Forest World Read Online Free PDF Page A

He offered her the salt. She blew into his hand and licked the briny delicacy with her tongue.
    Devil and Witch ambled up and both whispered to Lisa, “Don’t be afraid of Him. He won’t do you any harm.”
    Martin’s free hand gently stroked Lisa’s forehead. “Be patient, good girl. You’ll soon have your calf.”
    As if she had understood every word and suddenly remembered her dread, Lisa made a frightened leap sidewise and trotted stiffly away. Martin looked after her, shaking his head and murmuring, “What’s the matter with her now ?”
    It was just then that Manni came home from the forest. He caught sight of Martin and ran happily to him to rub his head against his chest.
    Martin scratched his long-eared friend’s throat. “Hello, old fellow. Where have you been?”
    Manni wished he could tell Martin his experiences. He looked with gentle sorrow into Martin’s eyes and received in return a kindly gaze in which too there was something of sadness.
    Martin gathered together his drawing board and pencils. “See you again, my friends,” he said. The horses and Manni went with him to the house door.
    Once the animals were alone, the horses showered the donkey with questions. “What was it like in the forest? What did you do there?”
    Manni didn’t answer.
    Devil neighed, “Answer me! We know only the wide roads where He rides. Answer us! How is it up there?”
    Manni jolted off stubbornly. Once he had dreamed of telling them his adventures but now when the opportunity came he grew obstinate. That was his funny way. The stallion and the mare overtook him quickly.
    â€œBehave!” the stallion admonished him. “Show some manners.”
    â€œI always do,” Manni said innocently.
    â€œYou don’t! You’re ridiculous!”
    â€œThink so?” The donkey grinned.
    Witch pleaded, “At least tell us what you—”
    Manni interrupted her. “You know the forest. You’ve been up there often. Why ask me?”
    â€œUp there, up there!” said Devil heatedly. “We never go up there except when we have to carry Him.”
    â€œAnd He rides only in the wide clearings and on the few big roads,” Witch added.
    â€œAnd you,” said Devil, “probably cut right across?”
    â€œOf course,” Manni retorted. “I don’t do it down here in the garden any more than you do. But up there I cut right through the middle of the thicket.”
    â€œI knew it!” The stallion showed his burning curiosity. “Now tell us!”
    â€œYes, tell us!” Witch urged.
    â€œWhat should I say?” The donkey spread his front legs and held his willful head cocked high. “Up there one’s a foreigner, and by no means welcome!”
    The stallion stamped. “Go on, go on!”
    â€œThere’s nothing more!” Manni teased him.
    â€œOh, there must be,” begged the mare. “Tell us!”
    The donkey gave in a little—just enough to tantalize. “There’s no trace of our safe and peaceful existence up there.”
    â€œNo safety?” Devil was surprised.
    â€œNo peace?” marveled Witch.
    Disgustedly Manni bared his teeth. “Not a trace of it!Some commit murder, others are murdered. I wouldn’t like to live up there.” He threw himself into the grass and rolled over. “It’s so good here. This is still the most beautiful place. Well, now I won’t say any more! Leave me alone. I want peace!”
    â€œOh, please tell us what you saw,” implored Witch.
    Manni rolled over on his back, all four legs in the air, and grumbled lazily, “Later, maybe. Later . . . sometime . . .”
    *  *  *
    Martin could see barely more than three paces ahead, for darkness still shrouded the trees. But it was no longer night and not yet day.
    He liked this in-between time best. He sensed a