The
lone
traveler
ceases
his
weary
gait
and
leans
against
the
dilapidated
2050
model
Chevy
truck
he
has
been
pushing
for
days.
The
decaying
asphalt
roads
make
travel
almost
impossible.
As
he
wipes
the
sweat
from
his
furrowed
brow,
he
surveys
the
expanse
of
black,
barren
land
surrounding
him
and
sighs
dejectedly.
“Too
much
asphalt,”
he
groans
as
he
kicks
a
chunk
of
the
black
tar
away
from
his
truck,
cursing
it
for
his
current
predicament.
Then,
his
eyes
light
up
with
hope
as
he
gazes
into
the
horizon.
The
traveler
rubs
his
eyes
in
disbelief,
hoping
he
is
not
seeing
a
mirage
and
shrieks
with
delight.
His
quest
to
find
the
miraculous
substance,
concrete,
which
was
lost
during
the
war,
might
be
a
success!
He
knows
about
the
mythical
substance
that
the
ancients
used
to
construct
roads,
buildings,
bridges,
homes,
sidewalks,
and
other
essential
elements
of
society.
According
to
legend,
the
substance
had
astonishing
durability,
occasionally
lasting
40
years
without
repair!
The
traveler
ponders
this
phenomenon
and
decides
that
this
miracle
substance
cannot
possibly
exist
and
that
he
is
merely
chasing
a
dream.
However,
he
decides
to
continue
his
journey
to
ensure
that
the
world
is
not
being
robbed
of
a
great
treasurer.
With
new
resolve,
he
repositions
himself
behind
his
truck
and
begins
trudging
toward
the
miracle
on
the
horizon.
As
he
walks,
the
traveler
recalls
tales
from
his
childhood.
Of
all
the
tales,
his
favorite
was
the
story
of
a
miraculous
substance
that
became
stronger
with
age,
instead
of
weakening.
In
the
old
days,
roads
built
of
this
substance,
concrete,
were
smoother
than
asphalt
roads,
lasted
longer,
and
reflected
light!
In
addition
to
these
astonishing
properties,
concrete
was
used
to
build
roads
that
opened
to
the
public
in
twelve
hours!
Lost
in
his
thoughts,
the
traveler
does
not
realize
he
is
fast
approaching
an
abandoned
city.
Suddenly,
the
truck
becomes
easier
to
push,
jarring
the
traveler
from
his
thoughts.
He
looks
around
and
gasps
in
awe;
his
truck
is
on
concrete!
The
stories
about
concrete
created
with
water,
cement,
rocks,
and
sand
are
true!
He
feels
the
smooth
roads
that
have
survived
so
long
and
gazes
rapturously
at
the
concrete
buildings
and
parking
garages
before
him.
He
remembers
his
mother
telling
him
concrete
was
the
ideal
building
material,
since
it
could
be
a
host
of
different
textures,
shapes,
and
colors.
The
versatility
was
endless!
The
low-rise
buildings
made
of
concrete
were
the
safest
buildings
to
construct,
because
it
was
safer
to
construct
walls
on
the
ground
than
in
the
air.
The
concrete
used
to
construct
the
buildings
made
them
economical,
since
the
costs
of
fireproofing,
ceiling
systems,
vibration
control,
and
sound
control
were
eliminated.
The
traveler
continues
his
walk
through
the
city
and
comes
to
an
abandoned
sewer
filled
with
flowable
fill,
another
marvel
of
the
use
of
cement!
He
recalls
that
flowable
fill
was
a
free-flowing
cement-based
material
used
to
fill
holes,
landfills,
and
sewers,
to
build
the
base
of
homes,
and
to
control
soil
erosion.
The
substance
was
self-compacting
and
required
no
special
tools
to
level.
He
proceeds
to
the
ocean
adjacent
to
the
city.
Here,
he
views
the
positive
effects
of
concrete
on
the
environment.
Besides
being
composed
of
recycled
materials,
concrete
was
used
in
spillways,
provided
a
habitat
for
aquatic
animals,
kept
shorelines
stationary,
and
was
used
to
control
erosion.
The
traveler
pulsates
with
excitement
and
ecstasy.
He
hastens
back
to
his
hometown
to
share
his
discovery;
confident
concrete
will
play
a
pivotal
role
in
restoring
the
world
to
its
former
grandeur.
Concrete
will
be
their
savior!
RETURN
TO
ESSAY
RULES
