[ WP ] everybody on Earth has a tree that represents them . Once that tree dies , that person dies too . You work as a lumberjack .

`` Everyone over the age of 40, the chief wants to see you.'' screamed the small man, whilst ringing a large bell in the center of the village. 
 
 A few curious little faces peeked out of the windows and doors of the thatched grass huts. 
 
 He screamed again, this time in a different tongue. The sound of the bell was high and loud, causing my head to throb but it seemed to do the work. The single dust road in the area was soon filled with people, men and women. 
 
 `` This village is good. Very good. Best timber.'' the chief whispered to my friend. He nodded, his face tight. He was forced to leave his machinery back at our camp and he was n't too happy with it. 
 
 Soon there was a group of people huddled around the bell; leathery men with small, wiry frames some holding the hands of their wives, equally small. Our lot towered over these people by at least a foot. 
 
 `` The people do n't seem to be very big. Are you sure this is worth the trip?'' my friend grumbled to the chief. He shook his head, smiling. `` No no. They are strong timber, best quality. Good timber. All my house are these timber.'' 
 
 The chief walked to the middle of the ground and stood on a footstool. He spent the next few minutes speaking passionately in a tongue we did not understand. The faces of the people tensed and there were whispers. A few women clutched the arms of their men hard, the knuckles pale against their bronzed skin. 
 
 The chief motioned us to walk to him and the crowd parted slightly. We walked silently and a sense of discomfort filled me; I was not used to people. My entire life, I was raised around trees. Trees did not talk. Trees did not whisper. Trees did not see or feel or frown. 
 
 `` I do n't get it. Why ca n't we just chop the trees and leave.'' I muttered to my friend. He grunted something inaudible and I nodded. All eyes were on us. 
 
 The chief screamed something loudly and the crowd shifted, taking several steps away from us, huddling in smaller groups. 
 
 `` When is this going to end? How many can we get?'' my friend growled to the chief. 
 
 `` They are talking. Soon they tell. The timber is close, do n't worry. You are lucky to see such timber. Your people will pay high price.'' the chief gushed. The smaller man gave us a smile and whispered `` Good timber, best timber. Only king get timber here. We do n't need pay them much. Soon get lots of money for time.'' 
 
 We waited patiently in the awful din of quiet whispers. I focused my attention on a small group nearby; three men were in heated whispers and their wives seemed to be cutting into every other sentence. Their bodies were tense and I saw one man gently distance himself from the other two, whilst maintaining his intensity. His hand left his side and was met soon with his woman's. He turned to her and gave a brief nod. Another man opened his mouth to cut him, his face screwed with passion but one look at the couple, staring at each other and he comically froze. 
 
 A laugh escaped my throat and the couple caught my eyes. 
 
 I understand trees like no other man; one look and I could tell you the type, density, estimated volume, health and everything you needed to know about the wood of the tree. 
 
 This man, however, was an enigma. I held his stare trying to glean a single piece of information from him but nothing. The wife gave me a small smile, her face softening. I looked away. 
 
 Soon, pairs started emerging from the crowd and crowded near our group. They held hands, keeping each other close and the chief shouted something to the rest. Within minutes, the crowd walked back and the pairs moved closer to us. 
 
 `` We can go see timber now. Go soon. Sun away, hard to see timber.'' the small man whispered, ushering us towards a smaller lane, leading out of the village. We walked and in the distance, I saw the beginnings of a dense forest. 
 
 We pulled out torches and the people immediately looked alarmed, eyebrows raised and jaw tensed. I flicked the switch several times and the chief spoke something to them. 
 
 `` Bloody idiots. This is too much work.'' my friend muttered. 
 
 We kept walking until we came to the edge of the forest. From here, it seemed more like a jungle with barely any sunlight passing through. The chief spoke something and then told us that each pair would be leading one of us to see their timber. I nodded, scanning the crowd. 
 
 If any of them decided to play dirty, I could handle them with a single blow. 
 
 The couple I saw earlier walked towards me and pointed at the small man. He quickly shuffled over and the couple spoke to him. He turned to me and said, `` They will show you timber. You follow.'' 
 
 I nodded tersely and they started walking, away from the group and towards one end of the forest. I allowed them to walk several yards before I followed them. Their pace was slow and I paused, waiting for them to make more distance. The woman had moved closer to the man, her head almost resting on his shoulder as they took the narrow path into the forest. He kept a hand around her waist, guiding her along, occasionally pausing to look behind. 
 
 They were silent but the forest was not; everywhere around me was chirps, clicks, hoots, and scurries. It was unlike any tree plantation or reserve I've seen. Heck, back home, people would have critters removed, leaving the each tree standing lone and proud in the silence. 
 
 I wished they would move faster. 
 
 Soon, we reached a small clearing and I could hear water. The man stopped and looked at me whilst motioning an arm towards the edge of the clearing. I nodded and we resumed walking. 
 
 Until now, I realised that I had not noticed a single tree, my attention solely focused on the couple in front of me. When the couple finally introduced me to their trees, I exhaled in admiration; the chief was right, this would make excellent timber. 
 
 Their trees were very close to one another, almost too close with roots entertwined and tangled in the ground. It dawned to me that I could n't have removed one tree without killing the other. 
 
 The trees were coated with a thick layer of damp bark and moss, but once chipped away, the wood underneath was dense, each hardened fiber compressed against the other. The branches were high and made a canopy of leaves, letting very little sunlight past. 
 

