Cities in Time by Rosemary Smith
My breath came in ragged gasps. Sweat beaded my forehead and I felt as though an axe was
about to be lodged into my brain. Terror swept over me as a deep, urgent voice came through
the gathering darkness. But what was it telling me? It was important. I knew that, but somehow
the sounds were muffled. I needed to listen; listen closely, concentrate, concentrate. Dare to
look.
Slowly my eyes opened, terror fading, as lightness grew and a wonderful feeling of flight and
weightlessness seeped into my body. I swooped effortlessly, smiling. Now I’d see the view
from Mount Everest – this was the only time I’d ever do that! I was high above Earth, looking
down from space. But it was an Earth I didn’t quite recognise. Flying closer, I searched for the
horizons of outlines I knew from my old geography books. I thought I could see what looked
vaguely like Britain. Evening was setting in so where were the lights of London, Manchester
or Glasgow? Further West still, USA, Japan, New Zealand and Australia yet few signs of New
York, Tokyo, Auckland or Sydney.
Panic began to seep through me. Where was I? Where coastlines should have been, now vast
swathes of ocean swirled over blackened ruins of city skylines that rose eerily above the
waves. No people remained. All had seemingly vanished into watery depths. But wait, what
was that tiny flickering light far off in the distance? Approaching closer, men, women and
children were sitting cross legged around a small fire. I called out a greeting, but it remained
unheard. They were thin, naked and dark skinned, their features seemingly Aboriginal in
appearance. Darkness began to grey into dawn. What had happened to civilisation as I knew
it? Was I looking backwards or forwards in time? After all, Aboriginal groups had survived over
thousands of years, elders passing on survival knowledge from generation to generation. So
was this a glimpse of a past, or of a future where most of us had failed and fallen into the utter
desolation that I’d seen below me?
Consciousness began to return. I felt dizzy and sick. Where was I, which reality was I in? The
hum of an aircraft overhead, a truck rumbling by and the clank of breakfast dishes heralded
that all was well after all. But what had I just seen in such vivid imagery? What was reality after
all? Now the memory of that first voice in the darkness was returning:
"You are but a speck in the vast endless Universe. Live your life in harmony and
kindness to each other in both deed and word. Care for each other and most of all for
your precious land. I have shown you the alternative, a “before and an after”, a “was
and a will be”: obliteration or survival, peace and happiness……The choice is yours."
March 2023