Hi! Before you: the next part of the story about our main character: Botanist of Hope :D Brew yourself a cup of warm tea and move to the apocalypse-ravaged Poland, following the footsteps of a brave girl.
BOTANIST OF HOPE: II MUSEUM
In books from the old world, I read that people used to leave for satisfaction. They chose a country several hundred kilometers away, sometimes even on another continent. They would pack a mass of bags, leave the comfort of their home and just... go. Without knowing the language, often without much of a plan, just to visit a new place.
Who would want to travel dozens of hours to experience the same thing, only under a different name? What is the difference, between Paris and Warsaw? What is the difference between Luxembourg and Venezuela?
After all, the Earth looks the same everywhere. Whether it's in a village or in the middle of a city, all I see are ruins. Standing in the midst of the collapsed buildings of the earlier center, it's hard to imagine that each place used to flourish with a life of its own.
The Geiger counter today was unusually quiet. I must have been lucky in my choice of roads. There is also the option that it simply stopped working, and I will lose all my hair in a week and maybe grow a third arm. Sometimes it seems quite a tempting proposition. I'd want to have an extra set of hands, I could take more souvenirs with me then.
It had been a week since I set out from the village. More and more black crosses appeared on the soiled map, reminding me of the failure of my mission. I couldn't find even a single, measly bag of seeds in any of the marked places.
The military must have outdid me.
But, after all, it's impossible for any seeds to disappear from the entire area of Poland. Something must have survived, it just cleverly escapes my eyes.
In an ideal world I would have found algae. Temperature and acid rain could destroy crops growing in the ground, but water would be able to form a protective barrier against unpleasantness. And in addition, seaweed is quite nutritious. The lake next to the village would be ideal for farming.
But again I'm letting my thoughts wander too far.
The dark corridors of the natural history museum gave me shivers. The interior and decor were relatively well preserved, still in places I could see furry statues covered by a thick layer of dust.
Why would anyone want to see dead and stuffed animals? Hang them on walls? Decorate living rooms? I can't understand people from the old days. Maybe the apocalypse changes us beyond recognition? Maybe with the end of the world, Homo Sapiens also disappeared, and we are something completely new?
My lips began to burn unpleasantly again, I had not prepared for such a long hike. From the leather belt fitted tightly around my hips, I pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. It was time to tick off another building. A loud rustle echoed and I dropped the pencil. The one rolled eagerly, disappearing somewhere under a bench. I grabbed the knife, convinced that the source of the noise was a stray dog that was searching for scraps among the dead fish from the once-lively pool exhibit. When I turned toward the sound, no four-legged dog came out to greet me.
Strange. Usually they are bold enough to approach first. I distrustfully took a few steps forward. And there it was again: as if tapping on a metal plate, and then the clink of broken glass.
''Is anyone there?''
In response, a bald head leans out from behind the grapevine, pouring a puzzled look at me. I see the man's face soften after a moment, and even a slight smile appears on it.
''What is a beautiful bird like you looking for in such a terrible place as this?'' he asks, still hiding behind the wall.
''It's not the worst here'' I answer, clutching the knife tighter. You can't be too careful these days.''I didn't know there were still living residents''
Only after a few minutes do I see the rest of his body, laboriously walking toward the center of the corridor, keeping his distance. At first he dismissed my words, going about his business. I stared at his back for a long time. The multitude of colorful patches on his denim vest caught my attention.
''I'm not bothering you?''
''Actually, a little. But don't worry, it's nothing" he replied, lifting a tattered cardboard box and tucking a ball of red hair into it. ''The largest Texas colony stretched 160 kilometers wide and 400 kilometers long. As many as 400 million individuals lived there!''
''I don't understand. People?''
''No'' I heard a hint of amusement in his voice ''Praire dogs.''
He nimbly picked up another stuffed animal, pulling it toward me so I could get a closer look. It was missing a piece of its nose and one eye.
''They are cousins of common squirrels. Have you ever seen one? With a big tail, it climbs trees...''
''Once. As a child. The hunters brought for lunch.''
The man sucked his teeth. His white shirt made him stand out at least a little from the dark background of the exhibition. He humped slightly, making it seem as if he was similar in height to me. The smile still didn't come off his face, and he didn't even try to hide it.
''I don't have many visitors here.''
''I noticed.''
''That's the way it is when the apocalypse is towering outside the window. People don't want to visit such places.''
''Maybe because it's dangerous? Sitting in shelters is a wise decision.''
''And yet you're not in it. Are you calling yourself stupid?''
I grunted.
''I care about something other than safety.''
''Right? And what is it?''
I hesitated for a long moment. Although he didn't have military emblems, he still reminded me of someone in the military, and contact with them could end quite... drastically.
However, I had no solid evidence, and my suspicions could be pure paranoia.
''I was looking for a ... crypt. I've heard stories about a room filled to the brim with seedlings, spores, seeds from the old world. This hiding place was supposed to protect them just in case... And I guess the case has come.''
A sparkle lit up in the guy's eyes, and his face took on a different look. He was terribly expressive, which deep down I was thankful for, it was easy to decipher his every emotion. Now he was displeased. And very much so.
''Do you think they were stored somewhere? Optimistic approach.''
''And not? We even sent plants to the space station. We wouldn't be so stupid not to hide them somewhere here too...''
''How do you know such things?''
''I read in books.''my voice broke down''Before the military burned them.''
''Maybe they did the right thing. You read too many books and then the world is filled with such wonders like you, that look for plants, instead of doing something useful.''
I burst out laughing, although the man seemed to be quite serious. Before I had time to put the map away, the man came up to me and snatched it out of my hands. He pulled a lighter from his pocket and flicked it off, illuminating the paper.
''You have too much free time, you know? You've already checked 40 buildings? Damn, you're not going to give up, are you?''
I shook my head.
''Forget about it. It's not worth the effort.''he burbled, crumpling up the map and throwing it somewhere in a corner.
''How do you know?''
''Because I've been to every one of these places!''he straightened up, crossing his arms on his chest''That's what hope tells you. To go on. But the reality is quite different.''
''Maybe you just stopped looking too soon?''
''On the contrary: I looked for so long until I found it. And as I said: It's not worth it''
''You found the crypt?''
What do you think survived from the old world and what items could prove crucial for survival in the new reality? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments!