2103, in a post-capitalist world, Trevor (17) Zephyra (11) and Clover (4), will face an extreme adventure to save Mother Earth. Through their Gifts and a deep connection with Nature, they will see some surprising truths of a seemingly utopian world...
"Sybilla, you have to believe me, the United Nations for the Climate will never step back on this. Oil has no future in this world" - said Trevor.
She looked at him seriously and sad, as if she was searching for some approval that a "normal" life for her family in that out-of-date system existed, but right at that moment she understood.
He didn't say that out of spite, nor did he say it to take a political line or to convince her, he said that because, after almost 18 years of holistic life he knew it, there was no way:
There was no doubt that the UNC would let Earth be drilled again, or emissions rise again.
Not after that dramatic drop coming after a century of extreme instability.
The World was better off without Capitalism, and even if brutal, that lifestyle that Oil and money brought with them could no longer exist.
"You're right... I don't know how they'll do, but it's not realistic." - she admitted.
"Hey, it's bad but... I mean, what's about your system that's so irreplaceable?" he asked
"I mean, if there is no other way, sooner or later you guys will adjust. If you could use a bio-diesel, would you do it?"
"I think so, but when in a week or a month our currency won't be worth anything, they wouldn't be able to buy it, it would be useless" - she said as he wiped a tear on her cheek with a finger.
The two of them remained silent, absorbed for a moment.
"Trevor! I may have figured something out! Isn't the UNC pushing us to make a drastic choice? Think about it. If our money will no longer be worth anything, then don't they hope that our Reserves will give up on it altogether?"
He thought for a moment: "Yes, it is indeed possible!! This could actually be their idea. More than just bring you all to your knees."
"If your currency is no longer worth anything, and you cannot use Oil to keep its value, you'll have to change. And the only other true currency in the World is seeds.
Perhaps, Ahah, they are only pushing you people to replant and produce for yourself!"
The two smiled, after this epiphany.
It was highly possible, and maybe Sybilla could learn some methods from Trevor, staying a little longer in the Oasis, and then pass them on to her family somehow.
Pushing the Capitalists to get rid of their system in that way was somehow diabolical and brilliant. In fact, the seeds not only guaranteed life, oxygen and fruit for years to come, but could be exchanged for services or food, making the other currency superfluous in a world that already adopted barter and self-sufficiency.
But firstly, there was the "Rescue the Oasis" mission to be accomplished.
"Guys, breakfast ready, come on!" they heard Zeph screaming behind them.
"Here we go!" replied Sybilla, dragging Trevor for a hand and walking towards the old bonfire.
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And the two joined Trevor's little sisters.
"Here you are, finally!" said Zeph with a very serious voice. Clover was awake and full of energy, and she was drumming with her fingers on her dress, eager to hear the "sister's" plan.
"Clover, the valley is in danger, we must save it! And you will have an important task, are you ready?" had said Zeph just before.
Once they were all together, Zeph stood in the center to explain his plan.
"This shore is full of red clay, look at your feet" - they all obeyed and saw reddish pools appearing between the mud on the edge of the stream.
"If we gather as much as possible and burn all those rocks with Clover's Fire, we can create a boiling liquid mush" - he said while others were listening attentively and curious.
"Somehow, if we transport it to the hole now that the water has dropped, it will solidify into a rock pile in contact with the cold water of the stream. And Bam! A Brand-new dam, with a much more solid material than wood!".
"Zeph, you're a genius!" exclaimed Trevor after a minute of silence.
"I do the Fire, I do the Fire!" howled Clover, excited, with her fists up in the air and a stick in her hand.
Sybilla smiled and nodded, winking.
Trevor rubbed his chin and said, "If the solidification really works, we might go back to the valley by this afternoon! And look for the grown-ups to check the dam..." - "And Mom and Dad!!" interrupted Clover.
"That's right! I just hope it will work. I'm pretty sure, but..."
"The only unknown is the rain." - interrupted Trevor, frowning.
"It will rain in four hours" added Zeph
"How do you know?" said Clover, looking down at him with open mouth. Zeph smiled at the little sister and said, "I can feel it. Plus, I've been watching the birds and insects around here... They're agitated and they're retreating." He sprang with confidence and serenity. But there was not too much time to reflect.
"Come on, let's not get surprised by more water then! Let's start! What can I do?" - added Sybilla.
"Sybilla, pick up the smallest and roundest stones you can find, like these here, please. I took them before" and Zeph pointed to a pile.
"Okay, we could put them in a line before we run over the hot clay, you see?" - said Sybilla.
"Yes, that's what I thought. We have to avoid the 'heap' effect to create a line instead... the hole in the dam is not too big or deep. But we will only have one try." said Zeph.
"Good, I'm going," said Sybilla, as Trevor followed her with his eyes away towards the water.
"Trevor, will you help me with the clay? You have the biggest hands."
"Sure, let's start here?"
"Yeah, and one thing: do you have anything to dig or cut into that little pouch?" - Zeph pointed to the tiny bag that Trevor had luckily brought with him since he followed the sibling into the woods the day before.
He wore it while working in the garden with his father... a vegetable garden now submerged, and the father... who knows.
He was so used to wearing it that he just realized he had it on him only now, with Zeph pointing at it. He opened it instinctively and checked. There was some Aloe ointment in a blood-stained box, and a little spade and a knife. He pulled that out.
It was a large elegant knife, with a carved handle, thick blade and a wooden and leather grip. There were carved woven leaves of ivy on top, and Trevor remembered that it was their mother who made them when he was a little boy. He had a blow to his heart, but tried not to think about it, and stretched the object out to Zeph.
The shiny blade of the knife reflected the sunlight, then reframed on Zeph's icy pupils, which shone brighter than before and became more penetrating.
If anyone had looked into his face at that moment, they would have been intimidated by such a deep and threatening look in such a small person.
That glow and that blade, both the knife's and his eyes' measured exactly all his determination.
Save oneself, and save Mother Earth. At any cost.
Zeph. held the knife in his hand for a few minutes, watching him intensely in silence.
"Perfect" he said at the end.
"Be careful, girl." said Trevor.
"Don't worry. We will be very helpful"
"girl!"- hit him inside with a twinge.
"Tell him!" the boy shouted from the mirror inside of Zeph.
