Your browser lacks required capabilities. Please upgrade it or switch to another to continue.
Loading…
You are an introvert seeking reprieve after a long first day back at school. Socializing in the form of ice breakers and small talk has proven more exhausting than you anticipated. Looking out onto a bustling campus, you see a giant tree in the distance. You begin to walk towards it. As you approach the tree, you notice the noise dies down, and the tranquil atmosphere seems to wrap itself around you, inviting you in.
<<cacheaudio "whispers" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/r95mgvu2fzzsfj1/whispering%20-%209_19_18%2C%2010.21%20PM.m4a?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "forest" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/4awq1kktorlol4e/Forest.m4a?dl=1">>
<<cacheaudio "selfie"
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c56bf9u7lopk4uw/click.m4a?dl=1>>
[[Continue Walking]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/xx6wsuib7nfvm0a/IMG_1_2trees.jpg?dl=1" width="60%" height="70%" alt="Tree" style="position:center;">
<<audio "forest" play>>
You reach the tree - it is impressive; too wide to wrap your arms around and too tall to see the top from where you are standing. It looks very healthy and virtually untouched by people save for a small fissure in the bark.
[[You reach your arm out to touch the fissure.]]
[[You back up to take a picture of the tree to post to Instagram later]]When you open your eyes, you seem to be in a completely different world. As your eyes adjust to the different lighting, you realize that it is, in fact, not a different world but an underground place. You see roots supporting the cavernous space and trace them with your eyes up and up.
[[You realize you are underground beneath the tree.]]
<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/f0tj0ma9vdkj61z/IMG_5_mycorrihizae-network.jpg?dl=1" width="650" height="650" alt="Network">
<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fq9rdht580r03fz/IMG_3_bark.jpg?dl=1" width="500" height="500" alt="Bark">
You place your hand on the fissure. It is surprisingly warm. The pulsing rhythm from your veins gives you the impression that this tree really is a living, breathing organism.
[[You inhale deeply]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/sqb13ko7xvufaxu/IMG_4_roots.jpg?dl=1" width="500" height="500" alt="Roots">
The combination of your increased heart rate, futile efforts, and hyper-ventilation causes you to pass out.
In the silence of your subconscious you see three different Earths: the Past, Present and Future. A voice asks you if you would like a chance to contribute to a greener future.
[[You are tired and really don't care. You accept your fate and ask the voice to be returned to campus.]]
[[You ask for a second chance.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ceklrogazpto10j/IMG_10_Krone.jpg?dl=1" width="40%" height="65%" alt="Campus">
When you arrive back on campus, you are hot sweaty and annoyed. The noise of a busy campus starts to grow louder. You have a momentary twinge of regret and turn back to look at the tranquil tree. You are surprised to see no trees in sight, only buildings and people as far as the eye can see.<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/m1x0bp7fdew3dyn/IMG_6_WormHole.jpg?dl=1" width="500" height="500" alt="Worm">
You awake, just in time to see the back end of the worm oozing away from you in the distance.
[[You decide to follow the worm and begin using your toes and knees to scoot yourself forward on your stomach. Boy do you miss your legs.]]
[[You are tired and really don't care. You accept your fate and ask the voice to be returned to campus.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptarc12iv03mmos/IMG_7_past-pres-future.jpg?dl=1" width="85%" height="85%" alt="Network">
<<audio "whispers" loop play>>
The voices are inviting you to join their underground network. The network is survival - a subsurface community safe from a world where trees and their many inhabitants are at grave risk.
You are presented with three images of Earth: Past, Present, and Future. "How will you contribute and do your part?" the voices ask.
[[You are interested, but you suddenly remember the projects that are due this week and OMG - your laptop and notes! How much time has passed? You tell the voices that you will consider the state of the Earth, but you would really like to return to campus.]]
[[You are completely entranced. You have never witnessed such beauty. You relax into the pulsating rhythm and long to join the chorus of voices. You tell the voices that you are ready and willing to work with them to plan for a greener Earth.]]
<<audio "whispers" loop play>>
The tunnel ends, revealing an open underground room. You see roots supporting the cavernous space, woven together all around you. There is a pulsing rhythm surrounding you, like a deep drum that calls to you. You realize that the pulsation is a chorus of voices speaking a different language. No, it is not a language you know, but somehow you understand it anyway.
[[You listen carefully.]]
