"Where in this world of deceit and greed and destruction can I find succor?"

"Consider the trees."

Zheng looked abashed. "'Consider the trees'? How very oracular. I drove all this way from the city to the foot of your mountain and I climbed this rocky path with my breaking heart, and you tell me to consider the trees. You sound the same as you did 2,500 years ago."

"You know how we old ones are. We're set in our ways."

Put out, Zheng looked impatiently about. "Can you get unset enough to clarify for this thick-headed young one?"

"Do you have a vacation in your job?"

"Two weeks."

"Two weeks? That's more than enough time. Spend those two weeks with a tree. Doesn't matter where. In your yard, in the forest. Choose any tree and camp under it. Be sure you take a stool or pillow, so that during the day you can sit comfortably at a distance and-- I'm sorry, I have no other words-- consider the tree."

"The tree I suppose will answer my question."

"Everyone agrees that trees cannot talk, but yes, if you listen closely, the tree may answer your question."