Watching as my lifeless body swung on a hangman's noose seemed, well... strange. Not the way I wanted to go. Fortunately, the panic and pain only lasted for a moment, the rest was easy. I had thought death would bring one of three options: heaven, hell, or oblivion, but not this, whatever this was.

My crime? Hunting and gathering food for my hungry tribe. But to a rival tribe, it was a capital offense.

It all started with the depletion of arable land and ever-increasing population, then add climate change. A few environmentally self-righteous nations tried to impose their will - what we got was war. Some nations tried geo-engineering - didn't work, just decreased agriculture productivity. Turns out famine is hugely unpopular. From that came the breakdown of society and the reemergence of regional feudalism, which then brings me to my current state.

A light appeared before me, a pleasant brightness that sparkled and shimmered all the colors of the rainbow. Yet it cast no illumination in the twilight-darkened oak and hickory forest around me, one of the few bits of nature left in these parts.

A voice came to me, not audible but in my mind. "You are called."

"Who calls me?"

"Many names have I. Some call me Gaia, others Mother Nature."

If I still had a mouth it would be hanging open. The only thing I could say was, "Huh?"

"All life is connected in an invisible network. From that comes my consciousness, not like your own but one nonetheless. In the margin between life and death, I may communicate with you."

"I imagine you are totally pissed off at us humans now."

The light bounced as if laughing. "Being 'pissed off', as you say, be not in my temperament. But I do grieve for mankind, they have lost their way."

"Why call me? I am one of those lost humans." I turned toward my lifeless body. "Or I was."

"True. But within you be a selfless goodness that yearns to emerge from behind a wall of cynicism. And you know the ways of men."

"What would you have me do? Save nature like some kind of cartoon superhero?"

"Nay. Nature does not need your help. Life always finds a way. I need you to change the hearts of men."

"Oh, is that all? And I thought it might be something difficult." I was not sure if Mother Nature understood sarcasm. "In case you haven't noticed, I am kinda... dead."

The light moved closer. "I grant you dominion over the dreams and visions of men. Show them what nature is and what it could be. Help mankind find balance again. Do you accept?"

I probably was not going to get very many job offers in this purgatory. And being a Charles Dickens like 'ghost of nature' did sound cool. It was all for a good cause. Besides, there were a few who deserved a nightmare or two. "Sure, why not."