9.
TREES TALK
It
wasn't long before night fell. Bale the tree boy, felt it was getting darker
and wanted to go home. But he found out that his legs were firmly rooted into
the earth and couldn't move. Everywhere was dark and quiet and the evening fog
was becoming to form. He felt cold and frightened; nevertheless he couldn't
move an inch. No one was coming to listen to his songs anymore and suddenly it
dawned on him that he had become a tree. “I think this is enough,” said the
tree boy to himself, “I want to go home and sleep. I'm afraid to be out here
alone!”
“Common tree boy,” said the tree
closest to him, “you are not alone! We are here to keep you company. Please can
you sing for us, the moon is out?”
Bale was astonished as he heard
the tree spoke. “So you can talk?” asked he, “I never knew trees talk!”
“Of course we can,” answered
another tree. It sounded like a very old one. “Everything has its language.
Only that it cannot be understood by all. You can understand us now because you
have now become one of us. As a human, we couldn't communicate with you. But
now, we can because you are now a tree.”
“No,” said Bale, “I'm not one of
you, I'm still human.” Then all the trees busted into a wild laughter. Then the
closest of the trees said, “But from your songs, we thought you liked it.”
“That was then,” Bale answered,
“but not anymore. I think I'm tired of being on the same spot for too long.
Besides, it's getting dark and cold outside. I want to go home!”
“Oh, we will really miss you,”
said another tree soberly. The voice was tender and feminine. “But if you leave
us now, will you come back to visit some old tree friends? It is a rare
opportunity to have a human friend.”
“Yes,” said the tree boy, “but I
don't think I know how to transform into my human form again.”
“You can't be serious!”
interrupted the older tree, “you don't want to spend the rest of your life
living as a tree! In fact, there is
nothing that is as boring and as dangerous as the life of a tree.”
“How do you mean?” asked the tree
boy. “Trees live long!”
“Only if humans allow them to,”
answered the older tree again. “Give it whatever it takes to transform into
your human form again. Please do that, I beg of you, before it is too late. The
truth is that trees have no freedom at all. Birds and animals are a little bit free.
But the freest of all is the human. And we envy you for that. But humans'
freedom comes with a heavy burden. It makes them unstable. This minute they are
here, the next minute they are there. They choose where to go and when. And
when they sense danger, they flee! If it is possible for us to move about
freely as humans, do you think that we would be allowed to shed our leaves
indiscriminately without any penalty? The answer is no! We wouldn't be happy to
see someone else tidy all the mess that we have created. Trees are meant to add
value to the environment and not to pollute it, so no tree will be happy to see
that, but we have no choice since we are immovable!
“With humans' freedom comes a
heavy price to pay. Don't end your life on the same spot like the rest of us
and only to be brought to an abrupt end by the lumberjack and the firewood
cutters. That is a very terrible fate for us, and we don't wish for you to
partake, son. So I tell you once again, do whatever you can to change back to
your human form and go home to become a clean and responsible citizen of this
kingdom. We are objects of beauty. That was why we were planted and that is
what we still stand here to maintain. And as you can see, you are the odd tree
in our midst. First, you are in the centre of the road; second, you look filthy
and third ugly! So the councils of trees have decided that no tree would be
allowed to talk to you after today. We don't want you here in our midst. And
the earlier you go the better it is for us, because you will invite trees'
dreaded enemy into this vicinity - the chain saw!”
Suddenly Bale realized how stupid he was and
felt very ashamed after what the elderly tree had said. But he still found it
difficult to transform into his human form. He remembered the old man with the
wishing pebbles and thought of where he could be. Even if he knew where he was,
how could he contact him in his static condition? He thought.
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