Fiction inspired by the lyrics of The Trees by Rush

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The unrest in the forest has one single root. The conflict of authority of one tree over another versus the individual freedoms of trees.

Millennia ago the forests were thin, primordial. Small islands of saplings clung together against the withering elements. Seldom did these islands ever see one another. For it was together the trees huddled in their private clans. The ends of the Earth stopped at the edges of each forest. Motes upon the surface of the planet. Each a world unto itself believing perhaps that their own kin was all there was or could ever be. They lived. Some perished. But the survivors learned how to negotiate among themselves. They culled their ranks of the weak growth. Bettering the chances for survival of the entire group. It was harsh, primitive. Perhaps necessary. Lives brutish and short with the freedoms of the survivors intact insofar as merely sustaining life permitted.

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The most successful groups flourished and soon their forested borders were greeted by rivals.

"What is this?" They would mutter to themselves. "Our forest isn't the only one?"

The first reaction was to recoil at the strangeness of the others. "Their ways aren't like ours!" "They're crude. They're vulgar! They're heretical!" "They don't look like us!"

So the fringes of the forests became borders constantly moving as tree fought tree for territory and resources. And pride! Always pride!

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The forests which were dominating gained the most ground by organizing their efforts internally.

Guerilla timbers stood little chance in the face of phalanx attack from organized woodland. Collection and application of resources became key to forest survival. No. Expansion! Dedication for the home-forests resonated in the rings of the faithful, ready to be splintered apart for God and forest.

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Yet as super-forests formed there arose disparate ways to coordinate the efforts of the masses.

Some assigned ultimate power to individuals. Sap-lines running generations in a top-down hierarchy efficiently brutal when necessary. Nimble as leaves on the wind to make decisions and nearly as fickle. Cruelty without hesitation inspired strength but at great cost.

Then there were the forests in which every tree had to do their part for the greater good. All the trees subjugated themselves to the ruling class lest they become one of millions of stumps left behind and never whispered about by the winds.

Some forests held elections and divided their powers. It curtailed the fickle nature of completely centralized rule but it slowed decision making to a seedling crawl. As things began changing in the forests more and more quickly the branches of the government couldn't swing fast enough to keep up. Over time this form resembled the others more and more as it's various branches were entangled in the brambles of special interests.

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Despite their different approaches all the forests fell subject to some constants in the world of wooded affairs.

As technology increased there was a quickening in the brutality and efficiency of destruction. Tree could rip tree into lumber in increasingly short time, in increasing numbers and over farther and farther distances.

During this growth of technology there were also new means of communication. Information could travel faster and further as the new means of speech coalesced into centers of control. Dead-wood publications fell to broadcasting fell to forest networking. Communications would many times form into tight elitist bands then disperse to the every-tree as the costs of doing business didn't take quite as much bark.

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Another constant was an escalation of tensions even though war was becoming more fringe.

A sense of globalism cemented in the first photos from space showing a green globe from afar. Technology taking on life outside the established power structures bolstered some of the first escapades into real individual freedom since the dawn of tree. Only the burdens of survival were now subdued compared to the harsh winters of old. The forests had become marvels of interdependence. Somewhat fragile networks provided for the majority of the forest's residents. From the canopy things looked pretty good despite the suffering happening all around.

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The other constant in the forests was the sine-curve of liberty and authoritarianism.

The power structures would attain the pinnacle of their success only to be toppled by drought, forest fire or the destruction of war. Sometimes it was sappy revolution in the creeks. All the same nothing could last forever.

For it was the way of the tree, some called it tree nature, to attain liberty then to seek authority. Once authority ran it's course the cleansing flame of the forest fire brought back liberty to a new generation. Who would again submit themselves to authority.

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It was an endless cycle. For graft became the guiding star of those in power.

No stable rule could be achieved because power corrupts. No tree could make themselves incorruptible. The power of rule always descended to self-interest. They believed, "As long as my saplings and I are secure all is justifiable."

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Then one day some of the brightest trees built cybernetic forms of liberty as an alternative to the existing rulers.

The intent was that they would be incorruptible arbiters of coded law. Submitting to them would be voluntary, in theory. They operated beyond the authority of forests. Unleashed of the burden of wood & sap they had no borders. Individual trees from all of the World's forests found new homes in virtual grounds. It was an escape from the thorny entanglement of government control.

Shouts arose from the old guard. "Prune it we must!" Despite their efforts to hold onto their power the cyber-liberty became too popular to ignore. Too diaspora to contain.

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Yet in pockets of these cyber-liberties arose garden dictatorships.

Communities left to police themselves fell asunder to self-elected protectors. They didn't protect freedoms, they protected the trees from each other.

Again there was a churn of authoritarianism and liberty. Had things gotten any better? Borders were thrown away, anarchy was given a real chance. But the same masters kept appearing to rap the twigs of those who stepped out of line.

Was there equality between the oaks and maples? Was there true long-lasting liberty? Was corruption thwarted?

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It wasn't until one day that things truly changed. Anarchy had to be forced!

The deciduous nature of trees needed an iron axe to cure them of their ways! The entire one-world forest would blaze as those who resisted were cut to kindling by the robotic chainsaw army sweeping from corner to corner of the globe. Only the most acquiescent were left to stand while their neighbors succumbed to the terror-saws and flame-throwers of mechanized final-solution.

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From the ashes grew a lasting society which guaranteed each and every tree equal opportunity.

Every tree was equally spaced so their roots didn’t intrude upon their neighbor. Every tree was in a way it's own island. Each left to pursue their own interests. All were allowed to enjoy their liberty so long as it didn't impinge any other's liberty. A utopian crown of shade enveloped the Earth made of healthy, free-born trees.

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Conflicts were always brief as the rules were set in stone.

Enforcement was, after all, automatic! Any infringement on a neighbor inflicted immediate pruning. Even to the point of death. The robotic solutions for doling punishment were well understood by every tree. Only the suicidal would step out of line far enough to be permanently harmed as some sometimes did. Death by robo-crop became a sporadic yet common practice by those underwhelmed by the perma-forest. Every tree was free... so long as it didn't bother it's neighbors.

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So it was thus the trees had finally escaped their own greed for sunlight and water.

Every tree was provided for. Every tree could thrive in it's own space. The reductive, cold logic of mechanized overlords stood between themselves and self-destruction. Unless destruction was what they desired they could live long and peaceful existences with only the rustling of leaves disturbing their slumber. The trees at last could bask in liberty at the cost of their treemanity. All was well in the forest as peace reigned perpetually under hatchet, axe and saw.

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