The trains never run on time in Sotoville, coming and going at the whim of the engineer. The town's residents don't seem to mind as none plans to leave. Meanwhile, Old Ned settles onto his bench near the fire at the ice pond, watching skaters pirouette above their icy reflections on a quiet winter's night. Christmas is several days away as children marvel in awe at the multicolored lights gleaming from the tall evergreen tree. Intoxicating fragrances of pine and baked gingerbread pleasantly fill the air.
Instinctively, Ned wraps his right arm around the ragged elbow of his missing left arm to keep warm. It reminds him of his youth, when boyhood pals foolishly crossed the safety of the railroad tracks that insulate the town from danger.
The villagers laugh at Ned behind his back, scoffing at warnings of beasts roaming beyond the realm of sanctuary; one that he claims destroyed his forearm. Brows are raised when Ned speaks of his friend, Will, whose body was so badly mutilated, the Guardians had mercifully disposed of it.
Adults told the children that Ned and Will had indeed breached the outskirts, but more likely, it was their fall into the ravine that destroyed Ned's arm, and killed his friend.
A whistle echoed from beyond the hillside. Wisps of white smoke hovered above Mount Soto, leaving a fading trail from the engine's smokestack. Skiers stared from atop the crest, while skaters stopped to admire the giant black machine charging towards them. Children held their sleds with mouths agape. The sight never failed to excite the Sotoville populace.
Occasionally, the train stopped at the station, and the conductor popped his head out the door, shouting, "All aboard!"
At such times, Old Ned craned his neck and snapped, "Ain't no one gettin' on Jonesy... you know that." The engine would start again, and head down the line, an empty passenger car, eight boxcars, and the village hobo in tow.
Sotoville is a winter paradise, with little to do but skate or ride softly flowing snowdrifts. Old timers gather at the town church, sip coffee at the diner, or walk the inner banks of the rail lines. None dared cross the tracks.
Occasionally, everyone crowded around Ned to hear his tales of early Sotoville. Ned was an ancient, so to speak, the last of the founders who first scaled the tricky angles of Mount Soto, and zipped across the pond's thick, shiny ice. Ned didn't care if they scoffed. He enjoyed the attention as he spun his tale like an expert storyteller.
As darkness fell, the townspeople once again gathered around the bench near the ice pond. Ned began the story he'd told countless times. "The pain was excruciating," he said, tapping his arm.
"What's Scrooge eating?" a small girl asked. Even Ned couldn't help laughing aloud.
"Let's say that it hurt very badly," he replied. With a glance, Ned quieted the crowd as the silence deepened. Crackles from the fire filled the void.
Before Ned spoke again, a growl echoed in the distance. Shivers rose in the spines of the villagers. "You hear that?" Ned whispered. "That be the one that got Willie!" His eyes widened, and a salty tear ran down his face.
Wiping the moisture away, Ned continued. "The beasts are enormous, beyond our nightmares. Large ears. Teeth sharp as knives. Monster came up from behind and plucked Willie. I looked up to see.... It was... ghastly!"
"You believe that crap?" Adrian whispered.
"Adrian!" hissed the girl beside him. "He'll hear you."
"Yes he hears you!" Ned boomed. His gaze burned through the boy. "Make fun if you will. Just don't go out there...just don't."
Adrian was a rebel, who had tired of the pristine life of Sotoville. Rumors told of villages outside Sotoville's limits, where children romped in fields of green, where snow never fell. Young Adrian dreamed of being the first Sotoville pioneer courageous enough to scale the ravine, avoid Ned's mythical monsters, and reach the villages.
Frequently, he’d walk to the edge of the railroad tracks and stare into the darkness. The mere thought of challenging the unexplored wilderness caused his heart to beat wildly.
The whistle sounded. Chugging around the bend, the engine slowed to a stop. Cars clacked against one another, then towered above the villagers. The engineer shut down the lights and motor. Light smoke drifted into oblivion. Neighborhood lights clicked off, followed by those on the giant tree. Even the fire had gone out. It was time to turn in.
