An ancient pine tree, twisted and bent by the winds, clung to a crevasse in a rock by the edge of the sea. It drew Seikei's attention. He wondered how the tree managed to survive. He thought about how many people had passed by it during the years it had grown there. For some reason, it made him feel sad.

"You are thinking about that tree," said the judge.
"How did you know?" asked Seikei.
"Everyone looks at it," he replied. "Because it stands alone next to the sea. Look on the other side of the road."

Seikei looked at the hillside that rose above them. Pine trees grew all over it, one just like another.

"They are straight and tall," said the judge. "They follow their nature as trees, which is to grow, spread their branches, and in time drop their cones so that new trees will grow in their place when they die. Most people live like that, don't you agree?"

Seikei nodded. "Yet," the judge said "everyone looks at the tree that stands alone. It is different. Fate has put it where it cannot grow straight and tall. It reminds us of something that we fear. What is that?"

I chose this passage because Judge Ooka is subtly implying that there is another force in the world that causes things to happen in the world as they do. For example, when Seikei ends up in the same inn as a samurai, it is as though this were predestined. It seems it is Seikei's fate to stand alone. The tree reminds us of our fear of being alone and being outcasts.

-Luke M.