Dominance

A short story from a future where humanity completely controls all aspects of nature.

Trees were abundant and diverse.

The ecology in perfect balance , and man and machine had reached perfect symbiosis. All was well.

Storms still existed , because they’re part of the equilibrium and trees still fell down because of them.

Every year 1000 people died from a tree falling on them.

A solution was added to the equilibrium. An adapted version of the woodpecker would continuously index all trees and the weather and keep meticulous records of every probable tree fall in the near future to cross reference potential victims and go pester them away from that tree. All was well again , until a signal emerged.

Birch trees were actually a variant of tree with a higher rate of homicidal tendencies than any other tree!

Something needs to be done about this , so the Birch trees were ALL altered to be more pliant so that when they fell on humans they would flop over them in stead of killing them.

Some time later there were no more birch trees and all problems were solved.

Until the oak tree started to show homicidal tendencies…

Throughout this history , the total number of trees falling never changed though.

Maybe someone should tell people to stay away from trees in a storm.

Or... maybe it's a part of the process called...

(Feel free to bring me your best word for that process…)