The buzzing is louder now. Something bad is going to happen, I can feel it. Bending almost double, I enter the largest chamber. The hole is bigger than before. Too black and too deep, it gapes like an open mouth jeering at me. The wood around it is scored with deep lines, as if an animal has tried to get inside, or something has clawed its way out. Instinct tells me to throw the water at the hole. Closing my eyes, I picture Mormor: her long blonde hair and her mischievous grin. It gives me the strength I need. The buzzing roar is so loud it hurts. I press my hands to my ears and the pail thuds to the ground. It’s like the hole doesn’t want me to get near.

Gritting my teeth, I snatch it up and chuck the water at the tree’s roots. It hisses like a fire being put out and there’s a horrible sound, like the drawn-out gasp of a thousand souls taking their final breath. My skin prickles. What would make that noise?

I rush out and trip on a root, landing head first in snow. Mist snakes around the tree and wraps around my body. I scramble to my feet and two ravens explode from a branch, making my heart lurch. I look for the cabin but the world is falling away.

Confused, I stumble against the moss-covered trunk. What did Mormor say? Listen with an open heart. Swallowing hard, I press my ear to the tree. Time slows as a steady drumbeat sounds inside. Wood creaks and groans, like something is stirring deep within. I hold my breath and listen. I’ve heard that sound before …

The bark splits open and green smells invade my nose. I stare in disbelief as a forehead pushes its way out of the tree: a woman’s face with chiselled cheekbones and a sharp, pointed chin. Moss and dirt tumble from her eyelids as she blinks into life.

Her head snaps towards me with a sickening crack. Unable to move, I watch as a gnarled knot opens into a perfect hole, revealing a pale worm curled inside. Her voice sounds like wind through the dead leaves of a tree. ‘Time is running out, Marta.’

13

Stig is throwing a log on the stove when I stagger in through the door. He looks up in surprise as I lurch towards him. My legs tremble so much, I can barely walk.

‘Helvete! What happened to you?’

My breath is quick and shallow. ‘Mormor,’ I croak. ‘Get Mormor.’ And then I remember. I feel so sad and tired I could dissolve into a puddle of my own tears. I slump onto the sofa and close my eyes.

Stig stands over me. ‘What was it? Did you see the wolf?’

I shake my head. ‘No. There was a woman – in the tree. She said –’