Chapter Four

Chapter 4 - The other side of the forest

Tzack sat on a small moss covered hill overlooking the river. The goats grazed by him as the rain lightly dripped over their coats.
His sisters were over helping Mr Wilks with camp and dinner. Mrs Wilks was much more relaxed now that Mr Wilks was gone. She even smiled when Tzack brought her some wood to make a fire.
Bunny plopped down next to Tzack “Your goats are ugly” She said.
“They are not” Tzack said
“They are too. Look they have funny beards and their eyes are so little.”
“You have little eyes” Tzack said huffliy
Bunny looked at him and scrunched up her mean little face and punched him so hard in knocked him over.

Tzack knew he was not supposed to hit girls but he just couldn’t help himself so he balled up his little fist and aimed right for her face.

But it missed, as Bunny easily dodged. She laughed. “You aint a very good fighter are you” She said as she hopped on his back. Pinning him to the ground. She was heavy for a girl.

He wormed his way out from under her slipping in the mud as he did. She stood up and laughed again. “My brothers would woop you good. You and your ugly goats” She said.

Furious Tzack lunged at her knocking her over and the two of them rolled down the slippery hill. Tzack grunted as he slammed hard into a slick boulder.

He heard a splash as Bunny landed in the river.

Tzack moaned as he tried to get up, the breath knocked out of him. He looked over to see how Bunny was fairing but she was not in the river where he thought she should be.

“HELP!” Bunny cried sputtering, she was already several feet down the roaring river, but now her dress was caught on a piece of driftwood wedged between large rocks.

From behind him Emily came charging down the hill. She waded carefully into the river as the heavy current pushed against her sturdy legs. She clutched an overhanging branch to steady her as she inched her way closer.

The rain around them now began to fall heavily. The rain pouring off of his hat obscuring Tzack’s view. “Give me your hand.“ Emily yelled. Holding on the the tree by the very edge of the branch and extending her arms as far as she could.

“I can’t!” Bunny cried desperately trying to reach Emily.

“Get help!” Emily yelled at Tzack.

Tzack ran as fast as he could. Slipping on the moss as he ran. The rain let up a bit as he made his way around the hill and to the camp.

“Bunny fell into the river!” He yelled.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and ran to help Tzack.

A rumbling sound came from somewhere up river.

“It’s a flash flood!” Mrs Wilks cried as she ran.

Back at the river Bunny sat on the shore crying and sopping wet, but Emily was still standing in the river tugging at her leg. “I’m stuck!” she cried.

Mrs Wilks grabbed Bunny “Get up the banks before the flood comes!” She said.

The rumbling in the distance was getting louder.

“Help me!” Emily gasped desperately pulling at her leg.

“Damn it!” Sanbar said shaking his fists. He walked into the river kicking the water as he went. “You stupid women. Don’t you know how to keep out of trouble.”

The water rose before their eyes as Sanbar reached down into the water trying to free Emily. The roar of the approaching flood growing ever closer.

Tzack’s heart stopped not willing to beat as he watched the two struggle in the water. The speeding raging water fighting there every attempt.

They were not going to make it. He could see the wall of water just moments away. He cried out in alarm and then they were out. Sanbar and Emily running up the hill, as a cascade of water flooded over where the were standing just moments before.

The little crowd stood and watched the rushing water as it tore into the trees at its sides dragging a few of the smaller ones away.

 The rain stopped and the night was clear as the little group sat around the campfire. Sanbar had regained his pride and now spoke boastly to all who would listen.

“Oh that was a good one, wasn’t it” He said for not the first time.

“We were all there” Said Pallus flatly.

“Yes, but remember when I yanked Emily’s leg out from under those branches just before the river came crashing in behind us. That was great!”

“Yes, I do. We were there.” Pallus said again.

“It was so brave,” Rachel said doe eyed. “I wish it was me you saved.”

“I don’t” Sanbar said “Your sister is the pretty one.”

Rachel frowned dejected.

Emily huffed. “I am not. Rachel is much prettier than I”

Rachel tried to smile at Emily but failed

“You are really pretty” Bunny said to Emily who sat next to her. She had not left her side since Emily had saved her in the river.

“Sanbar, you shouldn’t say things like that to peoples faces” Mrs Wilks said quietly.

“I’m going to say what I want, mother” He said staring down at her.

A strange deep singing sound came from out of the forest.

“Pa’s back” Sanbar said standing up. “Looks like he’s got us some game. Pa always sings when he’s killed something.”

Tzack looked up. Sure enough Mr Wilks was trudging out of the forest. He stopped singing and smiled at them.

“Here cook this” he said throwing a couple small animals at Mrs Wilks. Nothing tastes as good as eating a fresh kill.

In the morning the river had fallen far enough for them to cross safely. Emily hitched Courage up to the wagon and masterfully lead the wagon and the animals forward.

It was almost nightfall when they finally reached Rough River. Tzack could see the whole town from where he stood. Fresh built log cabins lining a well worn road. The little town only really had two places of note. The general store and the two story tavern.

The wagons pulled into the town.  “Hello” Yelled Mr Wilks. Nobody answered. The town was completely vacant. The wagons wheeled slowly over the dirt road. The town seemed so strange with nobody in it, it made Tzack uneasy, where was Pa and Mother.

“Hello” Mr Wilks yelled again.

