Garbage In, Garbage Out

Начало книги

Late afternoon sunshine slanted over the dump as I carefully picked my way across the rotting residue of human society. Vast amounts of food lay around me, interspersed with crumpled aluminum pie pans and lids cut from tin cans; culinary roses nestled among metallic thorns.

I’d already eaten my fill, but I was trying to find the source of an elusive smell, one I didn’t recognize. Since I consider myself an expert on the odor of refuse, this was an insult to my pride. Just as I was on the verge of giving up, I almost literally stumbled on the origin of the smell.

I wished I hadn’t.

My six-inch legs don’t cover ground very quickly, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. My feet thudded against the packed dirt of the road leading between the mounds of trash, small spurts of red dust flying with every footfall.

“Martin!” I yelled as I ran. “Martin!”

No answer.

I sped on. As I passed through the gate, I caught sight of the car. And Martin. He was slumped in his seat, snoring. Asleep at the wheel—the story of Martin’s life.

Читать дальше →