CRASH!! BANG!! “What was that?” Jill said as she came running into my room.
“I don’t know. Sounded like an accident to me,” I replied straining to see out my bedroom window. “Let’s go down and see!”

Down the stairs and out the front door we ran trying to locate the source of the commotion.

“There, look over there!” Jill said as she began running toward a wrecked convoluted vehicle that slid off the street and into a culvert.

“Wow! What the heck is that?” I said in amazement. “Is it some kind of truck?”

“Don’t know,” said Jill, “never saw anything like it before.”

“Not from around here, that’s for sure,” I said.

“Think anyone is hurt? Can you see anybody?” asked Jill.

“Can’t tell. No one is moving around. Surely they haven’t left already, there hasn’t been enough time.”

“Let’s see if we can give them some help Jim. Someone may be hurt in there.”

“Yeah. You better go to the house and call Mom at work. She’ll know what to do. I’ll see if anyone here needs our help.” Then, just as I was inching my way toward the leaning vehicle…

“Don’t come any closer there boy!” said a growling voice from behind a darkly shaded window. “No sense in you getting scuttled too. Stand back and give me a little room to get out of this contraption.”

I backed off as I was ordered. Then, while waiting to see if a door of some kind would open from the truck… or whatever it was; it shook a bit and then settled back to its drunken like position.

Then, from around the far side of the vehicle, came a stout form of a man which I have never seen the likes. His uniform was different from any cloths I have ever seen. They were a drab green color and made from a stringy fabric that I couldn’t identify. His trousers were not crisply pressed nor were they wrinkled. Although it was mid-summer weather, he wore a coat laced snuggly all the way up to his neck. His cap gave away the fact that he was indeed a mariner since the bill was laced with the familiar “scrambled eggs” markings of a captain or maybe even an admiral. There was an informal formality about him that made him appear friendly and non-threatening. However, his small beard could not disguise the unhappy scowl currently set on the angry seaman’s face. He was definitely not a happy camper.

“How in thunder is a sailor to survive this port? No manners, no courtesy, no understanding of common decency! I was simply passing by—minding my own affairs when a crazed landlubber took dead aim at my bow with his vehicle. Straight at me he came! Had I not pulled the helm to starboard, he would have likely rammed me! As it is, I’ve run her aground! Can you imagine that? Me… of all people, run aground! I’ve been harassed and confounded ever since I arrived! There, down there where the red light is blinking,” he said pointing down to the town’s main intersection. “I made my way there when I first arrived and when I stopped to inquire about directions, people just started yelling and tooting, telling me to get out of the way and even called me names that I’ve never heard of before! One very rude gentleman in a large vessel marked “WASTE” offered to put my scuttle bucket out of its misery if I didn’t move it at once! Can you imagine that? I was simply being as friendly as I could be and was accosted by the first people I’ve come across. Oh, I was warned this might happen all right, but I came anyway. I had to. There was really no other choice in the matter. Either I risked everything or we all lose everything. None of us have a choice anymore. Do you understand? Well do you?”

“No, not really sir,” I said. “Not really at all.”

Just then, Jill came running down the front porch steps and crossed the street to where we stood. “Mother is calling the sheriff Jim, he’ll be here shortly but we’re to call the fire station if anyone requires medical help. Is anyone hurt? Are you OK sir?” Jill asked the stranger.

“Am I OK? Am I OK? Just look at my vessel. A broken wheel, maybe a bent axle, how am I to accomplish anything? I’m being sabotaged I tell you. The same forces that are destroying the planet are trying to stop me from saving it! Am I OK? NO! NO I am absolutely NOT OK,” he said, turning to inspect for further damages.

Jill and I glanced at each other while at the same time repeating what we thought we just heard. Destroying the planet? Saving the planet?

“Sir, we really don’t mean to be a bother. We just want to help if we can. That’s all. We don’t mean to offend you or upset you.” I said.

“You’ve obviously been through a whole lot already so if you’re not hurt, we’ll just be going,” said Jill.

Then, the seaman slowly turned around to face us. The expression on his face had turned from a scowl to a gentle smile. He removed his cap, and then he spoke.

“Is your name Jim and yours Jill?” he said softly.

My mind went blank. Jill and I were stunned and half-looked at each other out of the corners of our eyes without even turning our heads away from the stranger.

“Uhh, yeah, I replied. But, how did you know that?”

He smiled. “I’ve been looking for you. Both of you in fact.”

“Looking for us? But why?”

“I bring a message for you, and a very important story to share. However, I really don’t think this is the time or place for it. First, let me apologize for my behavior. Is there anywhere we can talk… privately? You see, time is becoming very important to both of us.”

“I’m leaving,” said Jill, “you two can work this out together if you want but you’re scaring me sir, and I don’t want to hear anything more about it.”

Then the seaman spoke with certain authority.

“Jim and Jill Fuller, I’ve come to warn you. Soon, very soon, not only will your town totally collapse, but so too will most other towns and cities of your entire nation and indeed the entire world. I must convey to you in the most serious terms that your civilization is slowly and progressively killing all life on this planet.”

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