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.”
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