CHAPTER NINE
A possum rustling among the weeds woke Thomas just as he was dreaming of fishing with his father. The smith opened his eyes to find himself in a staring contest with the marsupial, which appeared to be chewing on some unspecified insect. Thomas froze and just watched the animal chew, the sound of it crunching down on the insect’s exoskeleton somewhat unnerving. For the animal’s part, it seemed bothered by the human’s presence, as if to say: “Who the hell invited you here?”
A moment later, the possum moved off into the nearby brush; Thomas rolled on to his back and looked up at the sky through the tent’s opening. Not a cloud in the sky could be seen anywhere, leaving the stars and planets above to radiate a brilliant light show, as if 10,000 candles were lit by heavenly being
