A few ravens hopped along the trunk of the Old Yellow Cedar as the four kids and five adults pushed through the devil’s club into the grove of old growth.

“My goodness, son,” Aunt Mall said, lifting her camera and snapping a photo. “You slayed a wooly mammoth. I can’t even fit the tree into my frame.” She strode over the moss, trying to get a good angle.

Uncle Cliff ran a calloused hand over the bark. “How’d you topple this beast without getting it hung up?”

“I’ve watched you enough times,” Clete said. He scampered up a branch and stood on the trunk, the ravens hopping out of his way, but not flying off.

“Nicky, do you think your dad should play up there? Or in front of the tree?” Nathan asked as he set up a tripod.

“In front,” Alice answered for her. “Gives a sense of the girth of the cedar. It’s hard for people off the island to appreciate. This is going around the world, right?”

“Absolutely,” Nathan said. “Also into the Jackson Cove Courier. Right, Mallory?”

“Oh yeah,” Aunt Mall said, lifting her notebook and giving it a shake. “I’m getting it all down.”

“Dad, when we go live, can you put a banner up? Something like, ‘Stop this from happening to another thousand-year-old tree’?” Veronica asked. “With the website URL, of course. Then, ‘Save Sky River Valley by donating to a craft guitar shop that will build instruments out of salvaged lumber, instead of clearcutting these ancient trees.’ Or something like that.”

Nathan typed into the computer. “That’ll work. I just need to get this satellite internet feed hooked up.” He flipped open the latches of a black briefcase, then started plugging wires into his laptop. “Okay, team. Live around the world in five.”

“Clete, how about you help me take a larger piece off one of these Sitka spruces,” Uncle Cliff said. “Like that one you found. I want a bigger chunk.”

Clete leaped down from the cedar, landing in a crouch. “Do you want to run the saw? Or do you want me to?”

“Well, all right, big guy. You can run it, seeing as how you just cut down the king of the forest.”

“I’m not proud of it.”

“I know you’re not.”

Clete poured gas from one of the red containers, then bolted the chainsaw to the Alaskan mill. He pulled the cord, and the saw screeched to life. Cliff took the other side, and helped push the blade along the length of the tree. The engine screamed as the chain dug deeper, and a plume of dark wood lightened as the bar worked through. At the far end Cliff powered the saw down. “On three. One, two, three.”

They heaved the moss-heavy skin, stepping back as it tumbled off the tree. The bright yellow wood beneath seemed to glow from within, casting a wan light over Clete’s features. It reminded Nicky of the buttercups her mother used to hover beneath their chins, dappling their skin golden. “You girls both love butter.”

Cliff rapped the wood with his knuckles, nodding. “Amazing. This wood is pristine. Just as you kids said.”

Danny came over and ran a finger along the grain. “Cell structure’s perfect. I would pay double for wood like this. The music this would make.”

“It’s just gorgeous wood,” Uncle Cliff said. “You get the natural crowding in a grove like this, making the growth circles tight.”

“Okay, Daniel,” Nathan called from where he stood by the spruce. “You want to stand by with your axe? I’ve put up notices all over social media. Seattle and Silicon Valley are standing by. They’ll seed it once we get going. Thirty seconds until we go out to the world.”

Their father returned to where he had been standing. He lowered the brass slide over his pinkie. The body of the guitar rose and fell as he settled it against his chest. “I’m out of practice for performing,” he said.

“Well, get ready,” said Nathan, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Who’s introducing you?”

“Nicky, this was all your idea,” Josie said, the admiration clear in her voice. “You do it.”

Nicky shook her head. “No. You and Veronica. You’re a good team.”

Veronica stepped forward. She lifted the purple mask with the Alaska flag off her mouth and stood next to their father, almost matching his height. “Maybe you introduce?” she said to Josie. “Then I’ll make the ask.”

“I’ll do it, girls,” Alice said. “I’m the mayor, after all.”

“Everything’s linked up,” Nathan said. “Folks are ready, let’s not keep ’em. Alice, then Veronica, then Josie, and music. Josie, you do outro. Good?”

All of them nodded.

“Okay. I’ve sent out the link. Looks like we’re starting with just over a thousand viewers. It’s up to you to get more. On my mark. Counting down from ten, nine eight, seven, six, five, four…” He finished with his fingers, and pressed the button. Nicky inhaled as the red light came on and Alice started to speak.