11.
THE LUCKIEST TREE
Almost five days had passed after
the men's initial appearance still nothing happened. The sight of Bale's tree
was displeasing to passers by for it looked even uglier, because it obviously
lacked the basic nutrients and had almost completely shed away all the leaves
on it. At times, he would overhear some of the women going to the market square
asking: When will they cut off this ugly tree? The fun was obviously over! It
was clear that no one loved the unsightly tree he had become. And if he had his
way, he would have transformed into his human form that night and shamefully
leave the village before being noticed the following morning. He prayed for the
old man to come before the lumberjacks would return. Sometimes he couldn't stop
wondering if the old man would ever return into the village again after what he
did to him.
But about a fortnight after, his
prayer was answered. He saw the same old man walking by. He was scavenging for
manure from dead plants. He shouted on top of his voice, “Baba, Baba!” And the
old man looked around to see the owner of the familiar voice, but couldn't
sight anyone. So he continued with what he was doing. “Baba! It is I, Bale.” This time the boy's voice came more
strongly.
The old man immediately recollected whom
the boy was but still couldn't find him anywhere around. He looked further.
“Please look no further Baba,” said the voice from the tree, “I am right behind
you. I am the tree right at the center of the road!” The old man looked at the
tree and was shocked for some moment.
“Baba, please help me,” pleaded the tree
boy soberly, “I have made the biggest mistake of my life. Please change me back
into a human again and I promise to be a good person.”
“I didn't know what you are
talking about son.” replied the old man, “I didn't turn you into a tree in the
first place. It was your wish to become one. So why should I undo what I didn't
do. It is only your wish that can undo the evil you have bestowed upon yourself
in the name of revenge. I tried to warn you but you wouldn't listen. You see, when a young boy is cutting a tree,
an old man can always predict where it will fall”!
“Please, forgive me Baba. Can you
give me another wishing pebble?”
Give you? It is only one that I
have left and I don't intend to give it to you. Or can a nursing mother donate
her breast to charity?”
“Please old man. My life depends
on it.”
“You see, you are a very lucky
boy. None of my sons was really interested in the thing when I wanted to follow
your advice by throwing a coin to see who gets the last one, they both fled!
They sensed that with each pebble usage is always lurking a bad luck
thereafter. And that is why I still have
the last one with me.”
“Then please will you now give it
to me now old man? I already have plethora of bad luck following me. This
wouldn't make any much difference!”
“I can't give it to you freely. Just as I have
done, you must be ready to give me something in exchange for it.”
“Oh Baba, please help me. Be
merciful!” Bale pleaded soberly.
“Honestly I am trying to be. And
that is why I have given you the choice. Actually, you know you don't deserve
it son! But we don't use a wicked child to feed the lion!”
“Then you can take all the leaves
on all of my branches and use them for herbs,” suggested Bale.
“Ha! Ha!” laughed the old man,
“that sounds really ridiculous. Don't you know you have no more leaves all over
you? Besides, leaves from your trees cannot be medicinal. They can even hasten
the death of a patient.”
“Honestly baba, I have nothing
else to offer for the pebble!”
“Yes, you do.”
“What baba? Tell me what you want
and I will give it to you. Dung?”
“NO! But I will cut one of your
branches.”
“No baba that will hurt. I can't
allow anyone to do that.”
“Then, it means I should start to
leave now.”
“Please don't go old man. Tell me
any other thing that you want.”
“You have nothing again to offer.
Nothing belongs to your parents in this village anymore. I was there when
everything was sold, remember! If you cannot allow me to cut the part of the
branches that I want then I will have to leave you here. Wait until the time
the lumberjacks will have to come and cut you down completely! Remember you are
nothing but an ordinary tree that can serve as nothing other than for fire
woods and planks for making coffins. You are not even fit for good home
furniture. So, either way, you still lose!”
Bale's fear intensified as the old man
completed his speech. He knew he had no choice but to let the old man to have
his way. “Okay,” he said slowly, “I have no choice. Cut off any of my branches.
But please don't make it hurt Baba!”
Then the old man dipped his hand into his
sack and brought out a small cutlass. He climbed up the tree while holding it
with his teeth. And on getting up, he cut a part of its apex branches and threw
it down together with the small cutlass before descending. When he finally
reached the floor, he searched around the tree's bark for an opening, then
inserted the black shiny pebbles in it and said, “I hope this pebble would
fulfill your inner desire, son. And I also hope you won't be stupid this time.”
Then he bent to pick up the little branch he had cut and put it into his sack
together with the cutlass. And walked away never to be seen or heard of by Bale
again!
TO BE CONT'
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