Wearing a special HazMat suit developed in early 2018, Jennifer was one of the environmental scientists who was outdoors in the Fall of 2028 taking soil and air samples. Her team was working in the Washington, DC/New York City/Boston corridor.
After a North Korean missile had struck Japan, the U.S. had bombed North Korea. They got off a missile toward South Korea. Using several nuclear-tipped ICBMs, Beijimg had fired on the east coast of the U.S. and the U.S. had destroyed the capital of China. What was left of the U.S. government had been moved to Columbus, Ohio.
Radiation poisoning spread over the eastern portion of the U.S. Many teams like Jennifer’s were deployed over the entire region. People were surviving, but few survived along the northeast corridor. They had determined that it would be years before the food would be safe to grow. Water was being purified.
Jennifer went inside the in-ground shelter to make her report. No real change from the last time. She recommended importing as much food as possible and relying on the western U.S. for the rest. She laid her head on her desk and cried.
The Write Scribe 
This reads like a history report a hundred years from now. Let’s hope it stays fictional.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s how I meant for it to read, Iain. Given the world situation, it could be all so real tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would cry also if this occours. The sad thing is that the wealthiest in society feel safe, because they can move away.
LikeLike
A part of this reminds me of what the people in US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and feeling now. While they have air to breath, there is little else. Nature is such a destructive force in itself I don’t know why we need to help matters along. Good story
LikeLike
creative and eerie with the politics going on!!!!
LikeLike
I have a feeling the real problem would be nuclear winter and the major hazard from that would be a lack of food. Millions would starve.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I kept it to a very limited nuclear exchange, tactical, so I could write it w/o nuclear winter! 🙂 But, you may be right.
LikeLike
Let us pray every minute of everyday that this will indeed remain fiction. “Columbus, Ohio”? My dear, if that’s our capital, we’ll never survive. Lived there for a decade, hated every last day of it. The only redeeming qualities were COSI & Franklin Conservatory…without them, I would have died completely.
LikeLike
Simply and beautifully written. Sad, it may be too close to the truth of what might happen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh. I pray the threats don’t result in an outcome such as this.
LikeLike
Well this was a fun read, Rosemary, you really ruined my day!
How does the south of France get on in this mess?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The South of France sounds like a great place for a sanctuary!
LikeLike
Definitely sounds like a prophecy right now. I hope it remains as most prophecies do, and never come to pass. Good story Rosemary
LikeLike