Year 2010 - Fledgling run (Cole flashback)
James Cole could scarcely believe his eyes—or any of his senses. He saw little evidence of the decay from his own time—and there were so many people! Men, women and children—so this is what the world looked like when populated by 7 billion people! he thought.
This trip was for his training and an experiment in precision. Jones wanted to see if her machine could pinpoint with accuracy a time and location. All at the same time she was tracking him, and plotting the parameters of his return trip.
He looked up at tall buildings, their polished windows reflecting the bright sun and blue sky above. A bicyclist swerved around and between cars on the busy street.
So much of everything! Undamaged—in running condition.
...
Cole looked at a color TV monitor mounted at eye level on one building. The news team, well dressed, somber and serious, were reporting stories that awakened his attention and curiosity. A reporter spoke about the vicious beating of a youth by members of a street gang—it reminded him instantly of the West 7 "tribe" from his time.
Another story caught his attention. Across the bottom of the TV screen in bold letters, he read the words:
The Continuing Fight Against Modern Slavery: Release of the Trafficking in Persons Report
The journalist spoke in serious somber tones:
"This year is the 10 year anniversary of the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, when the UN established international standards to fight the growing menace. Earlier this year, the President of the United States made the following statement,"
"The victims of modern slavery have many faces. They are men and women, adults and children. Yet, all are denied basic human dignity and freedom. … All too often suffering from horrible physical and sexual abuse, it is hard for them to imagine that there might be a place of refuge."
Cole pondered these statements. In his own time, the population was sparse and scattered. He recalled seeing a few instances of forced bondage. This was not a widespread practice in his time. At any given moment, a plague outbreak would decimate the ranks of any victims in bondage—and often the captors themselves.
...
As he continued to walk the street, he saw a homeless person. Cole observed the gaunt, haggard man as he begged each passerby. Here was something familiar—someone like a scavenger from his own time. Although it was not a cold day, the man was wrapped in several blankets and wore multiple socks that peeked over the edges of the ragged gym shoes that the man wore on his feet.
"Hey, man, can you spare a dollar so I can get something to eat?" The homeless man held out a tin can to him and shook it, and the can rattled with the sound of a few coins.
Cole was reminded suddenly of the scavengers who wandered the streets of his own time. After the plague, and after the world's population was decimated, there was no need for currency. People bartered for what they needed—trading items of small value for other similar items—or went without.
"I've got nothing, man," he said slowly, simply, and looking at the man fully.
The homeless man smiled, shrugging good naturedly.
"That's all right. Thanks for stopping. Many people would have walked by me as if I were invisible, but you didn't. God bless you!"
Cole watched as the man returned to a shopping cart containing various items—tin cans, empty soda bottles, scrap pieces of metal. The man emptied the tin can in his hand into another larger can that rested in the shopping cart. Cole watched, fascinated, as the man drew a blanket tighter around his stooped frame, slid to a seated position. The man reached behind the cart and pulled out a cardboard sign, inscribed in black marker with a saying that caused Cole some astonishment. The sign read,
'THE END IS NEAR'.