Birgitta the Nun

Part 31 - The Woods

The cart went straight towards the dark woods. The sun had set. It would be hard to find a decent place to put up their tent. But if a wizard could make camp in the eerie woods, well—so could they. At least that's how the merchant reasoned. She shot a sidelong glance at Birgitta. The movement was barely perceptible, but still enough to make the nun shameful all over again. No one mentioned the dead lamps and burned-out candles, but the darkness now caressing them made it hard not to long for light. The compact forest enveloped them and made the darkness of the night even darker. Trees closed around their heads, reached for the cart with their arm-like branches. Soon the travelers were a part of the wild.

Everything became haunting, especially to Birgitta. Even the lack of her own shadow seemed creepy and she missed it terribly. Every branch grazing her head appeared to be a hungry bat in want of her blood, or some restless spirit seeking her soul. She searched above for the moon and the stars, but dark treetops covered the whole of the sky - and the whole of the world, it seemed.

The horse kept up her pace. She trod like there were no tomorrow, though by now no one could see where they were heading. The animal wasn't bothered by the blackness. She tore through invisible shrubbery, plowed down mud, and didn't seem to mind having her mane thick with leaves. The passengers were in awe and didn't interfere. Without the horse they wouldn't have dared enter the murky forest in the first place. But the stubborn nag of the merchant made the decision for them. With confident steps, she brought them further and further into the thicket.

One of the wheels got caught in a root or a branch. The nag pulled and off it went. They continued on three wheels, leaning in a discomforting manner.

However, eventually darkness and wilderness took over completely. Even the acute senses of the crazy horse were muddled up. And so she came to a halt. This would have to do - this would be their camp for the night.

The merchant and the nuns organized the best they could. They scurried around the cart like lost spirits, feeling their way with their hands, persistently bumping into each other. The tent somehow came into place. Only the morning after would they see that it was actually upside-down. No one bothered to go after firewood. It was already too dark not to set fire to the tent or the cart.

The sound of grinding teeth reached them. It seemed someone was chewing something among the trees. The campers prayed it was only the horse. But, as if reading their thoughts, the horse gave a neigh coming from the opposite direction.

Suddenly they realized they were not alone. Something was lurking in the darkness—something making disturbing noises, probably more in search of prey than friendship. The abbess and Birgitta huddled together and hid behind the merchant and her wide trousers. The merchant was left alone standing, supposed to constitute some kind of protection. And so they waited. Except the occasional grinding of the unwelcome being, all was quiet. The noise was loud and clear. Then the chewing stopped and a crackling took over. 'Crack-crack', they could hear the noise move forward. And the advancement was directed straight towards them.