Her face appeared on the intergalactic station’s communication screen. “I am Lyanna, keeper of the trees on the dwarf planet Thorin, in the Trappist solar system.”  

 

“Welcome, Lyanna,” I said, “I am Leonard, Minister of the Environment for planet Earth in the Helios system. Thank you for joining our conference. We honour your efforts in restoring the woodlands of Thorin. Earth offers assistance should you need it.”

 

She bowed her head in acknowledgement. “Thank you, Leonard Earthman, but no help required. I have the matter under control.” Her voice was gentle but confident. “My information networkers tell me that Earth is more in need of your administration than Thorin, but should you wish to visit me and observe our progress you would be welcome.”

 

My colleagues peppered her with questions:

 

“How much of Thorin remains infertile?”

 

“What steps have been taken to prevent further blight?”

 

“What percentage of the population has survived?”

 

“Is your current food production sufficient?”

 

She answered them all with statistics, proven facts, and a quiet dignity that impressed and shamed us. We had provided no help when the dwarf planet was ravaged by an ecological disaster but the Thorini had saved their world through their own endeavours and they had no need of us now.

 

Before ending the conference I said, “I accept your invitation to visit Thorin and I will bring a gift from Earth to acknowledge your achievements. I hope you will accept it.”

 

“Thank you. Leonard Earthman. I look forward to meeting you.” She bowed and then broke the communication link.

 

~ * ~

           

She met me at the space port. We loaded my travel bags into her solar powered carriage and she drove us to her home. The gift I had chosen for her was a selection of saplings: hawthorn, rowan, aspen, juniper, willow and the mighty oak. “Please take these as an addition to your replenishment of Thorin’s woodland,” I said. “Let them be a symbol of friendship between our worlds.”

 

“Did they come willingly?”

 

 I was startled by her question. There was much I had to learn about the Thorini. “They raised no objection,” I said.

 

She passed the saplings to her land workers. “Find a suitable copse to house these young ones of Earth, and nurture them well.” Turning back to me, she said, “We will visit them tomorrow. Now I will take you to my grove and introduce you to Thorin’s trees.”

 

She led me through her garden. Blue, yellow and purple insects buzzed among an abundance of sweet smelling blossoms, and small rodent-like creatures poked their noses from the cover of low lying foliage. They showed curiosity but no fear.

 

We approached the grove. The trees were tall and stately. Their silver-streaked bark gleamed in the sunlight and their branches were heavy with finely veined iridescent leaves in many shades of green. A flutter of birds rose in flight as we drew near.

 

“Your trees are beautiful, Lyanna,” I said. “May I take cuttings back to Earth?”

 

In my head I heard an anguished howl, “No, no.” The branches swayed as if shaken by a hurricane, but no wind blew. I stepped back, trembling.

 

“Lyanna touched my arm. “You frighten them. Would you pluck a suckling from its mother’s breast?”

 

I steadied my voice. “Forgive me. I didn’t understand. This is strange to me. The trees of Earth are not sentient.”

 

“Are you sure of that, Earthman? Perhaps you are simply unable to hear their voices. We will speak of this tomorrow.” She led me away from the grove and to the guest room she had prepared for me. “Space transportation is tiring. You need to sleep now.”

 

In a dream that night I heard my saplings cry, “We want to go home. Please take us home.”

 

I tried to close my ears to their pleading but it touched my heart.

 

Birdsong awakened me. I let the morning colours flood my eyes and wash the dream away. Lyanna met me in the garden and we walked together to the newly planted Earth saplings.

​

“Listen,” she said.

 

I heard the infant voices, like a morning breeze rustling tender young leaves. “Please take us home.”

 

“How can I hear them?” I asked. “Has Thorin’s soil awakened their minds?”

 

She shrugged. “Perhaps, or perhaps Thorin’s air has unstopped your ears. What will you do?”

 

“I’ll take them home.”

 

“Wise decision, Earthman. I’ll help you to uproot them with love and prepare them for a safe journey.”

 

“Thank you, and I’m sorry. I wished to present you with a gift but my attempt failed.”

 

She shook her head. “It did not. You gave me the gift of your friendship. Our worlds may face many future dangers. We can learn from our friends how we may best overcome them. Respect for each other and for all living things is a good beginning.”