Humanicity (English version)

Chapiter 1: The Landfill

Apart from a few Ressourcians, nobody knows that the Landfill exists. It is located directly below the Heart of Humanicity, precisely 50 metres underground. Hundreds of years ago, this place was known as the 'Car Park', as signs hanging from the ceiling testify. Strange metal boxes on wheels carrying passengers rested there while their masters went off to earn, or spend, their money.

During the construction of Humanicity, anything that couldn't be recycled was stored here. Mainly things made of plastic, cardboard or paper. People used to say that paper could be recycled, but not any more: paper is useless. Everything is digital. It's more ecological. No need to cut down trees, just let them grow. Let them repopulate the planet after human destruction...

I love the Landfill! It's full of remnants of that ancient era: the Plastic Age. Sometimes I recognise trinkets that we saw on videos in history class. Our teachers would force us to watch these videos in 1080P, an ancient format that hurts the eyes, before reminding us that "the humans of yore destroyed the planet by building all these machines for their own pleasure, for imaginary needs and unfounded cults".

The Landfill has been there for so long that you have to wear a mask because of the mould spores that fill the air. Even equipped like that, the smell of mustiness and dust filled our nostrils. I love that smell. The smell of another world.

It was a huge place and it was easy to get lost. My parents used to tell me that disobedient children were sent there to be turned into deranged robots. But I was never afraid. I've been coming here since I was seven. And with Ram and Margue, I quickly learned to find my way around by noise, because AR glasses don't work here.

- And to think you're going to be 21 tomorrow... You and Ram are definitely to stop chasing cockroaches around the Landfill... said Margue.

The echo brought me her sweet, sarcastic voice.

- It's not a cockroach," replied Ram, "it's a cryptophilus integer.

- Blah blah blah... It's the same thing!" retorted Margue.

- Uneducated ! You...

- I see it!" I shouted.

- "Where ? Catch it, Ace!

I slowly approached the little brown-shelled creature. It was busy eating a spot of mould on...

- You've got to be kidding me..." I muttered.

I quickly grabbed the little piece of paper. The little insect, separated from its meal, escaped under the rubble.

Ram appeared at my side:

- Where is it? Did you get it?

- It's gone under the yellow flowerpot.

Ram rushed off in the direction indicated, in search of his precious beetle. Margue soon joined us.

- Did you find something?" she asked.

- Yes, I think it's a playing card. The plastic coating has kept it almost intact. This one is different from the others. Take a look!

Margue picked up the card, turned it over briefly between her slender fingers and handed it back to me.

- Well," she said, "between you and your pieces of paper and the other bug-lover, we make quite a team...

- Admit it, you'd be bored without us.

I gave her a mischievous look. She didn't answer me and raised her eyes to the sky. I saw a slight crease in the corner of her eyes, a sign that she was smiling under her mask.

- Did you find anything of your own, Madame ICollectNothing? I said.

- Absolutely!

She held up a silver tiara whose paint was peeling off in places, revealing the black plastic structure. One piece was broken off and crude multicoloured plastic jewels adorned it - well, what was left of the jewels...

- Tada! I name you Queen Astra." Said Margue as she placed the crown on my head. "You should wear it to your party tomorrow.

- No one will see it on TeamsParty," I laughed.

- We'll find you one in the same style on Fashianova.

We were both laughing when a shout startled us.

- I've got it!

Ram poked his head out of a pile of rubbish holding up his glass jar. The little reddish insect was wriggling around inside : trapped.