Now tell me what youre afraid of.Uncle Nathan is right about this tree. Its got some kind of spirit in it. And it doesnt want me to leave. I saw my dad smile and shake his head. Im serious, Dad. You cant send those guys up here again. The tree will try to kill them before it lets them take me down. Didnt you see it happen?I saw a couple of accidentsAnd Ronnie fell yesterday, but somehow Im able to be up in this tree no problem. I got up here without any ropes or ladders. Dont you find that mysterious? Uncle Nathan doesnt. Grandfather doesnt.They are both superstitious, thats all.I know, I said. And what about that, Dad? Youve spouted all your legends and myths at me my whole life, and now you suddenly dont care about them? That doesnt make any sense.He sighed so deeply I could hear it. I study those legends to get to know our culture, our heritage. I dont believe that they are literal truths.But what about the mermaids? I pressed. Remember the big story you told about the singing boat and the killer whale? It was you who told me that maybe the story was wrong and it wasnt a singing boat; it was a mermaid under the boat.I remember, but I had a real mermaid staring me in the face at the time. There isnt anything like that going on right now.I hear whispers coming from the tree. It moves on its own. It is warmer than it should beYouve been up there too long. Youre delirious.I grunted at him. It started before I climbed up!Dad rubbed a hand over his face. I dont know what you want me to do here.I turned on the camera and flipped the digital pictures until I found that one with the face. I stuck it in the bucket and lowered it down to my dad and told him to take a look.Is that as good as a mermaid right in front of you?He studied the picture a moment and then replied, I always see faces in the knots of trees. Who doesnt? I think thats why so many people create horror stories about them.