“Hey there” Came Pa’s voice from inside of one of the smaller cabins.

“Pa” Sarah screamed running to greet him, nearly knocking him over. “It has been just awful since you left, where’s mother?

“Whoa there My Little Button, you just about knocked me over. She’s in the cabin” Pa said.

Sarah ran inside, and Tzack followed with Rachel and Emily.

“Mother,” Sarah cried this time a little quieter, and she ran to her mothers side.

Mother lay on a stark bed in the corner of the one room dwelling. She tried to sit up as the children entered, but fell back on the pillow.

“Mother, don’t strain yourself” Emily said.

“I’m alright. Just a little tired that’s all” Mother said weakfully.

Tzack stood back away from mother not daring to come forward, as the girls coed over her.

“Tzack, come here” Mother becond.

Tzack did not move, and his lower lip began to quiver.

“Tzack what’s wrong” Mother said a mother’s tenderness in her voice.

And it all came rushing out the tears burning down his cheeks “I’m so sorry mother, I’m so sorry”

“Come here” She said opening her arms, and he ran into them letting all the horribleness of the past few days events melt into her arms.

“Now stop your crying and tell me what is the matter” She said wiping his tears.

Tzack gulped a few times before managing to get out, “You almost died and I was all my fault. And then Bunny, and Emily almost died and that was my fault too.”

“Oh Tzack.” Mother said stroking his hair. “It’s okay. You listen to me, You be a good boy from now on and always do what I say and it will all be okay. Alright?” And she kissed his forehead.

“Alright. I promise I will be good from now on, as long as I live.” Tzack said

“You are my good boy” Mother said and pulled him close and wincing as she did.

“Is it your arm,” Tzack said sitting up.

“It will get better” Mother said reassuring him “It is just going to take some time.

The Wilks family took up residence across the street in the tavern for the night. Rachel sat by the small glass window gazing longingly over the dark road.

The door swung silently on its hinges as Pa and Emily entered. The soft candle light eerily lit a pain and fear in Pa’s face that Tzack had never seen before. Pa grabbed his rifle that lay next to mothers bed. He stood staring out the window he absentmindedly tapped his finger on the stock of the rife.

“What’s the matter Daniel, is it ...?” Mother said trailing off weakly.

“No Lucy it’s not that, I’m going to have a talk with Mr wilks. Don’t you worry bout a thing, just rest” He said walking over to her. He tenderly pushed back her hair kissing her gently on the forehead. “Lucy” He said looking deeply into her eyes as if no one else was in the room. “I love you, everything is going to be okay.”

“I love you too” Mother said sinking deeper into the bed.

“Rachel, come here I need to talk to you outside” Pa said.

Rachel followed pa out into the darkness, and when she returned her face was drained of color, and she looked as if she was going to cry.

The shake in her hand was ever so subtle as she shut the door but it was there. Tzack looked back to see if mother had noticed but mother was asleep.

Rachel shut the sturdy door and locked it. She pulled the rough curtains over the window, shutting out the darkness that lay outside.

“What’s going on?” Emily asked leaning in close to Rachel so as not to disturb mother.

“I don’t know.” Rachel said “Pa just said to lock the door and not to come out no matter what we heard.”

“Oh no!” Sarah gasped in her small frail voice. “Is Pa going to be okay?”

“You heard what he said to mother” Tzack said defiantly “Everything is going to be okay, that’s what he said.”

The four children sat huddled on the floor in the little one room cabin, so like there own but so very different.

Tzack eventually fell asleep listening to the sound of the wind whispering through the eaves of the thatch roof.

He was awakened by a scratching sound. Something was at the door trying to get in.
Tzack crawled over to the door “Pa?” Tzack called out. The scratching grew more intense. Maybe Pa was hurt and couldn't talk. Maybe he needed to be let it. Tzack reached up to the latch on the door to unlock it.

“What do you think you are doing” Rachel said slapping his wrist down. The scratching sound turned into a savage clawing sound and the door shook with the force that was pressed upon it. Tzack clung to Rachel as they backed away from the door. Whatever it was was extremely large and it wanted to get in.

The scratching stopped, and Tzack could hear Sarah softly crying by his side in Emily’s arms. Mother was standing behind them her left arm limp wrapped in bandages limp by her side.

Suddenly the door shook as something large and powerful slammed against it. The hinges creaked at the strain. Sarah let out a sob.

“The bed!” Mother said desperately “Push the bed against the door.”

The little family pushed hartily against the heavy wood bed willing it to move. Slowly it inched forward.

The door shuddered again as whatever it was slammed into it. The planks in the door ached to give way.

“Push harder” Mother called and in a sudden rush the bed slid across the room knocking into the door.

They sat at the end of the bed, it shuttered every time the door was slammed into. And then there was silence.

Emily stood up daring to peer over the bed. She quickly ducked as something came flying through the window. Sending pieces of glass across the room.

Tzack didn't look at the window, he just closed his eyes tightly and held desperately onto his mother's unhurt arm.

There was a grunting and a snarling as something large tried to force itself through the small window for what seemed like forever, and then it was gone.

The family did not move from their spots until the sun rose. It’s slow fingers lighting the mess of a room that lay before them.

“Oh my ...” Rachel said when the sun had risen far enough for them to see what it was that had broken the window. Before them on the ground torn cleanly from it’s body was a mangle goat head.