1 A Story Is Told

Yes.

There is a witch in the woods. There has always been a witch.

Will you stop fidgeting for once? My stars! I have never

seen such a fidgety child.

No, sweetheart, I have not seen her. No one has. Not for ages.

We've taken steps so that we will never see her.

Terrible steps.

Don't make me say it. You already know, anyway.

Oh, I don't know, darling. No one knows why she wants children.

we don't know why she insists that it must always be the

very youngest among us. It's not as though we could ask her.

She hasn't been seen. We make sure that she will not be seen.

Of course she exists. What a Question! Look at the woods! So

dangerous! Poisonous smoke and sinkholes and boiling geysers

and terrible dangers every which way. Do you think it is so by accident?

Rubbish! It was the Witch, and if we don't do as she says,

what will become of us?

You really need me to explain it?

I'd rather not.

Oh, hush now, don't cry. It's not as though the Council of Elders

is coming for you, now is it. You're far too old.

From our family?

Yes, dearest. Ever so long ago. Before you were born. He was

a beautiful boy.

Now, finish your supper and see to your chores. We'll all be

up early tomorrow. The Day of Sacrifice waits for no one, and

we must all be present to thank the child who will save us for one

more year.

Your brother? How could I fight for him? If I had, the Witch

would have killed us all and then where would we be? Sacrifice one or sacrifice all. That's is the way of the world. We couldn't change it if we tried.

Enough questions. Off with you. Fool child.