Trash Rising Part 1

Trash Rising
A story by Scott W. Taylor

Harold Zarkmann appeared at the head of the multitudes that had come to enjoy the famous Zarkmann Expo.  Millions of people, fellow supporters had turned up to listen to Harold speak about the environment and what he intended to do about the escalating problem.

‘Children of the Earth’ he announced as he stood behind the podium, ‘They say that there is eight million tons of plastic waste dumped in our oceans every year. Did you know that? That’s eight million metric tons a year! They have stated that by the year 2050, there will already be more refuse than fish and marine life in our oceans. Now, we all know that this has to stop. We are going to have to change our improvident ways. But we are all comfortable living a lie, aren’t we?  We are all guilty. We buy our processed goods from the supermarket. The plastic waste either gets thrown on the ground of our public parks, and recreational areas, and streets, or it is sent to landfills—same problem. I know from experience how wasteful we are. Like a favourite author once said, “Those who are wasteful   cannot   be   free.”  

Are we as a people  free? Hardly! Hence we live a lie. We squander our resources. We fritter away our very lives in the pursuit of consumer benefits, but are we truly free? Are we truly happy?’

Harold suddenly held up his hands.

‘No, no you don’t have to answer that question now. Just wait another 44 years and then answer that question. I think by then your children will be less willing to forgive our actions than Mother Nature at that point.

‘But I feel I have a responsibility, not just to the planet, but to our children. It is my hope that future generations will not look back upon their parents and think—what a bunch of extravagant, blind and uncompromising wastrels!’

Pressing a button on his remote control, Harold directed everyone’s attentions to the massive multi screen TV behind him.   

The images started to emerge on the feed, showing a vast rain forest.

“What you are seeing is a previously uncharted expanse of rain forest of the Amazon. Using satellite technology Zarkmann enterprises has discovered ruins, leading to an ancient culture that died out centuries before Christ. They were called The Raetek. It is written that these people possessed technologies far more advanced than our own, and had discovered how to use clean and efficient means to preserving their lifestyle, as well as their environment. With my financial backing I believe we could unearth enough knowledge to do the same, and to learn how to master our very environment without it being a detriment to said environment.   

‘Even as I speak there is a team of scientists combing the ruins of Raetek. We have already uncovered many artefacts that will one day aid our search for a cleaner means of living…

In the heart of the rain forest the team of scientist looked upon the vast and ancient structure that had stood for thousands of years, untouched by man.

‘This place still gives me the creeps’ stated Jay “wheels” Malloy, the fast talking member of the team, who was in charge of supplies.

‘It is magnificent’ retorted the team’s leader, Cinderella. ‘The problem with you, Malloy, you have no splendour in your soul.’

‘Come on you two’ ordered Jonathon Trash, the commander of the unit assigned to the team of scientists. ‘Knock it off; we have a job to do.’

The commander turned to Bob and Goon, the two brawny soldiers in his unit.

‘Bob, Goon, you two come with us. We are going to be entering the city’s treasury today, so keep your wits about you. There may be dangerous booby traps.’

‘I hope not’ uttered Danny Mult, the team’s leading linguist and historian. ‘I remember what happened the last time we enter a place like this…’ 

Entering, the team found themselves in a place of aged dwellings, and corridors that spanned for miles beneath the temple. Lit torches hung from sconces on the stone walls, and large webs hung from the low ceilings, caressing their faces as they travelled deeper into the structure.

‘We’ll soon be at the treasury’ Cinderella spoke to the others.

Soon enough, they were in a large space, a vast strong room full of treasures, not just gold and silver, but devices, and ancient tech that would provide them eventually with the means to change the world forever.

‘Try not to touch anything’ Cinderella ordered the others. ‘Today we are here only to catalogue what you see and report it back to camp.’

The entire team began to busy themselves. Bob and Goon just ambled about the room, scratching their heads. Then something caught Bob's interest: two golden sceptres or posts stood parallel, side by side. Upon the apex of the sceptres sat two snake heads with emerald gems for eyes.  

‘Maybe if we touched one of them…’ said Bob with excitement and dumb curiosity.

‘Yeah let’s!’ the other soldier exclaimed. ‘Maybe something will happen!’

Something did happen. The moment Bob placed his hand on the cobra sculpture the emerald eyes began to glow with a hideous green light. Before they realised what had happened, Bob, Goon, and the rest of the archaeological team had been mystically transported to another room.

‘Where are we?’ spoke Goon with a panicky shout.

‘You idiots!’ exclaimed Jonathan Trash, their commander.

‘I thought I told everyone not to touch anything!’ scolded the team leader.

‘Hey, you guys…come take a look at this’ Dirk Gumbo expressed with a certain measure of disbelief.

The other team members went to see what it was Dirk had found.

Upon the ancient wall was carved a message.

‘Any idea what it says?’ asked Cinderella. 

‘I can read some of it’ the chief linguist answered with a slight hesitation.

‘You have crossed the threshold, the mouth of…the portal to…the dimension of hell. He who speaks of…the end of times shall know changes…this hell on earth forever…This, which you have entered, is the world of Acheron?’

‘Acheron?’ uttered the commander. ‘I don’t know a lot about this sort of stuff…but that means hell, right?’

‘According to legend…? Yes’ confirmed Cinderella with a worried look on her face.

‘Alright’ the commander gestured to the twin sceptres. ‘Let’s find a way back.’

                     

                      To Be Continued....