Trees Are Us

The LEC series is best read in order as some stories extend over more than one volume, and the characters evolve.

All will come again into its strength:
the fields undivided, the waters undammed
the trees towering and the walls built low
and in the valleys, people strong and varied as the land.

And no churches where God
is imprisoned and lamented
like a trapped and wounded animal.
Rilke

This volume has many themes, in particular saving an ancient Spanish Oak or Encina Tree from the depredations of a corrupt politician. A bent mayor, engineers a bent election and then gives himself permission to build something totally illegal and inappropriate. But profit beckons. What doesn't beckon is a source of water and an appropriate sewage disposal system. But worst of all, it means cutting down fields of Olive Trees and one ancient Encina Oak which had watched over the village forever. Toby and Jesús plot to stop the building works. Sabotage and Striptease come into it.


Marriage isn't a word.
It's a sentence. Kate Atkinson

Marriage is another theme. It's about using weddings as cover to steal stolen drugs. Some sort of nadir is reached. Elena, the bride might well agree with these sentiments after trying to make a go of it with Antonio.

It also deals with some of the curious ways of Elephants:

Q. Why do Elephants paint their balls red?
A. To hide in Cherry Trees.

There's the theme of a young, very likeable prostitute being murdered. Gheorghe helps José investigate. Another prostitute is given refuge in Almendral as she is being stalked by the killer. She joins in the protests over the building project and the de-tree-ification.

Carmen, now pregnant in spite of believing it impossible, is shot while policing (read 'helping') the protests in Almendral! That didn't need to be investigated, what with 200 or so witnesses. Gheorghe gets creative dealing with the culprits.

Another theme is about owning the Truth and knowing happiness at last.

Juan in LEC keeps a Sparrow Eye on it all both in and out of the Materium. He welcomes in those exiting the Materium; stretches his mind to learn more about God (where is He?) and the Bible; all the while... falling in Love again... Can't help it... (Hum along)

Q. What do you get if you kiss a Sparrow?
A. Chirpies.
But there's tweetment!

And Topics for Discussion to cool you down after all that.
!