Writers Island - Treasure part 1

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.Dateline : janus 15/2208

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At last it was safe to return to Earth, the planet abandoned a century ago when it finally became too tired to sustain flora, forna and human life. But since being left alone had, it had begun to repair itself.

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Satellite scanning using dna trace recognition had been developed which enabled the curious to pinpoint the exact place which had been home to their families generations ago. Now it was fashionable to spend ones vacation going back to ones roots!

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And so it was that Femus and her genetic brother Maleth set about their quest to dig up their family memories. And dig they did. It was long rumoured that one of their ancestors had buried a treasure chest containing items relating to his life before leaving Earth on one of the last ever transports. So advanced was the technology that they were able to locate precisely where the chest was, and in no time at all they had brought it to the surface. It had not been a difficult task. Nothing had grown over the area for a hundred years and what was once soil was now no more than dust.

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The chest opened easily. The metal hinges were not affected by rust or corrosion. Although the rain had returned in recent months, the ground had otherwise remained completely dry for at least a hundred years.

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Everything was carefully packed in plastic bags. They gently removed them.There were books, letters and photographs. Toys, baby slippers and a little box containing a tiny first tooth. But a few things virtually jumped out at them; perhaps these were the clues to the life of the person that left it.
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There was a bottle of ‘Famous Grouse’ - on the perfectly preserved label it said ‘Scotch Whisky’. And a cut crystal tumbler on which was inscribed the words ‘best of luck in your new job – cheers!’Also a pottery mug which said 'World's most wonderful boss'!

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Whist most of the letters were in a bag together, one was on its own. It finished with the words ‘know someone in America was thinking of you this day’.

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There were so many pictures. Ones of children – presumably his – and of elderly people. All these people must have been related, and in time they would be able to see where they all fitted into the family tree. And there was a pencil drawing of ‘Keith 1969’

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One photo was in a silver frame. A picture of a girl with short brown hair staring straight at the viewer. Clearly a special friend.

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There was a silver disc in a plastic box which they recognised as a CD. It apparently contained music by Elgar – a composer whose work had stood the test of time and was still popular today three hundred years after his death.

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They were intrigued by a pile of black folders made up of transparent sleeves in which were inserted typed articles and poems. One was labelled ‘Favourite blog posts’ and another ‘Helium articles’. There was one titled ‘Autobiography’. This would hopefully tell them all they needed to know about the relation that collected this entire memorabilia. Another contained travel journals which would give them an idea what Earth looked like in better times.

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They came across a carefully folded white jacket on which was embroidered the words ‘Keith – The Brewers Arms’ so presumably he had been a chef. Wrapped inside was a book of English Country Recipes.

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They found a small box and inside was a little wooden car. It was clearly made by a child and on the bottom was carved ‘Penelope 1994’

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There was so much more. A menu from an eaterie called the Stage Door Bistro and a book about Rajasthan. Another menu - this one seemed to offer a delivery service from an Indian restaurant. An antique camera which used just 8 megapixels and a hand held communication devise which they thought must have been a cell phone. And a magnet from Worlds of Fun!

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There was also an image of The Taj Mahal which still stood on the continent of Asia. Sitting on a stone bench was a person they assumed to be the owner of all this treasure. It was similar to a photograph of a princess sitting exactly in the same place, and was still widely reproduced today. Princess Diana still loved more than 200 years after her untimely death.

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They had found what they came for. The memories of an ancestor from the 21st century. Buried treasure!
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for treaure part 2 click here!...