"Don't cross the tracks!" Ned shouted, "Sleep well. Sleep safe!"
Adrian snickered, and took the girl's hand. "Come on Susie. I'll walk you home."
Ned shouted again. "Be warned, lad. I know you're thinking of trying it. The beasts are smart... cunning. You'll not see them, but smell their hot breath." He paused. "And then... it's too late!"
In Adrian, the old man recognized the same traits that had led to that fateful night in his stories. The boy was brash like an unbridled wild stallion. Though he hoped for the best, Ned could relate all too well to what drove the boy.
Concern was etched on Susie's face. Adrian pulled her forward as Ned turned up the collar of his overcoat, lowered the brim of his cap, and settled into the bench. Within seconds, he was snoring.
The youths walked through snowdrifts. Susie stopped and pulled her hand from Adrian. "What?" the boy snapped.
"You're going to try it. Aren't you?"
"Come with me." He spoke excitedly. "We'll go together. We'll be the first to breach the void; to go beyond this hick town."
"No! I love Sotoville. It isn't worth the risk."
The boy scoffed. "You actually believe the old fart's stories, don't you?"
"You heard that sound. We've heard others before." Susie was becoming hysterical. "I don't want you losing an arm.. or a leg... or... worse!" She began sobbing into her hands. Adrian pulled her close to him and hugged her gently. Her hair brushed his face. Light perfume caused his nostrils to flare.
"I ..I thought... you loved me!" she blubbered.
"I do, Susie. More than anything." He lifted her chin. "But I have to do this."
"Damn you Adrian!" Susie pulled away and slipped. She fell into a drift, and began crying harder. Adrian offered a hand, but she yanked her arm away. "No! Go by yourself! Find other towns. I hope you don't get hurt. But you're stupid Adrian!" She ran along the tracks and disappeared into the darkness.
Adrian stared at her footprints for several minutes. Perhaps she was right. Life in Sotoville was like a dream come true. There were no wants, and the town was beautiful during the Christmas season.
"No!" he thought. "I've got to do this. Someone has to be the first. If it isn't me then I'll be angry when somebody else becomes a hero. Susie will forgive me when I return to talk of the greatest experience in the history of Sotoville." He found a coil of rope lying near the firewood, and ran towards the railroad tracks.
Adrian slid to a stop near the ledge and tied the rope to the outside rail. He secured the end with a knot and dropped the other end over the ledge. The bottom of the ravine was swallowed in darkness, but he knew it was now or never. Grabbing the rope, he pushed out and down with his feet against the side of the ravine. It felt straight and solid. Step by step, he slid and dropped, watching as the shadows of Sotoville disappeared from sight.
He had descended about twice his own height, when he froze in terror at a distant sound. The rope squeaked as it rubbed against the edge of the ravine, loosening cold snow. Adrian looked up in time to take ice and slush in his face. His hands slipped, then caught the rope again, sliding as the twine ripped at his skin.
"Aaaahhh!" With a crash, he fell to the ground, and rolled to a halt. His hands throbbed, and his ankle was twisted. Flat on his back, Adrian could barely see the ledge, five or six body lengths above. He barely caught his breath when something moved in the distance. "Old Ned can't be right. He can't!" the boy whispered.
Greenish gold lights reflected in the distance, as if projected from a set of eyes. Adrian lay still. His breathing was heavy. His heart pounded. A ragged silhouette slinked towards him. "Oh, hell," the boy muttered. He tried not to move as the creature approached, though his eyes frantically searched for a place to hide. Slowly, the creature approached. It towered above him, but didn't see him.
Adrian saw the piercing reflections of its eyes. Pointed ears twitched and shifted as they listened for movement. The beast was inches from the boy, poised to find its prey. Adrian smelled the hot breath from Ned's tale, and wished he had listened to the old codger. Seconds seemed like minutes before the furry giant finally moved on. It took each step with purpose and conviction.
Once it was out of sight, Adrian stepped carefully, as he tried to find his way in the dark. He could see a large building nearby, and moved towards it. The structure was taller than anything he'd ever seen. He had almost reached its base when he heard a light sound and felt hot breath on his neck. The creature had sneaked up on him from behind.
