Seeds for Time
Ransom Canyon, Texas, USA (2033)

The Traveler steps through the circle of light and onto a cracked and damaged roadway. Vegetation is creeping across the pavement from both sides, evidence of a road not traveled for some time. He looks down below, deeper into the canyon. The lake bed is dried up and tall yellow grasses fill the space. This area was abandoned by the human population just a few years before. The seasonal heat now last longer and is more severe than the average citizen can withstand.

It was only a few years before this time that the glaciers of Antarctica began to break free from the continent and float away to melt, assisting the sea in its race to rise. The Thwaites, Pine Island and Denman glaciers were some of the earliest assaults that the Earth launched in this last World War, a war of the Earth against the humans. And then the Arctic and Greenland joined in. It proved to be an uneven match.

At this time, many island nations have been abandoned because of the severe flooding, with some islands succumbing in totality to the rising sea. Likewise, the citizens of Ransom Canyon migrated to safer and cooler zones. For zones that still had governance also had electrical power and food resources.

The traveler is pleased to stand in this place that is dear to his heart. This is the first actual collection mission. The technicians ask him to pick the destination, but make it just a few years back, as this is their first attempt. A much larger amount of energy is required for trips to the more distant past. This short and quick effort will have every step analyzed to help plan the following missions. He picked a spot only a few decades back in time.

During his younger life, he had spent much time here. Climbing the cliffs and hills, searching for arrow heads or snake skins, feeling alive and connected to the Earth. He is glad to be here one last time. Besides, in a year from now this entire area will experience complete ecological break down.

During the 1970′s the canyon lake became a project of building and expansion. In a few years, the canyon lake area grew to be an affluent neighborhood with a club house and swimming pool. Beautiful homes were built next to the lake and even on the high cliffs. The area was the envy of all.

During the holiday seasons, many of the citizens of the local hub city would drive out to Ransom Canyon just to see the lights and yard decorations. All the kids observing “trick or treat” brought back loads of candy and fun memories. The lake looked beautiful in the snow with the reflection of Christmas lights on the water.

But all the homes here now have been abandoned. Most left even before the power blackout. The drought has dried out the lake and streams and hopes. The traveler feels the sadness of this place that holds so many memories and much history for him. The canyon has become the habitation of ghost.

He looks away from the dried up lake bed and turns back to the cliffs. He releases the memories and concentrates on the mission. There, just a few feet up the side of the cliff, is the plant that he is searching for. Wild Echinacea, coneflower. An old native myth, an old wives tale, whatever it is, he agrees from his own practice, the plant contains properties that enhance the human immune system.

He begins to collect the dried up flower heads. In less than sixty seconds he fills each container. He looks at his wrist band. One minute left. He moves to the top of the hill, above the jagged cliff. He looks to the east and sees the winding road. It too, is slowly being dominated by the brush and grasses.

He had once fallen in love with someone who lived down that winding road. He was thirteen years old then and believed in magic. But that was long ago, when the world still had promise and hope. Disappointment comes. Life teaches that over and over, but sometimes in life, we get to smile. He remembers smiling here.

The traveler activates the time stream, it is time to return. He looks into the sky and locates the sun. He breathes in the air and his eyes pan over the area one last time. He sighs, grateful that he is privileged to stand here one last time.