The Heartbeat Of Trees
Andrew Leach
'Is it true what they say, mate?'
'What's that?' he says.
'This heat. Is it true what they say?'
'What about it?'
'That it's here to stay, we better get used to it, it's gonna f**k everything and there'll be no more crops and that.'
Pauses, like he's thinking. Says 'Where'd you hear that?'
'Read it. In a magazine.'
'Sounds pretty bad.'
'Yeah.'
'I think we've got a bit longer before doomsday.'
'Hope so.'
He goes into the shop and I start sorting my stuff. The pavement's two-tone, one triangle shaded, the other you could fry an egg on. Try and keep off the egg side. He comes out, hands me a shopping bag. Plastic handles already pulled long and stringy. Filled it with two big bottles of water, four cans, half a dozen box-fresh sandwiches. Burst
