Dark night, a silent lake and falling snow

He had lost count of days he had been walking.

His legs were weary and ready to give in under him any moment. The rugged terrain wasn't helping him much either. He had lost his bearings and had no idea where he was at the moment. The only thing he was aware of was that he could not stop. That would mean a certain death.

By the altitude of the scorching sun he could tell it was around noon. Had it not been for his goggles he might have gone blind by the glare of the sunshine and its reflection from the earth. He was drenched in sweat by now. But he could not take off his bio-suit. The air had turned into poisonous fumes and the temperature too high for exposed skin to bear without getting burnt.

He had negotiated the slope and was now at the top of the stone hill. He looked to the horizon and his eyes strained to catch a glimpse of what he was looking for. All he could see was vast expanse of parched land. This part of land was as barren as he had come across the entire length of his journey. Only a few stumps, that would once have been greeen and laden with fruit but dead now, stood here and there breaking the continuity of the landscape.

Suddenly he was aware of a movement behind him. He turned around to catch a glimpse of a figure moving behind the stones not 10 meters from him. It was the first time he had seen it though he had had this feeling of being followed for three days now. He had guessed that it was an animal following him, waiting for him to give up and die. He became aware of the gun hidden under the belt of his suit and his hands inched towards it. He was running low on ammo. In his head he went through the list of things he needed to pick up when he came upon the next town. He might have to kill the animal for sake of food. But eating a living of the wild had its own dangers. It was difficult to guess what all the animal had been feeding on and how poisoned it had become.

This was the first time in several days that he had seen a living creature. The last men he had seen was about two weeks back and he felt lucky he didnt see them too often. He had been way laid on his last encounter but the guys didnt suspect a gun on him and met their fate. He didnt blame them. Things had been like this for a long time now. The only way you could get supplies was if you came across an empty and disowned store or to rob someone who had them.

How did it come to all this?

There had been talk of things becoming like this for a long time. Scientists warned but the politicians and industrialists had taken no heed. Some tried to change the course of the events but their efforts were never enough to make a sizeable difference. A common man had no clue what he could have done. His pressing worries for making a living were too great for him to handle. Who had time to think of the environment? It was last on the priority lists.

The changes had started a long time before things became so bad. Temperatures had started rising where he had lived. In distant lands, he had heard, the temperatures reached lows never seen before. In other parts the oceans swelled and had started claiming lands and people. Food and water had become scarce. What ever was left had been polluted to an extent that it had been deemed hazardous for human consumption. People migrated in hoardes to look for what could not be found around them. There was news of people taking to violence and widespread riots. Whatever could not be got had to be snatched. The administration in most of the places had crumbled under the enourmous pressure and lawlessness became rampant and order of the day. Communities had their own armies to protect whatever was their own by means of produce or loot. The times were labelled return to the age of cannibalism in the text books.

But the cities were still safe by then. Science had made sure of that. Who ever had the means could enjoy lives of unimaginable luxories. The climate was artificially controlled and air was filtered before being circulated. Artificial water and food had meant that there was no shortage of supply. The cities had been walled to keep the undeserving out. No one had to worry about a thing.

But there was a panic setting in here too. World's coal and oil reserves were on the verge of running out. There had been talks of sustainable renewable enery about to reveal itself and discovery of artifical fuels. But soon it became evident that there was a gap between their arriving and the current energy sources running out. Within months the crisis that was considered to be in the distant future arrived. The oil wells failed to spew any more oil, the coal mine productions fell to nil. Millions of vehicles got stopped in theirs tracks. The metallic monsters that were once objects of pride and envy were redued to pieces of junk. Cities that were once well contained and supplied had to be abandoned. The insiders were exposed to the wrath of the outsiders. Few survived. He was one of the lucky few. This change had come as a violent shock initially to him. But he had come to terms with his situation and was determined to live through it.

His chain of thoughts was broken by the shimmering reflection in a distance. Finally he had come across water and he was badly in need of it. He hurried towards it. Though his feet hurt the excitement of his discovery kept him sprighlty. With much effort he reached the shore of what was a small lake.

The water was slimy, black in colour and bubbling in places. It was no surprise that there was no vegetation around. He saw the creature come out of its hiding and go around the lake, maintaining its distance from him. It could have been a wolf or a hyena, he couldnt tell. Its skin was full of blisters. It came to the shore, hesitated a little then stooped to drink whatever was available. He took out his water container. There was very little water left. He drank it in one gulp and scooped to fill his container. He reached for his bag. He had only three more pills of Anidez left. He took out one and emptied the contents in to his container. That was as potable as he could make the water.

As he drained a second gulp down his throat an old memory was rendered in all its vividness before his eyes. Memory of a distant land he had visited once. It was late night. He was walking alone, along a promenade, beside a lake. The whole of the city shimmered in the lake creating gaps in the dark water. Boats lay abandoned swinging to the lullaby of the waves lapping at the shores. Some swans suddenly flew breaking the ever deepening silence. The promenade was flanked on both sides by leafless trees their branches arching over the concrete road. The road was lit by a series of lamps hanging on single electric cable suspended over the middle of the road. It was snowing lightly. The silvery snowflakes appeared suddenly out of darkness, glowed momentarily in the light of the street lamps before vanishing into the ground. When he looked up some of the snow settled on his face, its chill sending shivers down his body. The trees were covered by snow giving them appearance of divine angels welcoming him with their arms open. To his left lay sprawling, minutely manicured lawns, their green hidden under a white blanket of snow. Beyond the lawns were the gothic buildings the city was so proud of. He, for a moment, admired the magnificent facades adorned by beautiful sculptures and giant arches and marvelled at what mankind had made possible by its imagination and labour. A rat, finding its way through the snow, caught his attention. He chased it until the rat took to a ramp into a boat. Poor owner he thought. He suddenly grew aware of his lonliness. There was no one but him as far as he could see. He wished he had some loved one beside him to tell the feelings he was experiencing, to share the beauty around him.

The sudden pang of lonliness returned to him and brought him back to the harsh reality that lay in front of him. The creature had finished drinking. It was lying flat on the ground and staring at him with intent maliciousness.

He was glad he was still breathing. He had hope that as long as he was alive a better future was possible. He put his container back in the bag and took out his gun. He moved slyly towards the creature, seeing it eye to eye, returning its glare.