The Mulberry Tree
Page 16
And, of course, at the tree, above.
There it stood, beautiful and green and alive. Below, beneath her feet, she felt its roots spread wide, offering strength and security and a sense of togetherness to everyone in the village. Immy stepped forward and stroked it. Only kindness and love radiated from its bark now.
You gave them back, Immy thought, hoping the tree could hear her. That’s what was making you sick. You gave them back without knowing you’d receive anything in return.
Immediately, a wave of peace washed over Immy, almost as if the tree were sending her a message in return. Hoping to connect with it further, she kept her hand on the tree’s trunk and closed her eyes.
It worked.
A word began to repeat over and over again in her head.
Forgiveness.
Immy opened her eyes again. A smile on her face, she tilted her head back and was met with a view of the tree’s berried branches.
Forgiveness.
That was the tree’s message.
By forgiving the village and freeing the girls, the tree had also freed itself.
Immy felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Elizabeth, who was taking in the tree’s majesty as well.
It was some time before either of them spoke.
“Imagine being so old. The things it must have seen! I often think they must be very wise, trees,” Elizabeth finally said.
“Yes,” Immy replied, after a few strokes of the tree’s beautiful knot-free trunk. “I think you’re right. They are. Especially this one.”
To all at Walker Books Australia, a bigger-than-the-mulberry-tree thank-you — Linsay Knight, Nicola Santilli, Sarah Ambrose, Amy Daoud, Anna Abignano, and everyone behind the scenes. Also to Rovina Cai for the beautiful cover illustration.
To my previous agent, Jaida Temperly, of New Leaf Literary & Media for the literal new leaf, and to Jordan Hamessley for taking over the reins.
As always, pats for my literate guinea pigs — Mum, Dad, Nilly, Paul, and David.
And to Allison Tait for the moral support and plotting of Zen and the Art of Publishing workshops.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2018 by Allison Rushby
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
First U.S. electronic edition 2020
First published by Walker Books (Australia) 2018
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number pending
This book was typeset in Centaur.
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