The old woman tells the story, and an odd one it is. A couple of fellows take a herd of pigs into Dreamer’s Wood to forage. This is before the time when folk know the place is dangerous. Before they know strange things can happen there if a body isn’t watchful. So, while the pigs roam about, the two fellows stop by the pool to eat their bread and cheese. It’s a warm day and they start to feel sleepy. One of them says what a pretty spot it is, sun coming down between the leaves, dragonflies over the water, birds calling up above. The other one says Yes, isn’t it? Then there’s a great crashing and smashing on the bank above the water, and in falls their prize boar, that was going to make their fortune someday. It’s gone in deep, and it hasn’t come up.

I’ll go in, says the first man. No, I’ll go in, I’m a better swimmer, says his brother. You stay here and make sure none of the others follow. He jumps in and swims out to the spot where the boar has sunk without a trace, and he dives down to find it. The first brother waits and waits, pacing along the bank and back again, thinking they’re drowned, his brother and the pig both. Then up they pop, the two of them, swim back to the shore and scramble out in a spot where the bank’s lower.

Seems like a happy ending for all concerned. But no; something’s wrong. The brother who went in the water can’t talk anymore. Opens his mouth and all that comes out is grunting sounds. And the pig’s scared out of its wits, standing on the shore shivering and shaking. Some of the sows wander over to take a look, sniff the boar and back off quick. The first brother has to lead his brother home by the arm, the fellow’s so confused. And the swine are acting terrified, jumping around and squealing. None of them wants to be anywhere near the boar.

By the time the old lady gets to this part of the story, Blackthorn and me are eating up every word. Just as well most of these folk won’t know the tale of how Ciar drowned in Dreamer’s Pool, or they might be putting two and two together the way we are. Emer knows; we’ll have to warn her not to talk.

Well, the tale goes, everyone thinks the second brother has lost his wits. They think falling into Dreamer’s Pool has turned him crazy. Nobody thinks much about the pig. A pig’s a pig, after all. Seems the boar can’t do what he’s supposed to do with the sows anymore. But he can provide a midwinter feast for the whole village. So he’s put in a sty by himself and fattened up.