Journey of a Thousand Miles

Previously

…Jacob picked up the journal again. He turned to the last entry, written in a shaky hand. The subject must believe he is escaping. That is the only way to complete the experiment. He must walk the thousand miles, cross every biome, reach the exit. And when he opens the door, he will see the truth. The question is: will he walk back in? Jacob closed the journal. He looked at the hatch above, the ladder leading back to the igloo, the tundra, the journey. He had miles to go. And now he knew what waited at the end. Not freedom. Not home. Just another beginning. He climbed the ladder. The cold hit him again, but he did not shiver. He stepped out of the igloo, faced east, and began to walk.