Summary Execution
The day came, the tree had to be felled, it had contracted some dreaded rot, well at least that's what the Council said, her own people had tested the willow and had found Nothing wrong. Since the council had taken over the Trust, forcibly no less, they'd been trying to get rid of it, to build a memorial they said, for the war dead. Since no one had agreed to the placing of a new monument, locals favouring the idea of incorporating the ruined chuch wall into a monument.
The Council persisted to little avail, until up came the charges.
Diseased Willow must be felled.
The three families were damned if they allowed her to be executed summararily at least with no resistance.
The local papers were symaptheic with the Trust founders, especially when they had been told that the tree might be the oldest of it's kind in the country living more than twice it's natural lifespan. They quite liked a story where three men and three women stood between a tree and it's executioners.
Evey pinned her two medals to her chest, she'd told the others to wear theirs. Harry had the most, but then again it was a miracle he was even here to wear them, with some madcap recues, one involving drag, if they weren't exaggerating.
Sonia wore the pins from her societies her Royal Rosette, Emily wore her her pins and her bomb survivors association badge, a calculated move to show the opposition, they weren't nobodies to push aside on a whim, but rather veterans and active players in the war they were memorialising.
It was Emily's idea.
How to wind the council up with irony:
"Veterans oppose war Memorial, Imagine the headline." She was right of course. But it felt funny to Evey to be making a stand on an empty grave.
Harry sat up the tree with a sling shot and a couple of clumps of earth Dan by his side to act as a calming influence, Emily on another bough with a basket of flowers on her lap.
Sonia had her feet firmly planted on the ground as she was busy organising a ribbon picket under the guise of a traditional circle dance, a stroke of artistic brilliance
"Clockwise 5 6 7 8 Forward 2 3 and Change!"
That woman was deceptive so meek and pliable but put her in charge of something and she became the most capable woman in the world.
Eyeing Harry she wondered if he'd get them arrested, they were in their late 30's, Tom was 42, it would hardly be seen as youthful exhuberance any more.
Tom sat on the other side of the tree watching proceedings, the stage being set, occasionally smilling at Sonia, God He loved her.
He could see the Council roll up with their men, they'd brought police so many of them it seemed a waste of resources but one thing was obvious, The Council were no longer debating this.
The circle dancers were told to stop obstructing them, The Council Spokesman was laughed down.
Sonia walked forward, the circle parted for her with an unearthly authority she spoke:
"We're Peacefull and are doing no harm , we're also on Private land."
"This is an illegal protest taking place on public land." Sonia held her ground glancing backwards.
"Are there picket lines? Placards or offesnsive chants or anything else to suggest they are a protest? We're having a party for the tree, she is very old you know. You're welcome to join us.
The four policemen and those in the riot van laughed quietly, struggling, the little woman against the pompous official would make quite the amusing show.
They none of them particulary wanted to arrest veterans, especially local heroes over a bloody tree. They knew the fame attached to this group; one had been shot by enemy arsonists on home soil but had still managed to bring them in, and there was no one in the country who hadn't heard of the machine gun mount attack. No you do not arrest the people you wish you could be.
They'd leave it to the Council for as long as possible.
You are resisting our work .
A voice answered from above;
"Would you like some flowers?" Petals rained on the irritating civil servant's head, thwarted anger never looked so funny as on a man covered in pink and white petal confetti."
"This is a large gathering you are being obstructive."
To his surprise Sonia told her circle dancers to leave, to which they dutifully obeyed.
"You Are still a large enough group to be dispersed by the police."
"No Now we are three groups of two and can become six and that only works on the authority of someone of higher rank than the amiable sergeant by your side remember the changes in the law? How can you say we are one group when we are on different levels?"
Audible laughter, this time silenced by the Seargent barely able to keep his own face straight:
" You might as well ask them their terms."
Scandalised by the lack of support the Official did as he was told.
"What do you want? so we can get on."
Tom walked round the tree to face them, taking Sonia by the shoulders.
"I'll take it from here Love. You have no right to this land or the tree. The original trustee's own that very spot, that little plot there belongs to me, that mud and dust is mine until I become dust."
"The council will own your claim by tomorrow, why not release it now?"
"Not if i'm dead." He pulled his old pistol from his pocket placing the barrel in his mouth.
The young officers leapt into action training their weapons on him a pistol and a couple of tasers.
The Sergeant served them a look of disappointment .
Evey stood between them and Sonia pushing her back towards the willow.
"Oh yes, shoot the man trying to kill himself, that'll work, I commend you on your well thought out plan, while you're at it punish an alcoholic with beer."
She held his arm as she whispered in his ear. Through obstructive mouth he began to speak, removing the barrel from his mouth.
" It appears I didn't think that through either." before placing it to his right temple " Oh well much better now I can speak easier, this is how it goes you are going to leave the tree alone otherwise I will blow my brains out and the council is going to look petty in preventing a veterans funeral.
Dan From up the tree watched the blood drain from Sonia's face and his wife's one tell, nervous downward smile.
Holy Hell, this was venturing close to an ugly bloodbath.
Harry with his sling shot hit a grave further out as a slight distraction , which he used to push Emily further up the tree another clod of earth on another grave as he and Dan whisked Sonia up into the safety of the branches. Then Evey into Dan's arms.
Then there was one.
"Look there's a press Camera!"
The official sweated profusely conscious he was being made to look a fool.
Harry took another shot hitting the closest grave to a nervous youngster with a taser who fired.
Tom Convulsed as he fell fortunately firing away from his head and into the tree.
A collective scream sounded as Harry fell from it's branches landing motionless in a pool of blood.
Dan was the first down closely followed by the girls, he proceeded in perforning first aid, staunching the blood as best he could Emily cradled Harry's head in her arms, violent tears streaming down her face.
"You've killed him you bastards!
You've killed him over a damn tree!"
Dan allowed the Sergeant to take over as first Aider.
"He's alive Emily it just got his leg, he's going to have a hell of a headache later."
Sonia sat next to Tom stroking his hair he reached for her hand and smiled.
" We've won Love , the film crew caught it all, we're the headline."