He cut the voice off with an almost audible snap, and a moment later a branch cracked like a firecracker in the utter stillness and let its heavy load of snow fall to the ground with a thump. He spun towards the noise, but there was only the branch, swinging on its broken hinge of bark, and a soft-looking mound of powder below it.

Jesus, he was spooked. He tried to force a laugh, but it wouldn’t come, and instead a strange memory overtook him. The pile of snow reminded him the time in third grade he and his best friend Chuck Howard had spent a full hour shoveling snow into a big pile, and when the time came to climb to the roof of the garage and jump, he had chickened out, wobbly legs and all. Chuck pulled himself up the trellis to the roof without a backward glance, and when he jumped it seemed to David that he hung in the air forever, arms waving in the lifeless dance of a puppet.

Chickenshit, go on and do it, he thought, and inside his head the voice sounded like old Chuckie. Check out the woods, you big baby.

David willed his feet to move. When he reached the outer trees on the edge of the clearing, he pushed back the lower branches with his arm, causing more snow to fall in clumps to the ground. A dim and narrow passageway between them opened, and he crept into it, still feeling those eyes on him. He felt like a trespasser in someone else’s world. Inside, he paused, momentarily disoriented. The needles had swung back into place, and the way out was abruptly cut off. Branches closed in on him from all directions, thick and choking. He felt his heart pound a heavy beat in his ears, and the silence pushed down on him like hands.

Forcing his mind to remain calm, he turned in a full circle around the tiny space, searching for the best way to proceed. Yes, light filtered faintly through the branches where he had come through; he felt a bit better. Christ, but it’s thick in here. No wonder that little girl got lost. It’s a maze, that’s what it is. And I’m the mouse looking for the cheese.

Only he wasn’t quite sure he would like the cheese if he found it.