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I can hear another rumble down there. From the hilltop where I stand, the machines look like black and yellow dots at the rim of the forest; like mice nibbling a big piece of cheese; like acid gnawing, germs infecting.
Another loud noise echoed and I can see down there a black dot replacing the falling tree. I sweat. It's really hot at the hilltop. The air stinks, the winds are muggy, and the sun blazes. My mind tells me to get away from here and find a shadow where I can sit down and rest - that's if there is any shadow nearby - but my legs just won't move. Although it crushes my heart to see what is happening, my eyes just won't close. I'm brought back to the days when I was small, very small, when I went up the hill behind my elementary school and stayed there for hours every afternoon.
I remember one day, when dusts and heat surrounded me and smoke stung my eyes. The husky machines in the blurry space on the other side of the bush scared me, and my heart thumped each time a tree fell down and made the ground upon which I was standing shake vigorously. Each time a tree fell down, the whole forest trembled. Each time a tree fell down, the other trees around me swayed indignantly; numerous green leaves fell down on my face and on the ground, covered the earth with their remaining greeness and vitality.
Through the membrane of dusts and smoke, I saw Rachel being chopped down.
"Rachel!!!"
I called out loud for her, but my weak, powerless voice was dominated by the rumble of the engines. And, they began to attack Ross! They cut off all of is branches! I stood there watched them kill all of my friends in fear and anger. As Ross fell down, the ground shook again, struck me backward and I had to lean on John. But, John was not strong enough to protect me against those husky machines. No, we were not strong enough to protect each other. I was off balance and fell down on all fours.
It's not really different to see the same thing happening again from up here. The trees down there, although I don't know them, I feel a strong connection between them and me and my childhood friends. My heart still thumps every time I feel the Earth shaking; but I'm not afraid of those husky machines any more. I don't even longer see them as husky; they are now just nameless and detestable dots.
I pick up my sack and feel my feet on the ground more firmly than ever. Taking a last look at the forest down there, I move on, for I have to reach my destination before dusk. I know that this won't be the last, nor worst cruelty I will see, but now I'm bigger and stronger than them. I will see with my eyes uncovered or blurred by dust, feel my body unparalyzed by fear. And that will make all the difference.
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Cat
-We're innocently standing by
Watching people loosing lives
It seem as if we have no voice
It's time for us to make a choice
Only god could decide
Who will live and who will die
There's nothing that can't be done
If we raise our voice as one-
Michael Jackson, "We've had enough"
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