Oct 22, 2019 5 min read

Notice: Undefined offset: 0 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/strategically_placed_photos_article.php on line 412

Notice: Trying to get property 'term_id' of non-object in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/strategically_placed_photos_article.php on line 412

The story so far: Mac has tried to escape from the Kiwahkwe, a monster that can kill with its voice, by flying away on the back of Keeyii the goshawk, but as the monster’s scream strikes him, everything goes black.

n Chapter NIne The Meeting Tree

The darkness that washed over him when the Kiwahkwe screamed was like a hot black wave. But it passed. He opened his eyes again. Something fell past him, almost hitting them as it dropped out of the sky. It was a turkey buzzard, tumbling dead out of the sky. It had been killed by the monster’s terrible scream.

But they were still alive. Wesu and he were still on the back of Keeyii, the goshawk. They had passed over the crest of the hill above his house. Grama Lampman’s Woods were in sight. The goshawk dove among the trees. Branches whizzed past Mac’s head as he ducked and dodged the leafy limbs that threatened to sweep him off Keeyii’s back. Yet even as he ducked and dodged, Mac no longer felt afraid. Somehow, he knew, here in the woods they would be safe.

Back and forth the great bird wove, going deeper and deeper into the thousand-acre woodland. As last they came to a clearing. It was one that Mac had never seen before, even though he thought that he and his friends had explored every inch of the forest. On one side of the clearing was a pine tree taller than any pine Mac had ever seen before. But why had he never noticed it? Didn’t it thrust up high enough above the forest to be visible even from his house? And there on the other side of the clearing was a hill with a wide cliff face. He’d never seen that hill or that cliff before either. Where were they? He pulled out the earplugs that had saved his life and turned to look at Wesu.

“That’s the Meeting Tree.” Wesu said, again hearing Mac’s thoughts. “But just wait. There’s more to see.” He leaned foward and tapped the goshawk’s shoulder twice with the palm of his right hand.

Keeyii opened his wings wide as they circled up and up to land on a high branch of the pine.

“Look,” Wesu said, holding his arms out toward the horizon.

Mac looked. He couldn’t believe what he saw. Grama Lampman’s Woods weren’t this big, were they? The forest rolled off in every direction as far as he could see, cut here and there by the blue ribbons of rivers or the rise of rocky hills. It seemed as if all the humans in the world had vanished. Then, as he looked harder, his vision cleared. He knew he was seeing as the eagle that can perceive an ant from a mile up in the sky could see. Here and there were small clearings in the forest along the banks of rivers. In those clearings were small houses and people. As he listened, he could hear the laughter of children.

“This is the Heart of the World, Little Eagle,” Wesu said. His voice was softer now. “The way the Great Mystery meant it to be.”

“But this is all gone,” Mac said. “Isn’t it?”

“No,” Wesu said. “As long as this Meeting Tree stands, as long as the memory of how it was lives in even one heart, this will never be gone.”

Wesu turned toward Mac and placed his right hand on Mac’s chest. “This is where the Heart of the World is kept. Wherever one sees through the heart, not the head.”

Mac kept looking. It was all so beautiful. He could see fields of corn by the riverbanks, men and women picking berries, a kid on a bicycle.

“A bicycle?” Mac said. “What’s that doing here?”

Wesu laughed. “Eagle Boy,” he said, “do you think you’re just looking at the past? From the top of this tree, you can see the whole circle. Not just how it was, but how it may be again.”

Mac rubbed his eyes. He felt as if things were starting to spin around him again. Wesu grasped him by the shoulder.

“There’s more to see,” he said. “The way it is now. The way it will be unless you do what has to be done.” Wesu pointed with his chin toward the north. “Look over there.”

Mac looked. At first there was just black smoke. Then the smoke cleared enough for him to see through it. The northern edge of the forest was gone, the land no longer green but gray with dead earth and concrete. He recognized the place. It was the edge of Plot 999, the building site for the new mall at the edge of Grama Lampman’s Woods. But it had grown. It was eating its way into the forest, leaving not even a single tree standing. Faceless men were cutting the trees, crushing them with bulldozers. Mac blinked. Were they really men or were they something else? Giant black squirrels? Kiwahkwes? They were led by a dark shambling shape that shifted as if it were made of smoke. They were heading toward the place where Mac and Wesu sat in the top of the Meeting Tree.

NEXT WEEK: Destruction

Glossary and Pronunciation of Abenaki Words:

Kiwahkwe (key-wah-KWAY): Cannibal monster whose scream can kill