Written by Marina Danckwardt

It was peak midday in the middle of summer and the air was stifling. Oxygen molecules were difficult to catch through the nose and lungs and the wind continuously blew hot air. The heat wave had been present for two weeks now drying everything in sight and there was no end to any of it for the next few weeks. There had been no rain for over two months and everything was just becoming difficult. Alice had recently lost her job a few weeks prior to the heatwave that was hitting central Europe. Money was non-existent and the chances of finding a new job incredibly slim. AI had taken over most administrative jobs throughout Europe to which all administrators had quickly found themselves out of work and being replaced by quicker and cheaper machines. Competition amongst the unemployed was fierce and at an all-time high whereas the income opportunities at an all-time low. Alice had no idea what she was going to do next or what she was even capable of doing. Administration was all she knew and she had been working in the sector for many years. She had no qualifications in any other subject let alone any sort of experience doing anything different that she could rely on. To put the cherry on the top the unprecedented heatwave was making everything slow, heavy and lethargic. Alice had to find a way to keep going and bring her life under control. She had to find something. Something a little more meaningful than sitting on the sofa all day watching the latest episodes from her favourite vloggers praying she could have a life just like them.

Her mission for the day was to go to the local jobcentre to see what new job openings there were followed by a quick check up at the local doctor. Being in a situation where money was scarce, nutrient rich food was difficult to come by and Alice could begin to feel it in her body. Fresh fruit and vegetables at an affordable price were becoming difficult to find and she had to rely on the cheap, pre-made meals she could actually afford. She could not say she was ill necessarily but something for sure did not quite feel normal in her body. A quick check up on bodily functions and blood was necessary. Alice put the kettle on, gulped down half a litre of instant coffee and put on the coolest clothing she could possibly find without looking or seeming half naked. Alice opened the front door, took one foot outside and started to make her way down the rural road to where the community jobcentre was located 5km or so at the other end. The journey was not long but it was a walk down a main road with no set pedestrian access where bare soils that were located on either side of the road absorbed the intense sun light drying and heating everything underneath.

To walk right now felt absolutely brutal but a walk it had to be if Alice had any hope of changing her current situation. Hardly anyone walked these days even in towns and cities. Ever since the government subsidised the technology to run cars on very limited electricity, the cost to own and drive a vehicle had completely plummeted. Everyone was driving. The latest electric D52E4 had been introduced to the automotive market and it had been all the rage with Alice’s close friends and family. Everyone wanted one and everyone was fighting for one in order to be seen in one. Alice had to recently endure the sharing of family photos around a latest D52E4 purchase. It had been the topic of conversation for at least 2 hours. There was nothing Alice could do to have changed the topic of conversation. Alice didn’t have a car. There was no hope of ever owning a D52E4. Alice was living in a time where the cost to purchase and run an electric vehicle was just as expensive as buying a pair of shoes and Alice could not even purchase a car or even a pair of shoes. She felt the lowest of the lowest in her community and society and the feeling felt almost dirty. Alice quickly held back the one tear that had been drawn to the corner of her eye and marched ahead down the empty road.

As Alice slowly made her way to her set appointments for the afternoon in the dry looming heat, she glanced over at the dry, brown fields that were completely lifeless but present in her local community. A few years ago, Alice remembered at least seeing green shoots that supported the local farmers in a crop of vegetables for the year and that fed herself and her neighbours for the hard winters ahead. This year especially, everything had dried out. With no rainfall for over two months, all the crops that farmers had tried to grow had simply died. Alice noted this as she gradually walked by the barren land and transcended over the hill and out into an opening where yellow grass started to turn into a green understory. As Alice continued on her journey, she could feel the sweat that was dripping down her face down past her back and pooling somewhere down the back of her top. It was making her top sticky like glue but she knew it would not be long until she could beg someone for a glass of water in town. Hopefully no one would notice the now-transparent top she was wearing and accept her on her merits and experience and give her a chance with a simple job.

The green understory progressively came into view as Alice left the hill behind her and looked over to her right shoulder at the mixed stand canopy of Oak and Pine that was becoming more and more dominant, the trees’ height indicating a sense of royalty compared to the yellow grass that had been accompanying Alice on her journey thus far. Alice had never stopped to notice this patch before now. In the past, Alice had always been too preoccupied to get somewhere in a car or do something and never paid attention to what was out there until now. The forward march turned into more of a small trot as she slowed down to take into the scenery around her. Suddenly out of nowhere, Alice felt a caress down the side of her hand as a coolness suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It felt absolutely amazing for the seconds it took to feel the breeze and Alice looked around to see where it was coming from. It came again ever so subtly but great enough to send a trickle over Alice’s skin that immediately created a massive sense of desire and longing for more coolness. It had been weeks from the time Alice felt any sort of cold breeze and it quickly became euphoric.  Alice quickly checked the time on her phone and upon seeing she  was at least ten minutes ahead of schedule, she realised she had just enough time to sit down and cool down so she was at least a little more presentable when she arrived at her destination. She would do anything right now to secure some sort of employment. Alice delved into the Pine forest.

