Apartheid 100
Treehouse of the Holy Land
"Our Revenge Will Be the Laughter of Our Children"-
Bobby Sands
After days finding the route to the West Bank, they finally made it to the Wall.
Akira: So…why ditch your guns, Soran?
Soran (putting on his Keffiyeh): Because, when we get to the crossing, we need to do this peacefully.
Akira: Well, guess this is it.
Beatrix: You know, there may be a quicker way without any need of inspection. (Shows her Star of David necklace)
Beatrix stepped out of the RV unarmed.
Beatrix: Shalom, officer.
Israeli Border Police (seeing Beatrix's Star of David on her breasts): Oh! Shalom to you, ma'am.
The Israeli Border Police was so infatuated with Beatrix, he forgot to inspect the RV.
Soran: Is it me, or was that man lovestruck?
At last, they made it to the West Bank. There were murals all over the Wall. Akira started taking pictures of them.
Akira: This is amazing!
At that moment, Akira saw Soran standing in front of one of the murals.
Kencho: What is it?
Akira: I've never seen Soran so…sad
Shizuka (seeing a tear in Soran's eye): Why do you cry?
Soran: Khader Adnan had died in the 87 day hunger strike. The Zionists wouldn't let us give him a burial. He was our Bobby Sands. So I cry for him.
Beatrix came up to Soran and gave him a warm hug. The Freedom Fighters 5 continued their travel on foot as Akira Akira took more pictures of the murals along the way. That was until they heard a dog bark in the woods. A dog was chasing a man.
Beatrix: Oshite mairu!
Beatrix fired her bow & arrow at the dog.
Man: So, I see you've brought some friends to here to the West Bank, Soran. My name is Jafar Shajara.
Akira: What are you doing out in the woods?
Jafar: The IOF are everywhere. I was looking for someplace safe where I wouldn't have to pay the Zionists tax money. They must've sent a dog to sniff me out!
Beatrix: Home is where you make it.
Shizuka: You can't make home in the forest.
But then, that was when they saw it all.
Akira: Is that…?
Jafar: That's right! It's a treehouse! I'm a carpenter myself. In Belarus, the Bielskis were able to build their homes in the wilderness where the Nazis couldn't find them. This is kermes oak. Oaks have large thick branches, so they make perfect host trees. This is a rare sight in Palestine.
Akira: Mr Shajara, there may be more patrol dogs out there. We'd be very happy to help.
Shizuka: What about Soran's family?
Soran: Time or no, Jafar could definitely use our help.
Akira: He's right! Have a heart! Your own secret refugee camp where the kids can play! Someplace where you can embrace nature! So can we?
Kendo: I think it's a great idea.
Soran: Anything for Palestine.
So they got to work.
Shizuka: Men…
Akira (helping out with the treehouse): A hose?
Jafar: It's difficult to judge how level things are between trees by seeing it. You measure it by checking the level with the hose filled with water. If you place you nuts and bolts in the right spot, you won't damage the tree. If you're not certain of anything, asking the forest.
Akira: The forest?
Jafar: That's right! The foundation of the treehouse is the trees themselves. If the trees die, there will be no more home for any of us. When you see a tree, you see the animals that rely on it as their home. That's how you hear the voice of the forest.
Akira began to think of including this on his bucket list.
Jafar: You got quite a knack for this.
Akira: Really? Thank you. I always dreamed of having a treehouse when I was a kid.
Jafar: What's wonderful! My son used to beg me to make one when he was five.
Akira: Where is he now? Mr Shajara?
Jafar: My family was run over by a bulldozer. The Zionists were going to tear down our home. I blame myself for running out on them. (Breaks into tears) I could've saved my family and taken the fall so they'd live.
Just when Jafar was about to loose grip of the wood, Akira grabbed it.
Akira: If your family was alive, I'm sure they'd be grateful to see that you're okay. You have my full support. Let's finish this together.
Jafar: Shkran lak. Alright. Just a little more until it's complete.
Everyone got to work. The treehouse was complete. From slide to swing. The girls enjoyed canned food, and Soran was happy to have Hamoud Boualem. Akira crossed out "Build A Treehouse".
Akira: Mr Shajara, it's been nice working with you.
Jafar: You can come by anytime.
Soran: Allah be with you.
So they continued their journey to Soran's village. As they arrived, Akira began to think about what Soran spoke of the Israeli war crimes. When they got closer to the village, there was no one around.
Soran: Oh no…they couldn't have… Yāba! Yámma!
Soran rushed into one of the houses. It turned out his family was okay. They were actually performing their salah. The elders were surprised to see Soran's return.
Elder (to Soran's mother): Khadijah! Your son has returned!
Khadijah: Soran? Is that really you?
Soran's Father, Boulos came up to his son.
Boulos: You're alive? (Gives Soran a hug) Thought I lost you. Are these your friends? We have plenty of empty rooms for you to rest.
Akira: Why thank you.
Boulos: I'm off to the fields (takes off)
Shizuka: You're dad's not the way I pictured him.
Soran's family cooked up supper for his friends.
Khadijah: We have a livestock of goats and forage for food out in the fields. We're a small village with no fancy, but you're more than welcome to make yourselves at home.
Akira and Kendo: Thank you!
All: Thanks for the food!
Shizuka: Somehow, this village is untouched by the Israeli government.
Khadijah: We are a remote village that's off the grid. We have survived droughts hunting and watering our olive trees. This spot of trouble isn't trouble at all.
Beatrix: If you don't mind my asking, what about the patrol dog…
Khadijah: The Zionists were charging our people for the mortgage. Ever heard of what happened to Rachel Corrie? She was an American. She stood up for the Palestinians who were about to loose their land in Gaza, and the bulldozer ran over her.
Akira: I'm just glad to see Soran's family is safe.
Khadijah: Anyway, we let the refugees live among us.
Beatrix: Wunderbar! Soran, we should include diversity to your list on helping your people end the Israeli occupation here in Palestine!
Soran: You're right. After that performance you made at the Wall, that should give Netanyahu a reason to disband the IOF.
Kendo and the girls went outside for some air.
Kendo: First time I've set foot in the West Bank.
Akira offered to help Soran and his mother.
Khadijah: Aren't you two exhausted from your journey? I can do the dishes alone, so get some rest.
Boulos: I can use a hand if you boys are free.
So Soran and Akira went out in the field with Boulos.
Soran: So, how are things going? Are the backaches going away?
Boulos: No. It's the same as usual.
Soran: Yāba, you've really been doing this yourself? Working in the fields is hard work.
Boulos: Could be worse.
Akira: Well, now that we're here, we're ready to help you with anything.
Boulos: Everyone here must do their part. Even Soran knows it.
Akira and Soran harvested green beans for their evening's supper. On their way back to the village, they spotted four mysterious people.
Akira (Spotting the one with the cigarette): That guy looks familiar.