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trail from just at the back here. Stay on it until
you come to a small river, cross it and take the left turn on the
path. You will find many animals nearer to the pond down that
way.”
    “No!” Henryk jolted forward, clutching at
David’s sleeve. “You must not.”
    David jerked away from the old man, not
bothering to hide his impatience. “Unless the women are gun-toting
murderers, I don’t think I’ll have a problem. Thank you for the
warning, sir, and have a good life.”
    The man’s mouth worked, his face mottled with
color. David was halfway to the door when he called out, “Only the
dawn can save you! The dawn , young American.”
    “Henryk!” the bartender barked.
    Shaking his head at the foolishness of old
men, David shouldered his way out of the inn, and jogged into the
woods.
     

Chapter 2
     
    He shifted slowly, not wanting to disturb any
animals that may be closing in on the pond. David had waited
patiently for hours, but it hadn’t been a great night. There were
few things moving through the dark woods.
    He stood to scan his surroundings. A glimmer
of silver moonlight danced on the surface of the tranquil pond
nestled between thick stands of trees boasting a mixture of old
growth and young saplings. He breathed in the rich smells of earth,
pine and a subtle floral scent that teased his nose. The silence
was weighted, as if the forest held its breath, watching him.
    An explosion of white broke the stillness,
close enough to stir his hair. David ducked, covering his head as
he grabbed for his camera. He staggered, fighting for balance, his
finger depressing the button before he could aim the lens. Feathers
brushed his cheek, a cool whisper against his skin. Through the
heavy thud of his heart, he heard the faint sound of flapping
wings.
    And then the silence returned.
    “A swan?” His words were just a breath
against the dense night.
    The notion took hold of him. Still gripping
his camera, he spun. Searching the darkness, straining to catch
even a hint of bright color, his eyes narrowed and his muscles
locked, freezing him on the bank of the pond. He held his breath,
waiting, listening.
    A streak of white flashed in the distance.
Immediately, David moved after it. His feet made little noise as he
followed an overgrown game path until it came to an abrupt end.
    He stared at the tangled mess of green that
obscured the trail. Crouching, David examined the ground, peering
through the small, waxy leaves of a plant he didn’t recognize.
Reaching out carefully, he brushed his fingers over the fronds,
surprised at their delicacy.
    He was forced to backtrack to a wider portion
of the trail. Glancing around again, he spied a way forward. Slowly
he moved along the new path, cautiously placing his feet to avoid
the roots that rose up to trip him.
    He was rewarded with another flash of white
through the trees.
    The forest grew denser around him. The pines
leaned toward him, snagging on his shirt, pulling at his hair. A
soft shiver worked down his spine as he pushed through the tight
confines, adrenaline heating his blood. His imagination ran riot;
it was almost as if the trees were trying to hold him back, block
his progress.
    But he would not fail to find the swan. Excitement
sizzled in his skull at the discovery. He’d never seen one fly
through a forest at night and he was determined to capture its
image for his book.
    Holding tight to his goal, he made his way
deeper into the woods. Mist rose, swirling along the ground before
rising to his calves, making the path treacherous. His feet slipped
on loose rocks and twigs, his ankles wobbled in small holes.
    The trees became twisted. They bent toward
the ground, tangled their arms together with their brethren, curved
their trunks around each other in silent companionship. Their bark
was rough and rutted, running with sap that gleamed dully in the
dim light.
    Laughter tinkled through the gloom,
unexpected and beautiful, like small bells. A melody drifted
through