The strength of the pine resin that was filling up the surrounding air was potent. Just the smell lingering in the air made everything seem clean, crisp and clear. Like fresh laundry hanging out to dry outside drawing out a strong smell from the wet clothes swaying in the wind. The pine resin was like no other and the smell was pulling Alice deeper and deeper into the forest. As Alice got closer into the centre of the Pine stand, she could just make out a small woman, meditating underneath a mother pine. The pine must have easily been 300 years old with a circumference big enough to fit an elephant. Alice could make out the colour of the woman’s hair as she approached closer and closer. The grey hair gave away the woman’s age. Something about her aura was just as mesmerising as the tree towering over her. The soft, brown pine needles were scattered all over the forest floor softening Alice’s footsteps as she got closer and closer to the meditating old woman. The wind must have changed direction as suddenly, the old woman looked up and gazed upon Alice who had frozen solid in motion. The two women locked their eyes upon each other surrounded by an audience of pine trees. “Come here my child” the old woman said softly as she beckoned Alice to come closer.

Alice froze, feet stuck in the pine needle litter not knowing what to do. It was as if time was ticking around a frozen moment that she was a part of. The old woman sensed the fear that was evidently showing in Alice’s body and continued with her speech. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite. I am not half as crazy as the people that own this land. Just trying to do my part to save this mother up above me from the chop. Thought if I sat here forever more, it would show the land owners how valuable this tree actually is. Maybe that does make me a little crazy. Who are you? What are you doing here?” The old woman starred at Alice whilst emphasising the word you in the last question.

“Er sorry. I was just on my way into town and caught a cold breeze that I hadn’t felt in ages. I was just desperate for some fresh air. I could feel it coming from this direction and had come just to rest my body a little from the heat. I won’t be stopping. Perhaps I should…”

“Ah yes. Fresh, cool air. How we used to take that for granted once upon a time especially during the summers. Unfortunately, the fresh air source you see here will not be around too much longer. The land owner sees this mother tree as a source of some nice juicy profit. Pine wood always goes for a good price at the local mill. Profit that outweighs all the other ecosystem services that this single tree provides to all other living creatures in this plot of land. Everything you see here from the pines, to the heather to the squirrels, silly little things, are all interconnected via the mother pine tree here. Tea?”

The old woman lifted up a grey mug that was holding a very elegant looking soft liquid inside. Alice was close enough at this point to be able to peer into the mug and see inside. Upon the sight of the water, Alice’s mouth salivated and all of a sudden, the need for water and hydration took hold of Alice and forced her to take the mug that the old woman was holding up.

“Thank you. That’s very kind. What is inside?”

“Pine needles. They are very good for you. They contain more vitamin C than orange juice. Looks like you need a bit of vitamin c. You seem as pale as a ghost. Here! Tastes a little zingy”.

Alice took hold of the mug and took a sip to check the taste actually fitted the description from the old lady. Different, a little like vanilla, but actually quite refreshing Alice thought to herself as she continued to swallow more pine tea conscious not to down the whole mug. Ripping herself away from the need for more water, she carefully gave the mug back ensuring there was enough left for the old woman to hydrate herself.

“Thank you” Alice said once again not knowing what to do next. Her plan of refreshing herself in the pine forest in the comforts of her own presence seemed to have been suddenly stolen by the old woman. The old woman continued with her speech.

“You see all these little pine trees that you see here, there and all around you; they depend on this mother pine here”. The old woman glanced up above her through the canopy of pine needles. “Once the land owners have their own greedy way, the rest of these little trees will suffer. The mother pine has seen it all. She is passing on her learnt experiences to these baby pine trees over here so they can adapt and learn how to cope with these intense summers. Without the mother, the line of communication gets cut and these baby pines will need to defend for themselves. Not even that. You see that small Oak over there?” The old woman pointed her finger to a direction directly behind Alice but Alice could not identify an Oak tree. There was one tree that had leaves, not needles and looked different in the colour green compared to the group of pines. She just assumed that was the tree the old woman was referring to and casually pretended to understand everything the old woman was talking about.

“The Oak depends upon the pines here. They share nutrients underneath in the soil via the fungi. In the absence of a mother Oak, the little Oak shares nutrients with these pines. You said earlier you were here for some fresh air. For some coolness in this heck of a heatwave we seem to be having. It’s coming from the trees. Once they are gone, you’ll have the same amount of heat that you get from over the hill in the barren farmlands as I like to call it. Not only to save these trees but also ourselves, we have to do everything we can to save this mother tree. It’s why I have been sitting here for the good part of a few hours. Maybe I am crazy”. The old woman’s face suddenly turned quite pensive.

