Pocketful of Dharma by Paolo Bacigalupi « Biology in Science Fiction: Free Fiction

In future Chengdu, Tibetan beggar Wang Jun stumbles on a treasure.

Title: Pocketful of Dharma

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Length: short story

First Publication: Fantasy & Science Fiction, 1999

What the Story is About: In future Chengdu, Tibetan beggar Wang Jun stumbles on a treasure.

It grew on lattices of minerals, laying its own skeleton and following with cellulose skin. Infrastructure strong and broad, growing and branching, it settled roots deep into the green fertile soil of the Sichuan basin. It drew nutrients and minerals from the soil and sun, and the water of the rancid Bing Jiang; sucking at pollutants as willingly as it ate the sunlight which filtered through twining sooty mist.
Within, its veins and arteries grew pipelines to service the waste and food and data needs of its coming occupants. It was an animal vertical city built first in the fertile minds of the Biotects and now growing into reality. Energy pulsed from the growing creature. It would stand a kilometer high and five wide when fully mature. A vast biologic city, which other than its life support would then lie dormant as humanity walked its hollowed arteries, clambered through its veins and nailed memories to its skin in the rituals of habitation.

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