Chapter 3: A Past Rediscovered
..."Wake up Thomas! Your father needs you today to help chop and haul wood!" , at this early hour the sound of his mother's voice grated at Thomas' eardrums like a tine fork over porcelain. He awoke in a startle and saw no light spilling through the window of his room, meaning that dawn had not yet broke. Even for a boy of only 10 who was full of energy, Thomas did not like to be awoken before the sun had come up, but he knew that it was no use to argue. It was late September and the weather was turning colder, which meant it was time for Thomas to go with his father down to the Barrens to chop and haul wood that would be used for their family's winter supply of firewood. They spent about a week every autumn chopping wood and hauling it back to the cabin the family had at the outer edge of the Barrens. It was a grueling task, but it gave Thomas a chance to spend time with his father, which was always a positive for him. Thomas got out of bed and dressed quickly, filled a small sack with some salt pork and a couple of apples, and walked outside to meet up with his father.
"There you are Thomas, did you rest well?" his father asked as he checked the blade of the axe for nicks and burrs.
"I suppose so father, can I do half of the chopping this year? I've gotten much stronger since last time." Thomas asked with hope in his voice, as more chopping might mean less lifting and loading of the wood into their horse-drawn cart.
His father chuckled, "maybe a bit of chopping, but certainly not half. You're a growing boy Thomas, but you aren't that grown. Not to worry however, in the next few years you will be doing just as much chopping as me. Now let's get going before the sun comes up." and with that, his father put the axe in the back of the cart and hitched the cart to Samson, the family's large and strong mule. After a final check to make sure they had everything they needed, Thomas and his father set off for the Barrens.
The walk from their cabin at the outer edge of the Barrens down into the thickest tangles of trees, bushes and ferns where they would chop wood was not a long walk in distance, but it was time consuming due to the sheer roughness of the terrain. The name did not fit this area well, as the Barrens were so full of trees and brush that it was almost impassable in certain places. Thomas' father kept Samson and the cart on the small dirt paths that snaked through the Barrens, while he and Thomas carefully made their way through the tangles of greenery in search of suitable small trees and logs to chop. As they worked, father and son carried on conversation to pass the time. Usually their conversations were cheerful and warm, but today Thomas' father had something grave and serious to talk about.
As they came to a somewhat large log on the ground and prepared to chop it into smaller pieces, Thomas' father began... "Thomas, have any of your friends around town told you anything about what happened to the young Townsend boy?" Thomas hesitated, and said "only that he was found killed near the Kenduskeag, probably by a bear. Why do you ask father?" Thomas now turned to face his father, who had stopped chopping. "Well Thomas, you should know that the boy was terribly mutilated. Indeed, it may have been some sort of animal, but I have a small feeling that it may be more sinister. How so exactly, I'm not sure, and that feeling may just be my mind playing tricks on me. Now, that isn't intended to make you afraid, only to make you more aware of your surroundings. It may be 1850, and Derry is certainly much more settled and civilized than in years past, but bears and wolves and other wild animals still roam these woods. And I know you like to play down here at times, but the Barrens can still be dangerous Thomas. Just remember that, and remember to pay attention to your surroundings at all times when you are alone. What happened to the Townsend boy is...horrible to say the least. His mother and father are grieving terribly, and it's not a pain I would wish upon a worst enemy. Listen and take heed to what I've just told you Thomas." Looking up at the seriousness of his father's face, Thomas felt a chill run down his back and squeaked, "yes s-sir". And with nothing else to be said, they continued on with their work.
They worked for the next few hours chopping logs and small trees until they had filled the cart to the top with wood suitable for burning. Around 10 that morning, they sat down to eat the food Thomas had brought. They shared the piece of salt pork, and had an apple each to hold them over until they got back home to have a proper lunch with mother. All morning, Thomas had pondered what his father had told him about the Barrens being dangerous. It was a bit unnerving to Thomas, for he had played in the Barrens for as long as he could remember but he never thought about the dangers the woods could hold. He knew to be careful about wild animals, but there was something about the way his father mentioned something possibly being more sinister out there that really gave him chills. Thomas reasoned with himself that it was probably just his father trying to scare him into being more alert and careful.
After they finished eating, it was time to gather everything up and head home. As they were walking along one of the dirt paths that snaked through the Barrens, Thomas had a feeling that he could not explain. His father was walking out in front beside Samson, who was pulling the cart of wood. Thomas walked beside the cart along the path, and that's when he heard the voice whisper... "Thomas"...
He stopped and listened, and then looked toward his father and said, "yes father?" His father turned around with a questioning look on his face and said, "I didn't say anything Thomas". Thomas had a quizzical look on his face, but he decided not to press the matter any further, even though he knew he had heard someone call his name. They continued along the path back toward home, but on several instances Thomas could have sworn he heard what sounded like the jingle of small bells, and also a raspy, throaty laugh from somewhere behind him.