“Exactly how long have you been sitting here?” Alice became slightly concerned of the old woman’s state in the blaze of the mid-day sunlight.

“Don’t worry my child. Under the pine foliage, you get some protection from the sunlight. It is actually quite cool beneath the needles in the soil. It seems as if the pine needle litter is acting as a barrier to water evaporation in the soil keeping the water underneath in the ground.  I’ll go home in a few hours time before the sun completely sets. I am positive the land owners will not harvest the pine during dark fall. Talk about being crazy!” The old woman bellowed this deep, belly laugh that became contagious and Alice felt the sides of her mouth pull into a very simply easy smile.

Alice quickly realised the situation she was in. She realised she was locked in a seemingly intense scientific conversation with a crazy old woman who she never met before and looked down at her phone to check the time. Time was running ahead of her and she immediately learnt she has been with the old woman for over twenty minutes. Her heart rate picked up pace as she realised she could miss her set appointments for the afternoon which she could no way afford. She was absolutely desperate to change her life and situation.

“I’m sorry. I have to go. I have a few appointments this afternoon that I cannot miss. I strangely have this urge to stay and listen to more but I have to find a job. My life and health depend on it”. Alice started to slowly back up each step cushioned by the pine needle litter.

“I understand” the old woman responded with. “One day I hope others can see the long term implications of our short term views. It’s the only way for our children, their children and children yet to come to live happy enriching lives. I know our encounter has been brief and perhaps, a little strange, but I do hope I have given you some food for thought. This is after all, the community in which you live in. I do hope we will meet again my child” and with a nod of the head and a small smile, Alice said a final goodbye, turned around and headed back to the road to which she was on not so long ago. It was a matter of seconds until the coolness had become a dream and the intense, heavy heat returned to slow down Alice’s march towards the jobcentre.

A few moments later, Alice found herself in a glass room small enough to fit two people but big enough not to feel too claustrophobic. The room was incredibly white with no pictures or items in sight other than a computer on top of a white table that a man was furiously tapping away on. Alice glanced around the glass room desperate for some entertainment whilst she was waiting for the man in front of her to log in some details into his computer and bring Alice’s file up to date. Alice noted that the man seemed to be typing pretty heavily on his keyboard as she could hear the clitty-clat of the keys bumping away as the heavy fingers tapped furiously to get through the work that was needed in the short space of time Alice had been given for this appointment. What felt like an eternity later, the man eagerly presented Alice with the job openings for the day. There was no administration work which was not a surprise but the man went through other opportunities in technology design, AI developments and gardening. Alice was not able to identify with any of these opportunities and proceeded to ask if there was any other opportunities that she could take up to at least keep her mind occupied. The man returned to his computer, typed away at a few more letters and then presented Alice with his results.

“There does seem to be some learning opportunities. Quite a few in fact at the local college in silviculture and forestry management. They are not asking for any prior experience or skill set but the courses are for two years full time. Would you be able to make a commitment for this long? I could sign you up today if so”.

“I just cannot do that. I need paid work. There is absolutely no way at my age I can go back to school to study a subject I have no idea about. I cannot even afford simple fruit and vegetables these days. After finishing here, I have to go to the doctors to get a check-up because I am simply not feeling right. That’s a result of having no money and no way to feed myself or even to get to places. I had to take the main road today by foot. Can you believe it! No one walks these days yet I had to do it just to get here. There is absolutely no way on this planet in this lifetime that I can forget about all of that to just study for the next 2 years. I’ll be putting my life at risk. Plus on my way up here, I bumped into a crazy old woman that was just sitting in the soil on the side of the road. She seemed very committed to the cause of forestry and helping the environment in the local community but she came across very weird. I don’t want to end up like that”.

“Very well Alice. I’ve recorded our appointment for the day and ensured your email is up to date in order to keep you up to date of any job opportunities that may come up before our next appointment. Is there anything else I can do for you today?”. The man’s upright posture confirmed the meeting was indeed over. Alice’s disappointment started to take over her body like a disease that was growing at a remarkable speed. She took a deep breath, composed herself and tried to keep a positive mind-set that there would be something for her next week. Alice left the job centre and made her way to see her local doctor.

Ten years later, Alice died of cancer at the age of 45 with no equity and no children. She was still unemployed at the point of her death. Forty years later following Alice’s death, there was no pine forest in site in the local community. Bare soil became a norm with farmers declaring the area as a no go area to being able to grow any crop at any point in the future. The land owners took the profit from harvesting the mother pine and all other pines in the area but lost it all after an investment deal went horribly wrong. The government put out stats confirming 95% of the entire population had or was currently owning a D52E4. There was no sign of the old woman ever again.