A Panopticon named ‘The Singing Ringing Tree’ was erected ideally at Crown Point, Burnley, in 2006. High on the moors at 1250 ft it sang continually with the ever present wind. Composed of hollow pipes through which the wind whistled it became a focal point for visitors from all over the Country.
Over the next fifty years it was no longer in isolation, as Communication masts, and wind turbines were dotted on the surrounding moors and housing developments encroached ever nearer.
Strange tales of unexplainable happenings at the site circulated over the years. Sightings of ghostly figures, and a gigantic black bird which appeared and disappeared.
It was becoming as famous as the legends from the Lancashire Witches.
I was always sceptical of these tales, but was always amazed when I visited the tree that despite the years of weathering it was in such pristine condition – free of creeping moss or fungus, no dulling grime. Perhaps it had some magic after all?
The last time I visited the tree was on a hot day in late August 2056. A sudden thick mist descended and momentarily I couldn’t see the tree. Was that its singing or the hum of bees and flies? No wildlife ever seemed to be around – no other bird songs.
Suddenly the tone of the tree altered. More high pitched and the wind increased.
The mist started to lift and a strange feeling came over me. I could see the tree clearly now.
Before me a shadowy figure appeared, startling me. It then merged into the tree – beckoning to me. I must be dreaming surely? But no. A high pitched sound came from the figure which wavered and then disappeared.
Was it a warning? Of what? I needn’t have asked. The next minute something hit me from behind, knocking me to the ground. Frightened for my life, I turned my headto try and see my attacker. Terrified of what I would see.
I couldn’t see anything. As I struggled to stand, I was hit again and again with some force. I heard a faint flapping sound, then the tree sang louder and louder as though trying to scare off something. What could it see that I couldn’t? Had it some magic powers as refuted?
Complete silence followed – so eerie. On the ground below the tree lay a still figure of a woman. I crawled towards it in the clearing mist. I went cold. It looked like me. As I got nearer, it suddenly disappeared. Bewildered, I crouched on the ground underneath the tree which was still totally silent.
What had happened? There must be a logical explanation, but in my heart I knew there wasn’t. What had hit me? No sign of anything or anyone now. The mist had gone and everything looked perfectly normal.
Still very shaken I started to walk back down the hill to my car, eager to get away, when I was startled by the loud crying and singing of the tree. I stopped to listen, covering my ears as it became so loud my head seemed to be splitting. I stood for a long time until it suddenly stopped.
As I walked down the path towards where my car was parked, I could see my car on the road, but as I approached it something unbelievable happened. A runaway wagon coming down the hill shunted into the back of my car, smashing it into the wall. I screamed. My mind in a whirl. But for stopping, I would have been in my car – and killed.
Was the tree warning me? Could that be possible?
When I did finally arrive home questions were still whizzing round in my head. I went to have a hot bath, and looked to see if there were any bruises on my back from where I had been hit so savagely. No sign of anything. When folding my clothes – a long thin jet black feather floated down to the floor!
What on earth? Was my attacker the mysterious legendary bird warning me of the future – the body?
Surely such things don’t happen in modern life, the supernatural, magic – or do they?
Was the tree a source of mystic powers after all, or the sounds a stimulant to the imagination?
The boy kissed her and waved to her as he walked down the street. Nick saw that the girl was pregnant. They seemed very familiar to Nick.
The screen slowly changed, it showed a gang of young men chasing the boy along a railway embankment.
As Nick watched the scene in front of him all he could think about was how, from an early age the boy had been mercilessly bullied.
The gang caught up with boy and threw him to the ground but suddenly one of the boys yelled to leave him alone Nick clearly heard him shout ‘he’s had enough’.
The gang let him go.
The boy never saw the train coming as he turned to run across the train line.
The screen went blank. Nick looked at the figure in the corner. ‘Is that my Dad?’ He screamed through the tears that now streamed down his face.
The figure said nothing
‘Tell me please is it my Dad, why was they bullying him? I don’t understand. What am I doing here? Who are you?’
The figure stood silent and slowly started fading from view. Nick looked and through loud sobs he screamed at the fast disappearing figure ‘please tell me is it my Dad? The figure had gone and Nick was left with nothing but darkness.
There was a sudden shaking ‘come on Nick time for school.’ He looked up and saw his Mother, the same features as the girl on the screen.
Had it all been a dream. Nick shrugged his shoulders and got ready for school.
Just before the nine o’clock bell Danny was Rushing out of school with his school blazer ripped to tatters when he bumped into Sandy. ‘So much for your magic tree, nothings changed.’
Sandy talked to Danny and managed to talk him into returning back to school
Looking out of the cloak room window stood Nick Adams watching the two figures talking; they reminded him of the boy and girl in his dream.
At dinner time the boys had gathered to give Danny a hard time when a Figure pushed through the crowd. ‘Leave him alone, he’s had enough.’ One of the boys ignored him and went to punch Danny; Danny shut his eyes and winced as he waited for the punch.
‘I said leave him alone, he’s had enough.’
Danny opened his eyes expecting to see one of the teachers but to his surprise he saw Nick stood there holding the boy by his arms.
‘It stops now, right here.’ Nick looked and smiled at Danny and whispered ‘I’m sorry.’
That night after school Danny and Sandy were talking about the singing ringing tree and how it had helped him. But back in Nick’s house it was a different story.
Nick was busy asking his Mum how his Dad really died.
She told him how he got knocked down by a train running away from some bullies and how he died before he was born. He was a lovely man, he’d have made a great Dad.
Nick went to bed and looked out at the stars above and his eyes wandered over to the hills where the singing ringing tree stood. May-be it wasn’t a dream, may-be there is something magical about that tree.
