In his mind, Inman likened the swirling paths of vulture flight to the coffee grounds seeking pattern in his cup. Anyone could be oracle for the random ways things fall against each other. It was simple enough to tell fortunes if a man dedicated himself to the idea that the future will inevitably be worse than the past and that time is a path leading nowhere but a place of deep and persistent threat. The way Inman saw it, if a thing like Fredericksburg was to be used as a marker of current position, then many years hence, at the rate we're going, we'll be eating one another raw.
Inman reflects on the chaotic flight patterns of vultures, comparing them to the randomness of coffee grounds settling in a cup. He suggests that anyone can interpret these random events as prophetic if they believe that the future is doomed to be worse than the past. His perspective implies a pessimistic outlook where time heads towards an uncertain and threatening destination.
Inman's feelings deepen when he considers the historical significance of events like the Battle of Fredericksburg, suggesting that such markers indicate a bleak trajectory for humanity. He fears that if society continues on its current path, it might eventually lead to a dire situation where people turn against each other for survival.