Deep Seas War 2.1

2.

The Surface

The Ministry of Food and Natural Growth was located inside a tropical garden grown in a glass house covering over a hundred acres. It was an unusual structure for outside of that glass enclosure was the natural surroundings of thick smog and varying temperatures, although the structure was build outside the city boundaries. Anyone would have stated that the glass panels for the structure were an invitation to intruders or pranksters but no one dared to intrude there. It was guarded by a company of guards with the armoured vehicles to ensure the growths there have their peace of mind to survive in solitude.

The amount of food was near to starvation level then, when the world’s population exceeded its supply. It was not the fault of the growers or breeders, but the land was just not assisting in the process of growth. The soil of the lands was getting rancid with the previous impregnation of fast growth additives. It had mutated the soil to reject new growths or manifested into toxic produce.  That good produce lands slowly and eventually dwindled into pockets of these places. While the growing soils were getting smaller, the land creatures themselves have also evolved into carnivores and devoured the others in the name of survivals. The creatures have more than evolved but digressed into their previous moulds. The predators became larger while the surviving breeds also evolved to become more resilient to their predators. Man was the culprit but they also turned to be saviours albeit it was a last resort move. They tried to reclaim the lands by nurturing the soil but it was a tedious work. More so when on the land were predators of their own and also of the others. It was compounded by the hungers of the mass. It was once remarked that the poison of one was the meat for the other. Man embarked on hunting expeditions to seek more food for the mass. They rounded up the living creatures and penned them into corrals to breed and to slaughter for food. With the new supply mode, the perpetrators soon displayed their greed to outdo the other. Hence the war started for the hunts and breeding

“It’s a senseless war.” Lord Henry raised his point to the assembled at the Great Hall of the Ministry of Food and Natural Growth. It was a grand hall with the decorated ceiling that was garish with the drawings of organic growths and some living docile creatures. Lord Henry sniggered when he saw the drawing included a stallion with an obvious marker protruding. Obviously the artist had a unique sense of humour. The gathered in the hall was seated on both sides with the high back chairs situated on four elevated rows of platform. Each side of the seats could seat a hundred persons and both sides were filled to the last seat. The gathered there on the right includes the large corporations that funded the hunting and breeding expeditions. The Ministry was hospitable to have two long tables laid out on that side with the lavish spread of food including the fresh growths. The offered food of the Ministry would alleviate anyone of their hunger pangs after all these discussions do dragged long into the wee hours of the next dawn. Sadly none of the gathered there took notice of the food but they consumed what they had brought with them in their personal valise. It was not that the food was not appetizing but each plate was viewed with contempt for fear of being poisoned.

“Irony for us that we are fighting a war over the produce of food when ….” Lord Henry’s voice was drowned out by the producers and breeders with their fists banging and their feet in resonance to protest on the word ‘war’ imposed for the current conflict. He decided then to move from the podium back to the left side of the hall where the other group of the gathered there. They were not of the other side but they were the mass elected representatives to voice out the concerns of the mass. Ironically they do attend but for the lavish food served there although theirs was on separate tables with the equal offered delicacies. Poison was not considered for the gathered there had massacre the feast to its crumbs.  

“Jolly bad turnout, huh?” Lord Henry looked to the one who had whispered to him. It was Lord Ian Stuart, a jolly turbulent figure with a penchant for the three piece suit although his preferred design of crimson red was to hide the scant leftovers on his crude gobbling.

“No, the turnout is good. It was just the listening crowd that was deplorable.” Lord Henry replied with sarcasm. He looked hard into Lord Ian.

“Could I place my trust with you?” Lord Henry whispered to the other. He did not await the reply and continued on.

“Do you think we should seek new pasture for our food source?” Sir Henry was all excited of it. “I am talking of the open seas.”

“Don’t be daft, Henry.” Ian hit back. “The open sea is a dangerous place. I be darned even with the hills yonder our hunters are already quivering in their knees and yet you want to tempt the open seas with the depths unknown.”

“Could you not settle for the beaches and the jetties?” Lord Ian was commenting on the then fishing practice then. “We have enough casualties there with those …what they call them….sharks taking bites off them.”

“I know, Ian. I am referring to the open sea with the correct equipment. We can bring in the larger catch of fish and heck it might even run over the loads they could breed in six months.” Lord Henry was past listening and found the needed ears for his idea.

“Good Lord, Henry. You will be ruined if you proceed.” Lord Ian pleaded with the other. “Be a jolly chap and retire please.”

Lord Henry had stood up when he saw the gathered had adjourned the session. He stood up and moved off to his next audience. Lord Ian asked where he was headed.

“The Chamberlain Office.” Lord Henry called back.  The Chamberlain was the channel to the Head of the Ministry.

“Good Lord, he is going to meet the monster straight on.” Lord Ian muttered to himself. “The man knew not of his own limits.”