that keep arriving, staggering numbers at times. After an hour or so, a volunteer starts singing a 10-stanza Star Trek song that seemingly never ends and we shut down the checkpoint.

Whisking home for something a bit warmer, I change into my next outfit for the dark of night.



My next duty is to see how things are progressing at Checkpoint 4. I ride up there, interrupting a group of 8-10 blues that were lazily sauntering up the street, by quickly and quietly gliding up on my bike and jumping off with a yell. They scatter to the winds, sprinting, leaping, and perhaps even squealing a bit. It's good to keep the herds on their toes.

I arrive at Checkpoint 4 to discover that the place is already swarming with players who have been turned Red... they are scouring the streets for blues. I pass on a little intel.

Deciding to meet up with Monk and Julian, I ride up to Checkpoint 5.



I take my time and chase or taunt any blues I see along the way. Arriving at 5, I am mildly taunted by two large groups of blues standing in a safe-zone. I grin at them and move along to meet up with my comrades. For the next hour or so, I ride around the area between Checkpoints 5 and 6.

Blues run from me. They duck into alleyways and hide behind dumpsters. They dart into building courtyards amidst the bushes. They sprint to corners and hide in doorways. They climb fences and leap curbs and crawl in brambles to avoid detection. They freeze in place and stare intently at me to see if I've noticed the movement. I ride by them, smiling, pleased at how creative they have become in avoiding getting caught by this stage in the game.

There are two very enthusiastic former-blues who have fully embraced their chaser roles. They hunger for all intel on where blues are and proudly proclaim how many they have caught. She's gotten 5, he's gotten 3. A group that is mostly turned red sees me and one of them runs up to me, bowing, offering me his blue ribbon as a sign of respect. I humbly accept. They are done for the night and heading home after a fun night of running.



I arrive at Checkpoint 6. Some of my friends are already here. Some arrive later. There are blues and there are reds. There are participants and there are volunteers. There is food and drink and laughter and storytelling.




It is another amazing Journey to the End of the Night: Chicago.

Thank you to the organizers, especially Beetle Bomb. You are all amazing. THE END

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