There were no countries anymore. Just enclaves of people living in bubbles of protected atmosphere. Lives were lived within. There was no travel from one to the other. Communication and connection between the spheres was had only via the World Wide Web, the holy grail of man’s ingenuity and his last best decision -- the hurried final launch of more satellites. The only green left, the only clean water, the only fresh air were in these protected places. Adaptation, acceptance, and teamwork, “the greater good” was the only way any of these domed regions survived. The buying and selling, promises of quick fixes, even the rule of the gun eventually led to the demise of glassed-in communities who chose to go on as they had before the great translation.1
It took fifty years for the survivors living in these micro-societies that outlasted the differing forms of anarchy to adapt, but they did. They played by new rules. They made the hard decisions. Now several hundred years have passed and these were a new people, they were legacy. These preserved small patches of planet became the places were people learned to live, where they played, where they married, where they bore the next generation. There was no 100 years for a man to get it right. There was no more room for mistakes. The need was simply to outlive the damage that had been done. To keep the generations moving forward until the earth’s injuries were healed and she flourished again. 2
Because resources were limited and regeneration long, laws of governance had been made regarding every human activity; its benefit or harm to the planet was the first consideration, other living things were secondary. This included the human being. Birthing of gene-worthy generations was the "prime directive." 3
The number of a man was made to be forty-five years. There was no turning gray, no retirement age. Every family was touched by this chosen phenomenon. There were no exceptions. 4
Raymond Turner turned forty-five years of age today. He’d lived a good life. He’d made his contribution to the future and now it was his time to make room for another to do the same. There were no objections, no tears, just acceptance of what must be. Every family member, every friend came to share his going forth into the void. 5
Housed within each domed community was the revivification pool. It was the wellspring of life, the great recycler. It was where life fed life. Raymond Turner took one last look at those he was leaving behind. He breathed in deep and sighed. He turned and walked to the water's edge. The celebrations started as he fell into the pool.6
"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." — Gaylord Nelson...7
"The superior man seeks what is right; the inferior one, what is profitable." — Confucius8
Author notes
Prompt: The celebrations started as he fell into the pool.
Comments
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An interesting philosophical point!
I remember being in biology 101 in 1972 when our professor walked in the classroom, "Good morning class, the world population has just reached 4 billion."
A couple of years ago I heard on the radio the the world population was approaching 6 billion.
For many years of our existence there were only a few million people on the planet.
So a 50% increase in the population in just what, 30 some years?
Another 50% increase will not take 30 years and then we will be at 9 billion people. Already the polar icecaps are melting.
Self interest is programed into us through evolution for obvious reasons.
More people competing for limited resources? Do we expect peace with our self interest and increased need for limited resources? I think not. We are still working hard to increase our already extended life span.
My mother (94 years old) is unable to care for herself. She has many doctors appointments and after an operation for a broken hip is no longer able to walk. Her possessions are limited to what can fit into a small space in a nursing home. She unable to remember things well. Thus her quality of life is much reduced.
One could well ask if her continued existence is really a good thing.
I was raised a Baptist though educated in science, I still believe in a life of some sort after our brief stay here on earth. I think in my case I'd just as so go when my time comes.
To this end I have made a living will not to use extreme measures to save my life.
Well as to your story: it illustrates what life could be like in the future. A fine write.
I would rewrite this essay and use dialog to pull people into the story. Showing rather than telling.
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Thanks Bob
Actually this was totally unexpected. I was very surprised at what I wrote from the prompt. As to philosophical points, I dunno there is only so much geography available somethings got to give. Modern medicine both thrills and scares me. I have advance directives. My family is very aware of my wishes, though they did take exception to my wish to go to the body farm -- guess we can't have it all LOL.
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I've heard of Logan's Run but have never seen it. I like this story and thought it was original in itself--not as a thing written as soemthing else, or in like of...the quality of magic is thaere that makes it a believeable story and a good read.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Thank You Marta-First Mate
I meant to look the Logan's Run up on the net today. Actually had more of a soilent green thing in my mind when I wrote this. Thanks for reading.
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You have created a fascinating and very believable world. It is a very well-written piece, well narrated, and perfectly executed. The storyline is a little familiar (think Logan's Run?), but I'll let that go since it was a good read.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 3, ending: 5, dialog: 4, characters: 4.
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Thank You
Thank you for the read. I appreciate the comment. As to "Logan's Run" I do not know of it. But there are no new ideas just restatements in this case of the the -- too little too late -- redressed in different costume. -
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Logan's Run is a 1960s sci-fi classic & to me your story is a throwback to the ideology of the film.
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