The Tree

Book Summary

Borneo, 1943: The Japanese occupation has ravaged the island and its indigenous tribes. When an Australian bombing mission goes disastrously wrong, plane tactician John and his fellow soldiers crash deep in the jungle - straight into the territory of the Dayak headhunters.

Torak, a respected Dayak warrior, discovers the wreckage. While some tribesmen want to kill the surviving foreigners to protect their people, Torak recalls another outsider who once lived among them with honour. Guided by Dayak tradition, he spares the soldiers' lives - setting in motion a fragile alliance between cultures.

Back in Australia, the Army enlists anthropologist Tom Evans, who once lived with the Dayak, to assist in a rescue mission. Restless and eager to return to the people he admires, Tom plunges headfirst into the heart of the conflict - facing the unforgiving jungle, the Japanese army, and his own shifting loyalties.

As John, Torak, and Tom's worlds collide, survival becomes a test of courage, trust, and the boundaries of duty and friendship. The storyline focuses on the numerous obstacles and competing cultural ideals the men face as Torak and other Dayak warriors guide John, Tom and the surviving soldiers through the jungle to a predetermined extraction site.

Book Themes

The author has tried to incorporate various themes pertinent in today's world in his book. Themes that many of us can relate to. These include issues related to the environment, indigenous peoples, and societal and cultural norms. The book details not only the physical journey of its three main protagonists but their spiritual and psychological journey as they endure numerous life-threatening hardships. Their story is how they learn from one another with open minds, and the deep bond that grows between them, notwithstanding their differing cultures and backgrounds.

The book also offers some philosophical considerations and attempts to connect those to many issues relevant today and that affect all of us. The author hopes readers can identify with these issues and as the books' main characters grow and evolve its readers can experience that growth along with them.

It is hoped that the book is more than historical fiction. The author would like readers to find the story not only interesting but thought provoking and stimulating.

Paul Gregory's lifelong fascination with science, history, and the people who shaped both inspired him to explore the shared threads of humanity across cultures. The Tree is his first novel. He lives in Coldstream, British Columbia, in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with his wonderful spouse.