Speak to the Earth by William Bell Read Free Book Online

middle-of-the-road stuff. Bryan joined them as Jimmy dished out plates of steaming beef stew and thick slices of bread.
    “You’re just in time,” Jimmy said, “for my famous Dead Cow Delight.”
    “Jimmy!” Iris complained. “We have to eat this glue, you know.”
    “And,” Jimmy went on, unperturbed, “for an important announcement.” He twisted caps off two bottles of beer and set them on the table. “So important, we have Kootenay champagne tonight.”
    “Wait,” Iris interrupted. “Listen.”
    The six o’clock news had begun.
Premier Harrington announced today that licence has been granted for logging of the Orca Sound area of Vancouver Island, one of the last remaining untouched stands of temperate rainforest, not only in British Columbia but in the world. A spokesperson for Mackenzie Forest Industries said that the Orca Sound Ecological Preservation Plan, as the project is called, will create hundreds of jobs over the next five years —
    “Oh, my God!” Iris cried. “They can’t !”
    The premier’s announcement was immediately condemned by Greenpeace and other anti-logging groups, which warned that the decision will be fought in the courts. Action of a more direct nature was not ruled out
.
    “Stupid buggers!” Jimmy threw down his fork
    Other logging projects in the past, at Tsitika, Walbran, Lyell Island, Carmanah and Stein were met with protests leading to the arrests of hundreds of people. Anti-logging activists warned that, if the clear-cut logging of Orca Sound proceeds, mass demonstrations and disruptions will be inevitable
.
    Clear-cut logging, long a controversial practice banned in most countries, was defended by —
    Jimmy jumped up and snapped off the radio. “Well, I guess my news isn’t so good after all,” he said bitterly.
    “Those damn crooked politicians have caved in again!” Iris shouted. “All the corporations have to do is say ‘jobs’ and the politicians do whatever the company wants. Pardon? Sorry, Jimmy, I was ranting, wasn’t I. What was it you wanted to tell us?”
    Bryan’s uncle said, “Well, I landed a job today”
    “Great!” Bryan said.
    “Terrific, Jimmy.” Iris got up from the table and hugged her brother.
    Jimmy struggled free. “You won’t think it’s so terrific when I tell you what it is.”
    Bryan saw the cloud pass over his mother’s face. “You don’t mean—”
    “Yeah, I
do
mean. MFI is taking on about seventy-five people here and in Talbot Inlet.”
    “And you’re one of them.”
    “I’m a logger, Iris. It’s what I do.”
    “But, Jimmy.” Iris fought to control herself. “I’m glad you found work, but … you
can’t.”
    His voice rising with every word, his face reddening, Jimmy said, “Why can’t I? First hint of work I’ve had in a year or more. What am I supposed to do, turn it down and become a bloody tree-hugger?”
    “They’re going to clear-cut the Sound! Didn’t you hear?” Iris responded, her own voice taking on a hard edge. “Do you want to look out over the passage and see raped mountainsides?”
    “Don’t be so damned dramatic, Iris. It won’t be that bad and you know it. You always have to get hysterical and exaggerate. You know, I’m sick and tired of you people. I’ve been a logger all my life. Used to be I could be proud to say that, hold up my head. Now, for the last few years, me and guys like me are bad guys. Where the hell do you think the timber came from that this house is made out of? Eh, Iris? Where did the cedar grow that got cut down so you and that
other
committee you belong to could build the town’s art gallery? From the forest around here, that’s where! And people like me cut the timber down. We were good guys then, though, eh? Well, I’ll tell you something, sister of mine, I’m
proud
to be a logger. And it’s crazies like you that put me out of work to begin with!”
    Bryan saw the familiar look of determination on his mother’s face. “Jimmy, that forest has to be