Запретный лес

           Buthenoticedascuriousthatnoneofthevillagersintheirquestforwoodpenetratedfarintoit,andthatonitsfringestheyonlygatheredthewindfalls.UpatthebackoftheHillofDeerandintheRoodglenmenwerebusyalldaycuttingbirchandhazelbillets,butnoaxewaslaidtoanytreeintheBlackWood.

           AweekbeforeYulecamethegreatsnow.Itbeganwithathincoldfogwhichmuffledeveryfoldofthehills."Rouk’s[fog]snaw’swraith,"saidtheparish,andsawtoitsfuel-stacksandlookedgloomilyatitsshiveringbeasts.Thethickweatherlastedforthreedaysandthreenights,weathersocoldthatitwaspaintodrawbreath,andoldfolkatnightintheirboxbedscouldnotgetwarmth,andtheWoodileeburnwasfrozenhardeveninthelinns.ItwasnotedasabadomenthatdeerfromMelanudrigillwereseeninthekirkton,andthatatdawnwhentheMirehopeshepherdwentouttohissheephefoundhalf-frozenblueharescrouchingamongtheflocks.Onthefourthmorningthesnowbegan,andfellforthreedaysinheavyflakes,sothatitlayfeetdeepontheroadsandfields.Thenthewindroseandforsixfurioushoursablizzardraged,sothatthedaywaslikenight,andfewdaredstirfromtheirdoors.David,settingouttovisitAmosRitchie’swife,whowassickofacongestion,tooktwohoursoveraquarterofmileofroad,wanderingthroughmanykitchenmiddens,andhadtopostponehisreturntillthewindabatedintheevening,whileIsobelinthemansewasdementedwithanxiety.