Adrian turned and froze in terror as the mammoth face leaned close. Large eyes widened and narrowed as it studied its prey, and Adrian saw his reflection. The animal opened its mouth, revealing yellowish teeth. Instead of biting the boy, its long tongue flicked at him, roughly knocking Adrian over with a damp lick.
As he fell to the ground, Adrian panicked, and scrambled towards the building. The creature followed and swiped at his back, causing the boy to stumble forward and fall through a flap at the base of the structure. Adrian found himself underneath in the darkness. His chest heaved from excitement, and he tried to control his breathing. But he had forgotten the long legs of the creature. A sweeping claw sliced the back of his shoulder and he recoiled in pain and fear. Adrian fell, and turned to see the claw sweep at him again from beneath the building's low ceiling. He scrambled frantically as it stretched to its limits.
The boy fell against a long heavy object. At first, Adrian thought it was a log, but the rough surface felt like it had been splintered. He felt with both hands and leaned forward to smell it. There was an odor of decay. A rounded end had also been splintered, but the boy recognized the shape as an enormous bone.
He thought of Ned as he touched the throbbing shoulder that showed two large scratches. All he cared about was finding a way back to Sotoville. He'd confirm Ned's story, and advise others to avoid crossing the tracks. That is, if he lived to tell about it.
Adrian felt tears on his face and horrible pain from his wounds. He could hear the monster breathing just out of reach, and he could still smell the stench of its breath. Occasionally, the predator growled as if to let its prey know it remained in vigil. Time stood still as Adrian sat back against a wall, wondering if he would bleed to death or starve, as he sobbed himself to sleep.
He slept fitfully, dreaming of skating arm in arm with Susie, and watching the lights sparkle on the giant evergreen tree. The train rounded a bend at top speed, and Old Ned leaned out the window to scold him. “I warned you, boy. But you wouldn’t listen to the `old fart’ would you?”
As the smoke cleared, a wild beast galloped after the train. It reared and pounced, knocking the cars into several houses and against the ice pond. The residents of Sotoville scattered in hysteria; their screams piercing Adrian’s soul.
The beast clenched Old Ned between its teeth. “Save yourself, boy. Save your girl. I’m a gonerrrr….” With a chomp, the old man had disappeared into the stomach of the creature.
Adrian sobbed aloud. “No! I’m sorry! It’s all my fault!”
Suddenly, he was jolted awake by light streaming under the flap and loud voices from outside the building. He could see the outline of the ragged bone nearby and the soft surface of the ground. The flaps of the building covered three sides with a pale hard wall in back.
"What's with the cat?" a man's voice said.
"I don't know. She's been sitting there all morning staring at the sofa."
Adrian lay still as his sanctuary was pulled aside. He could barely see a face within the sudden brightness. One of the Guardians looked down upon him and he heard the voices of others. "I told you not to give the dog steak bones. And there's that kid we lost from the scene. You grab the dog. You hold the cat. One of them must have pushed him under the sofa."
A large hand picked the fallen figure off the carpet. "Looks like his shoulder is scratched. A dab of paint should fix him up. Good thing Max didn't chew him up like the last one, or we'd have to throw him away."
"Put him back under the tree for now. We'll worry about it next year."
"What about that old man on the bench with the missing arm? Isn't it time we retired him?"
"No! That's the last of Great Grandpa’s originals. We're keeping it until it falls apart. And who tied that piece of string to the train tracks?”
Outside the house, light snow gently frosted a colorful wreath proclaiming, "Merry Christmas from the Soto Family." Across the street, a similar greeting read "Happy Holidays From the Martins." Within that house, a contented dog chewed at a bone in front of a crackling fire.
Across the room was a magnificent Christmas scene beneath a decorated pine tree. A youth sprawled in the snow of the alpine village as a speeding train rounded the bend. His thoughts were distant. "I know there are other towns like ours. I'll be the first from Martinsburg to visit the outside villages."