<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/f0tj0ma9vdkj61z/IMG_5_mycorrihizae-network.jpg?dl=1" width="650" height="650" alt="Network">
<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ceklrogazpto10j/IMG_10_Krone.jpg?dl=1" width="50%" height="75%" alt="Campus">
<<audio "whispers" stop>>
Everything momentarily goes black, and then it is so bright you can't see anything. You put your hand over your eyes and attempt to sit up. As your eyes adjust to the daylight, you realize you are back on campus, backpack and laptop right by your side. You stand up and dust yourself off. You look at your watch - only about seven minutes (plus or minus two) have passed. You look around for the tree, but all you can see is buildings.
Where are the trees? Where there ever any trees on campus? You realize you cannot remember what campus looked like in detail. You have always been rushing to class or on your phone when walking through campus.
You are plagued by this realization as you wander into the library. You ask the librarian, "What happened to the trees on campus?" Had you imagined them all this time? She informs you that there were plenty of trees on campus a few years ago, but they have been cut down over the years to make way for the newest state-of-the art buildings and research laboratories.
You are shocked. You resolve to research ways to make campus greener.<<audio "whispers" loop play>>
The roots encircle you, welcoming you as part of the network.
<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/cm97fbkkpsyhjpt/IMG_8_mychorrizae_zoom.jpg?dl=1" width="100%" height="100%" alt="Network">
<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/fq9rdht580r03fz/IMG_3_bark.jpg?dl=1" width="500" height="500" alt="Bark">
[[You reach your arm out to touch the fissure.]]You are so engrossed in achieving the perfect "I'm in nature" shot that you don't realize that the ground where you have put your earthly possessions has opened up and swallowed them whole.
[[You snap a few selfies with the tree.]]
<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ntnfolq6klayy01/Selfie%20%289-20-2018%29.jpg?dl=1" width="50%" height="75%" alt="Selfie">
<<audio "forest" stop>>
<<audio "selfie" play>>
You look down just in time to see the hole where your laptop, waterbottle and backpack have just disappeared, replaced by quickly growing roots.
[[You think, "Screw nature"]] and start walking back to campus.
[[You immediately fall to your knees and start desperately trying to break the roots apart to get your stuff.]]
[[You decide to engage with the tree.]]<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ceklrogazpto10j/IMG_10_Krone.jpg?dl=1" width="60%" height="60%" alt="Campus">
When you arrive back on campus, you are hot, sweaty and annoyed. The noise of a busy campus starts to grow louder. You have a momentary twinge of regret and turn back to look at the tranquil tree. You are surprised to see no trees in sight, only buildings and people as far as the eye can see.<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/sqb13ko7xvufaxu/IMG_4_roots.jpg?dl=1" width="650" height="650" alt="Roots">
The roots grow rapidly around your arms and knees. You are sinking into the ground. You begin to panic and attempt to struggle to no avail. The more you resist, the tighter they grow. The sunlight begins to fade as the roots pull you deeper underground. You try to scream, but your voice is gone.
You are completely bound from shoulder to ankles.
[[Can you move anything?]]
You give up. [[You think, "Screw nature"]]You wiggle your toes and they make contact with the ground.
<i>*Phew*</i>
You roll over onto your stomach and crane your neck to gather your bearings. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you realize you are in an underground tunnel; silent, but for your heavy breathing.
[[You begin to think of ways to escape.]]A rustling noise and a low moan interrupt your thoughts. It gets louder - something is approaching you.
You strain your eyes and see --- a worm?
<div class="img"><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/m1x0bp7fdew3dyn/IMG_6_WormHole.jpg?dl=1" width="720" height="720" alt="Worm"></div>
Yes, a giant worm is approaching you. WTF - you did NOT sign up for this. You begin to panic and struggle against the roots and manage to roll against the wall just in time for the worm to ooze past you.
[[You continue to struggle against the roots to free yourself.]]
Your curiosity is piqued.
[[You decide to follow the worm and begin using your toes and knees to scoot yourself forward on your stomach. Boy do you miss your legs.]] <<audio "forest" stop>>
As you exhale, you press your palm more firmly into the wood. At this instance, the fissure opens up and swallows you whole.
[[A burst of cool air catches you off guard and you close your eyes and hold your breath.]]The pulsing rhythm of the tree is intense, and you can feel it all around you like a deep drum that calls to you and resonates a beat you can feel in your bones. You realize that the pulsation is a chorus of voices speaking a different language. No, it is not a language you know, but somehow you understand it anyway.
<<audio "whispers" loop play>>
[[You listen carefully.]]