Baird and Stone had been walking for over an hour through what felt like endless miles of woods and forests. There seemed to be no one who could help them, nor, for that matter, any animal or living thing around.
"Maybe we should go find Jones and Cassandra. There's no one out here."
"We can go back as soon as you figure out where we are, Mr. I-know-which-way-to-go-because-I-said-so."
"You know, you're free to help me whenever you want, Baird. I bet even you have no idea where we are."
"Okay fine, I don't. We should call Jenkins."
Just then, they heard a cry of "Help, please help me!" A woman, dressed in a grey sweater and long skirt, came running up to them. She had a face wrinkled with worry and a shade of light grey in her hair, which was tied off in the back against her neck. "Oh, will you please help me find my son?"
"Relax, ma'am. What's his name? Can you describe what he looks like?"
"Well, he's only ten. And his name's Tom. Oh, and he's short!"
"How short?"
"Well.." She held up a finger. "About as tall as this."
Stone laughed. "A boy as small as a finger? Let me guess, his name's Tom Thumb."
The woman didn't look like she got the joke.
"Wait, your son really IS Tom Thumb?! That's impossible..."
"It's the truth, God willing. My poor Tom, he vanished just as I was making puddings."
"Did you give one away?"
"Why, yes I did. To a man who came by asking for food. I just couldn't turn him away, you know."
"Go find him. Your son's in the pudding you gave him."
"Oh my Lord! Thank you, kind sir."
And with that, she ran off down the path.
Baird turned to him. "You mind telling me what that was all about?"
"Later. We need to find Jones and Cassandra right now."
