Nikkatsu
by G. Russell © 2007

Once, a witch put the ghost of a woman inside a tree. The tree stood in the middle of a forest. It had white limbs and green slender leaves. In summer it birthed sweet fruits the birds and beasts ate.

There came a woodsman to that part of the forest. He saw the tree and considered it would make for good firewood. He readied his axe. The woman shuddered. Tears dripped from the shaking leaves and the woodsman paused.

"There's a spell on this tree," he said. He put down the axe.

The tree sang a lullaby and he fell asleep. When he lay down the ghost-woman appeared and unwound her obi so she lay naked alongside the sleeping man.

How beautiful he is, she said to herself. They curled together, the couple, warm in the softness of leaves, and with her deep, strong roots she gripped the heart of the earth, tighter and tighter.

There is a forest. At its heart there are two trees. Their roots tangle and knit over each other. Their branches are entwined and no living person can ever separate them. One produces fruit, the other does not.

They have been there forever.

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