While I crossed the road that had led into town, I would be all alone in the wide-open nothing before I disappeared into the Slipjoint Forest. I had to be quick. If anyone saw me from the edge of town and knew what I'd done, they might give chase. News traveled fast in small towns, so I'd heard.

As soon as my walking stick hit open air instead of the side of a building and my feet hit the steep incline leading to the road, I knew I'd just about made it out of Old Man's Den. ...