Seeds for Time

Raj steps through the light circle and stands in a grassy field. The small patch of plant growth is attached to a farm plot. Just a stone’s throw from his position, Raj can see a barn and house. For miles in any direction the land host plowed cotton fields. The cotton crop is ready for harvest. He has arrived here a year before the start of the great dust bowl of the 1930s. The Great Dust Bowl affected the North American Plains region. The people living here have no idea what is coming in just a few short months.

The dust bowl had lasted for over six years and devastated thousands of crops and lives, human and animal. The style of farming in those days helped create the conditions for the bowl. It was a time in the American economy when crop prices were low and machinery cost were high. More land was converted into crop production zones. The disregard of soil conservation practices allowed the exposed top soil to be the perfect fuel for a drought that would last almost a decade. Raj thinks to himself, “And we still haven’t learned anything. Industrial humans have continued to abuse and damage the environment to our very bitter end.”

The Project team had used data and published reports from various health and agricultural agencies to select the best time periods to gather the most durable seeds. Whenever there were several options available, Raj always chose the older date, mostly out of curiosity. The professional reason for choosing an older date is that less herbicides appear in history the further back one travels.

He begins moving towards the barn. Just behind the worn and creaky structure stands a small grove of pecan trees, and they are in the process of dropping their fruit.

Raj reaches into the long cargo pocket of his jump suit and removes a container. Standing in the shadow of the trees he begins filling the container. He hears the voices of children and moves to the backside of the trees. He stands still and alert hoping to not be discovered.

The three children are near the south side of the barn. They are carrying baskets. Setting the baskets on the ground the children begin to pull out plants from the ground. They place their harvest in their baskets. The plants are growing in a haphazard pattern and the children move from patch to patch.

Raj recognizes that the plant is lambs quarter. It is a plant which is destined to become a household staple during the Great Depression. Through the plant is not on his mission list for this trip, he decides before leaving to check and see if any plants are seeding.

Raj moves away quietly through the grove and away from the children. At the end of the grove a field of cotton begins and spreads out for about ten acres. Raj prepares a container and plucks some of the white fiber that hangs from the plants.

The feel of real cotton in his hand is satisfying. He rolls it around and can feel the small seeds that are inside the little fluffy white clouds. He fills several containers and turns back towards the grove. A man in denim overalls is standing there pointing a shot gun at him.

“Hold it right there!” The man’s face is tanned and wrinkled from sun exposure. “Why in the hell are you stealing my crop?”

Raj thinks fast and replies, “I’m from the agricultural department. I am needing samples to test for boll weevils exposure. Your crop may be infected.”

“That’s hog wash! Ain’t no government agencies gonna hire a messkin!” The man spits and lowers the gun just a bit.

“Respectfully sir, actually my family’s home land is India, not Mexico.” Raj realizes that this man's experience with other races is limited, in his world, all people with brown skin must be Mexicans.

“India huh? So you’re ah injun?” The man lowers the gun even more.

Raj decides to not attempt to explain geography to the farmer, “Yes sir, something like that.”

The old man softens his stance even more, “So that’s how you got a government job huh? I heard the government’s tryna help out your people since you folks lost your land an all.”

“Exactly.” Raj is relieved that the farmer’s ignorance just gave him a great cover story.

“Well, if you find out this crop’s infested, what ya gonna do? You gone let us know, won’t ya?” The farmer now has the gun pointed at the ground.

“Yes, a formal notice will be sent out, along with recommendations for a treatment plan.” Raj notices the man look back towards the house where a few family members are standing on the porch. They are watching their father converse with a stranger. Quickly he looks at his wrist band. It’s almost time to leave. He turns off the mission alarm.

“Well sir, I need to be going. I have a bus that is picking me up not far from here.” Raj hopes the man will let him leave.

“Okay then, I was wondering how you got here since I don’t see no car or truck. Hell, ya don’t even have a horse. Before ya leave can I ask ya one thing?” The old man’s smile turns into a smirk.

Raj nods and smiles back, shaking his head in agreement.

“Why do they make ya’ll where them funny looking costumes?” He burst out into laughter.

Raj laughs out loud, “Yes … ah, these field garments are the newest thing. I haven’t become accustomed to wearing them yet.”

The farmer laughs and slaps Raj on the back, “Alright then, take care uh ya self fella!”

Raj heads north towards the grassy field where he arrived. He doesn’t turn back to see if the family is still watching him. He notices lambs quarter growing right where his is walking. The plant has gone to seed. After preserving a few samples, he tucks the seed containers away, activates the time stream and steps through.