“My granddad told me when trees stand on their own, with no other trees around them, their branches grow wild like that. Branches twisted all over the place, like they’re trying to grab at everything and nothing’s around to hold on to.” “Yeah, I see it.” Hai studied the leafless tree, its branches scattered as if frozen in the midst of waving for help. “But when they’re in the forest, with their people, you know? They all go straight up, reaching tall as they can. Isn’t that odd? Probably bullshit, to tell the truth—but I believe it.”
