We must be quiet now, my wife.
I beg of you to hold your tongue.
The shore is distant, true, yet I urge you, do be still.
No, not even a whisper, please.
Your words will skip upon the moonlit lake and surely pierce her ears.
Our boldness must be mute, you see?
The creature’s made of skittish grain, the stories all agree.
Take heed to hush.
Your voice will scare her is what I fear.
Why take the risk?
Why take the chance?
I thought you ached to commune tonight, with her and also me?
It is not enough, I say, to bear witness and admire with eyes alone.
That is fleeting and not worth our time.
I want more, do not you?
Then in silence, we must row, good wife!
In silence, we must row…
Here we are, my love.
Finally, here we are.
Step light from the boat, alight with utmost care.
Like so, yes. Well done.
Now let us enter the woods at once, for the walk may yet be long…
Do not be afraid and calm your nerves.
This is how a forest sounds.
Forget the trees and eerie wind.
Focus on the ground.
Hone your ears and listen hard.
Hoofsteps on the duff.
There.
Do you hear it?
There again.
You hear it too?
Come, come on!
The time is here to shake our care.
Let us chase her, she is close.
Gods above!
We found her.
Do you see, my love?
Do you see!
How proud her stance?
How long her mane?
How white her coat?
And her horn, have you seen anything so magnificent?
We have come to commune, Great Lady!
Will you have us?
Ho, she comes, dear wife.
She approaches!
What is wrong, my love?
Why do you divert your gaze?
What is this?
Gods no.
She changes!
What foul magic?
We have been deceived.
It’s a demon.
Horned and hideous spawn of Satan.
Run, wife!
We must run.
