[ WP ] ... and the world did n't know .

The quiet quibbling of distracted philosophers and professors echoed through the olden library. A few spoke of the state of their education or politics, but most spoke of history. A history far beyond what anyone alive could remember. 
 
 Grabbing a particularly dusty book from one the shelves, Shawn coughed. The particles which floated through the air as he moved the book from it spot were particularly ancient. He swiped some powder from the cover and gazed at it, solemnly. 
 
 `` Silent Spring?'' he whispered to himself. He opened it up to the first page and began scanning through, his eyes darting from word to word and page to page with immense speed. Occasionally, his eyes widened, or his mouth would go agape, or he would let out a quick gasp, shutting his mouth soon after so as not to disturb the others. Regardless, his voice reached an older man familiar to him. With circumspect steps, the old man got up and made his way over. 
 
 `` Young man,'' he said as he walked up behind Shawn, `` what is it that you are reading?'' Shawn jumped a little surprise. He had been almost completely enamored with the book. 
 
 `` Hello to you too, Mory,'' he said. `` It's some book about the Humans.'' He shrugged his arms. 
 
 `` Oh come now, it sounds like much more than some book from the gasps I heard.'' Mory stared sternly at Shawn until both men started to feel uncomfortable. 
 
 `` Fine, fine. It's about these chemicals that They used to kill these insects to help farm, but they're actually really dangerous and-'' 
 
 `` I see,'' interrupted Mory. `` You need not go on.'' 
 
 Shawn looked at him curiously. `` You already know'bout this stuff?'' 
 
 `` I'm quite surprised you do n't. Is the Human history they teach in schools nowadays insufficient?'' He held his hand up to chin and closed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. 
 
 `` Well, I may have dozed off through a few sessions...'' The soft sound of his hand ruffling through his hair nervously did not escape the hearing of Mory, who was now staring with angered eyes at the young man. 
 
 `` To master history is to master the future.'' He smacked Shawn's head with a little force. 
 
 `` Whatever.'' His eyes dashed to the floor, and he paused for a moment, contemplating something. Looking back up, he spoke, `` Actually, what did happen to Them?'' Mory shot a sharp glance. `` I swear we have n't go to the later parts of it yet.' 
 
 Mory folded his shoulders and sighed. `` Alright, alright.'' He motioned over to a nearby empty table. “ Here, come sit. ” They seated themselves at the stone chairs, riddled cracks dating back numerous ages. “ In the 1900 ’ s, the Humans developed many technologies and inventions in order to improve their lives and efficiency. Each new decade provided countless contraptions, medicines, methods. They modified everything. They leapt forward in advancements and grew exponentially. ” He noticed Shawn snoozing off a slight and smacked him on the shoulder. “ These machines and chemicals, though, were slowly eating away at their world. They were destroying it from the outside in. ” 
 
 “ The outside in? ” 
 
 “ The gases expelled from these machines corrupted the world ’ s atmosphere. The sun ’ s harshness descended down upon the world in full force, and the world began to heat. The glacial ice of the north melted to war, and the oceans rose. Many of the hotter areas of the world caught fire. The Humans began to die as our world fundamentally collapsed from each subsequent atrocity of nature. In time, few Humans remained, and the atmosphere eventually recovered after all their machines were wiped out, and They rebuilt the world as best as They could, and now we speak here. ” 
 
 Shawn sat there stunned for a minute. “ So They were killing themselves? ” 
 
 Mory frowned slightly. “ In essence, yes. ” 
 
 “ …and They didn ’ t know? ” 
 
 “ No, my boy. That is the most terrifying prospect of this all. They knew very well what was happening. And They went on head first. ” 
 
 Shawn placed his hands at the desk. “ But why? ” 
 
 “ No one is sure. Books from that time period begin to thin out as we get closer to Their extermination. ” Shawn looked down solemnly at the ground. Mory looked at him with hopeful eyes. “ Don ’ t feel sad. This is why we must learn of our history. To prevent this. ” 
 
 “ I know. I just… It ’ s hard to believe that all that time, They lived on the Earth, taking from its core and feeding off its resources, and in the end They almost killed it. ” 
 
 “ …and the world didn ’ t know. ” 

