‘I know there’s been some trouble round here lately. My grandson, here, Leon—he’s filled me in. And I’ve seen it in the newspapers. Front-page news! That’s got to make your knees tremble if you work in the industry. Fact is, I know your big tree. I remember it from when I was working down here. There’s no other tree like it. Thirty, forty years ago, we logged all around it. Could have cut it down, but we didn’t because it was the biggest tree for miles. When you’re working in the forest, and you find a tree that huge, you can’t help thinking about all the things it’s survived. And you respect it. Anyone who’s seen that tree and stood underneath it will know what I mean. It makes you stop and listen to the forest. Most days when you’re on the job, picking off leeches and trying to keep dry, you don’t even think about what’s around you. But when you get that rare perfect day, and you go into a patch of old-growth and the sun’s out and a breeze is blowing, there’s no better place.’

While Grandpa talked, Leon studied the crowd. They were listening—he could see it in their quiet attention, the way their shoulders and mouths had eased. Bringing Grandpa here was a coup. He was speaking a language they understood.

‘Way back forty years ago,’ Grandpa was saying, ‘we decided to leave that tree because we couldn’t bring ourselves to cut it down. And it’s my belief that you fellers can turn it into something useful. A showcase for the forests, like the festival and the sky walk, so the punters can come and have a look. They can see it right here, close to town. And if you do it right, it’s a win–win situation. From what I’ve heard, the authorities only want to take a small bit of land. Maybe you can be obliging this time, so you’re ahead when it comes to bigger fights in the future.’

‘You’re being naive, old man,’ Mooney mocked.

Grandpa frowned and straightened his back. He was skinny as a willow branch and looked like he might snap in the wind, but he was still game to stand up to Mooney. ‘When you’re my age and you’ve spent your whole life in the industry, you’re not naive, sonny. And I’ve still got contacts who go up to the forest and tell me what’s going on.’

‘Who? Parkie? What would he know?’ Mooney sniggered.

‘Back off, Mooney,’ Shane growled. ‘Let the man finish.’

‘Gone soft, have you, Shane, since Parkie saved your son?’

‘He saved you too, Mooney. Everybody knows that. Pull your neck in.’

Mooney scowled but backed off.