A Free and Open Nature, volume 5 of Rate of Exchange chronicles the continuing pilgrimage of Felix Fist in his quest for understanding of the world, of others, and of himself. Entries spanning years found in notebooks stacked in what was once a box for shipping Granny Smith apples reveal the challenges he had faced: His struggle to control his addiction to alcohol. His living through close encounters that had compelled him to face himself in his attempt to deal with their demands at the same time he had tried meeting obstacles that had prevented him from achieving the goals he had hoped would fulfill auspicious dreams he had too often deferred.