The Adventures Of Little Sham - Chapter 9 (Part 2)

The Adventures Of  Little Sham  

A Novel

by Paul McCann

Chapter Nine

The Singing Tree

Part 2

He out on his soft shoes and went down the stairs in a trance and he walked up the street to the storyteller’s cottage . In he went to the room and pushed the treasure chest away from the trapdoor and he opened it up and climbed down the ladder to the bottom . Down the corridor to the door and then beyond he went to explore . 

On the other side of the door, he saw a hare sitting there on a road with green fields on either side .

The hare said ,

“Hello there . I’m wondering if you ‘re out to hunt the hound “

Sham replied ,

“ Hello there Mr Hare . My name is Sham and I've always kind of heard that it’s the hound that hunts the hare .“

“Well not around here , you see , in this place ,  it’s the hare that chases the hounds , so best you take care now , because you just might find a hare to beware of , if you know what I mean Sham  “  

Sham replied.

‘Well Mr Hare if you would do me the favour of sharing the hunt with you, I’d be most grateful to come along and watch how you hunt the hound , if you’d mind “

The Hare replied.

“See the thing is Sham . I’m a little bit crafty like and it’s a terrible thing because I’m not actually a hare at all , so you better beware of a hare like me “

Sham said ,

‘So, if you’re not a hare , then what would you be ?.”

The hare replied ,

‘Well, you see , take a closer look at me “

As Sham took a step closer the hare jumped up in the air and turned into a funny looking little man wearing a green suit , with black boots in his feet and a tall green hat upon his head .The little man started to dance around and around , faster and faster until he stopped with a whoosh that went to a shush and he said ,

“ The name is Sean, I’m  the lucky leprechaun , so all is not what you see “

Sham replied ,

“It’s nice to know you Sean. First I thought you were a hare.”

“That’s the thing Sham . It’s a trick , I give them hounds all a right old fright every time I go out on a hunt  . They never expect me to chase them  but I do and they always get a surprise when they see who I really am . “  

“So are you going on a hare hunt now ?

Sham asked and the leprechaun replied

“Actually no, I’m going on another kind of hunt . ‘I’m hunting for the singing tree , would you like to come with me ?”

Sham said ,  

‘Ok lets go ”

Down the road they walked until they came to a flight of steps that went down deeper and deeper into an underground zone . Sham and Sean descended three flights of stairs until the came to a tall circular wall made of polished marble .

Sean said ,

“I’m the lucky leprechaun and the only one who knows where the singing tree is. Look and see over there, a green jungle , encased by this wall . Well in that jungle is the singing tree and that is where we are going Sham . I’m also the only one who knows how to get there without being seen.’’

The wall that surrounded the jungle played computerised music for no one to hear . The music was being continuously piped through speakers that were built into the wall . The sound of that was amplified by transformation station that conducted out  sound lasers into turbines all around walls perimeter  . The energy that was made provided an endless  feed of power to the irrigation supply feed chain that fed a constant drip line of zap liquid for all the trees within the jungle in the sanctuary of the marble walls . There were 4 doorways to the jungle zone that were monitored  closely by O zone war lords and zone O green keepers.. Each of the entrance doors had also surveillance cameras  with movement censors to keep out all unwanted visitors . Sean pointed his finger to a secret hatch in the ground door that had a slide Shute to a tunnel that made its way to the jungle zone .

“Let’s go Sham , this is where the celebration of life as we know began .Apart from me you will be the only other person to have seen the singing tree and all of the life there that parades and dances while the tree is singing and drinking zap juice everyday .Its a party all the time there Sham “.

“ Is this place where life began ? “

Sham asked

“That what I’ve been told “

Sean replied .

“So its protected in case someone might want to destroy it ?
Sham asked  and Sean replied ..

“To the best of my knowledge , the biggest worry is that someone might someday want to remove the singing tree and that would end all  life as we know it “

”So the singing tree is the source of all life “

“Sure indeed it is and no one except you and me know that and we soon see and hear the tree sing for ourselves Sham “

 The underground tunnel came to the perimeter of the east wall where above O zone  war lords patrolled ,. Then shortly after that they went through the walls at the northern perimeter that was patrolled above by Zone O green keepers .

Now they stood directly underneath the singing tree

Sean pushed a lever that open a hatch to a staircase that went up to a door on the surface . Shams inquisitive mind was eagerly awaiting to see the singing tree . .
Sean stopped for a moment and said ,

“We are almost at the surface . On the other side of the door is a place like no other where you will see the singing tree , who will know we are there . Be true to any question the tree will ask you , be one with everything around you and there is nothing to fear from any creature that you will see there” .Sean opened the door and they both walked out into a bright light flashing in the distance ahead . The light came from a golden ball above their heads . It was shinning down there on a green tree that stood alone on the ground .

Sham and Sean made their way over there . As they drew near they could hear a soft warm voice singing , almost in a fusion with the sounds of birds and other creatures singing and making sounds like a choir . The tree lifted its branched and some fruit fell to the ground .Then the tree said ,

“Help yourself to the good fruits , my gift to you , ”

Sean and Sham took the fruits and as they ate they found the sweetest taste they had ever had .

“Thank you  for sharing your fruits , singing tree”

Around the bottom of the tree was a pool of water . It was clear and very inviting .

The tree said

“Try the zap juice at my feet “

They both threw themselves down and started to drink .
Then the tree said

‘So tell me , are you friend or foe ?”

,“We come in peace to see and hear you sing ?”

Said Sham

“Who are you  ?”  The tree asked  

“I am Sham , the seventh son of a seventh son “ came the reply .

“I have already met you Sean the lucky leprechaun . So you are here for a song as well ? 

The tree said and Sean replied .

”Singing tree I have been here before and yes I need to hear your voice again”

The tree responded

;I am the first and the last of all living species on the planet and for you both I will sing a song of love .”

The golden ball shone brighter and it turned around and around .

Sean and Sham sat down on the ground as the singing tree began softly to sing the song of love

.
“Some say there’s nothing , nothing that’s older than time , but  I know

Something , something that’s older than time , it’s a thing called love , love is older than time . Love has always  ,  been there in the universe , its makes everything work for what its worth . Love sweet love , was here before time on the earth , it will and always will be the force of the universe . “

As the tree sang many creatures from the sky and under the ground came . They ate and drank zap juice and fruits .The tree stopped singing and said

“I’ve watched things change through time and over the years I’ve seen how man has lived and I’ve known everything mankind has done to the planet . The green forests have been transformed into wasted lands and into dust . Many things have been  destroyed and life on the planet is retreating , I am trying my best to maintain all life because I am the life that remains ”

Sean went over and waded through the pool of water under the tree and  
the tree bent down and lifted him up into its branches . Sean burst out laughing and a small bird appeared to mimic the sound of his laughter . Then the singing tree said

“Hello my little lucky leprechaun , I know you have never done any harm to any living thing . You are sometimes mischievous but in an innocent way ., I am happy to see you again  “

‘ I missed your voice singing tree  It so lovely to hear you sing . Please forgive those who harm life on the planet . Is there any hope at all for new life in the future ?.“

“There is a choice man has to make my little friend  . The choice is to nurture and protect all life and to turn away from destroying life . If man does this then there is  some hope for the future ” .

Sham and Sean thanks the tree and left the way they had come .

Once again they walked along the road to the place where they had first met .

They looked around at their surroundings that frequently changed as they walked along the road , over boulders and rubble that lay scattered and then it began to get cold but they kept walking along until they came to a door where they said goodbye with a wish that there would be new hope and a better future for all human kind .

 

 

 

The End