| TIMETREE CHAPTERS: 1 Two Indians 2 Spring 3 His Brother The Wind 4 The First Years 5 Comings And Goings 6 Another Spring 7 The Great Meeting 8 Alone Yet Not Alone 9 Remembering 10 Tomorrow Gone Home Page |
Once Upon A Time, |
REMEMBERING
The great owl in his hollowed-out hole was listening to the tree’s sighing. These whisperings soothed the owl’s half-sleep. The soft rustle of pine needles in a breeze entered the ears of the owl like a litany of remembrance.
"I remember when Charles Lindberg flew across the Atlantic. I remember the day the Indian boy came and visited me and I met the first human. I remember Lewis and Clark and the brave, strong Indian girl. I remember when this land had no pale faces. I remember the great buffalo herds. Oh yes, my friend, I remember when the eagles first came and when they returned. I remember the skies when they were blue and clear. I remember when no smoke trails crossed the skies and there were no metal birds. I remember the Bitter Root Valley when its floor was empty and when it was unpatterned—green, wooded and full of wildlife. I remember the trail when no man traveled it and I remember when it was born."
The owl was quiet. His yellow eyes glowed softly in the darkness of the den. He was fully awake now, listening.
"I remember the freedom of the skies and the clear fullness of the rivers before irrigation. I remember when I could feel the forest complete and I remember the beauty of the greens, and blues, blacks and olives of the forest across the valley before people began cutting it. I remember when there were no ugly squares and triangles or terracing and I remember in happiness when there was no government to condone such ugliness."
Something was wrong. The owl's eyes opened wider.
"Oh, my friends, the winds, the river, the trail and my friend the owl. I feel them coming. Soon they will be coming. I remember....."
A man in a uniform, on a horse, stopped on the trail and looked up. He walks to the tree and measures it. He takes out a spray can and paints a large red X on the bark, and departs.
The owl peers out of his hole. On the man’s saddle bag he reads the words, "U.S. Forest Service."
For days and months the tree continues its hypnotic recital of memories. The owl paces back and forth upon the long limb outside his home. The birds and beasts of the forest arrive to hear the tree’s litany of memories.
"Yes, my children, I remember when none of you were here. I remember the discovery of the north pole and I remember when this country was found by white men. I remember the arrival of the Mayflower and the floods and storms when I provided you with shelter. I remember the great buffalo migrations and the flights of passing geese."
On and on, the gentle voice of the Yellow Pine recounted the past. Her words were lullaby, history and ultimately a dirge, combined. The memories were warm and nostalgic, lonely yet gentle and free of recriminations. The great horned owl listened with large eyes that slowly rimmed with tears. It was the first time he had wept in his long life and he could not fathom why, but his heart was heavy, too heavy to fly.
Then, without warning, and unannounced, a huge tractor could be heard groaning, as its blade bit into the mountain-side. The din increased, louder and louder—and then stopped. Quiet reigned again.
"I remember the black bear and the gray wolf and the day I first heard the wind. The free wind when he arrived, became my friend and teacher. He brought me the wise owl who has stayed with me these many centuries. Oh, great owl , where art thou now?"
"Here, grand lady of the forest. What is wrong, what is wrong?"
"They are coming. I feel it in my heart, dear friend."
'WHO?" pleads the owl in excitement. "Who?"
The answer was soon upon them. Two men walked up to the great Yellow Pine tree with deliberate purpose. They carried a yellow object with many fangs.
"It's a chain-saw!" gasped the owl.
The loggers started the motor, then slammed its moving teeth against the side of the great tree. They laughed and joked as the motor increased speed, and the initial whine became a growl as the blade bit deeper. The air filled with fumes, and the smell of resin. The chipmunks scattered and ran away. A huge stream of yellow chips flew through the air.
The men had hard faces. Nothingness filled their eyes. Never had the forest seen such eyes. Within minutes the blade had gouged into the heartwood of the tree. It was then, when it pierced the heart that a deep shudder passed through the great tree.
Suddenly the blade and motor stopped. The chain had caught and snapped in two. Within minutes the loggers returned with a new one, and began on the steeper ground, on the other side. In minutes, the mightiest tree of the forest began to lean. Then, at last, it fell crashing through the neighboring trees.
"Ahh-hhh-hhhhhhhhh...!" the spirit of the tree cried out.
The short thickset men drew the hot, ugly blade out of the tree’s broken heart and backed away, grinning. The owl had felt the great tree shudder and fall. He flew out the hole for his life. The tree’s wide limbs hissed through the air, so strongly that the swishing noise echoed up and down the river canyon until the tree finally exploded against the ground and the mountain-side shook. The tree continued to fall, having finally met the black scythe of death across the old Indian Trail.
"I get a kick out of cutting down a big tree, " said the smaller of the loggers.
"Yeah, me too," grinned the other fellow, as they watched the huge tree with its broken branches tumble down the mountain-side to fall across the trail, and then down to the river a thousand feet below. The clear cutting loggers began cutting down other trees, even youngsters a mere thirty years old.
| TIMETREE CHAPTERS: 1 Two Indians 2 Spring 3 His Brother The Wind 4 The First Years 5 Comings And Goings 6 Another Spring 7 The Great Meeting 8 Alone Yet Not Alone 9 Remembering 10 Tomorrow Gone Home Page |
Once Upon A Time, |
