**The Barrow-Downs Birthday Mailbag - May 2006** - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-01-2006, 01:44 AM

The young postman looked over his shoulder nervously. He couldn't help feeling as if someone was pursuing him, yet no one could be seen on the meadow that stretched back to the edge of the forest. He no longer wanted to remember the forest; it had seemed to him that the trees were alive, mocking him and moving in too close for comfort. It had taken him more time than he had planned to go around it instead of through the middle, but he was glad he had made that choice.

Why, oh why had he been assigned this route? The colleague who normally delivered the mail in this section had never before been ill. Yet this morning, while sorting out the letters, he had suddenly turned pale, and someone else had to take over. Just as suddenly, all the others were very busy, and only he, the newest of them, was left to fill in. At first he had thought himself lucky - it was a beautiful, sunny day; he had a pony cart to drive; and the recipients were friendly and happy to see him.

But now the sun was sinking toward the horizon, and he had one huge, heavy bag of mail to deliver to the last stop on the route. He couldn't help wondering why someone of whom he hadn't heard before would get so much mail, but then, that was none of his business. He only had to get it there, and then he could hurry home as fast as the pony and cart would take him.

"Just straight on over the Downs toward the hills," his boss had told him, "you can't miss it. There's a tall stone near the entrance." It was hard to see details in the gloom of the long shadows cast by the mountains, and to top it off, a mist was spreading like a blanket. But he could recognize a pillar that towered high above all other landmarks and steered the cart in its direction.

He almost ran into the standing stone, so thick was the fog on the Barrow-Downs when he arrived there. He shivered in the cold and the darkness which surrounded him. "Is anyone here?" he called out nervously.

Suddenly a deep, cold voice spoke: "Here! I am waiting for you!"

Now even the normally placid pony was nervous and strained at the reins, attempting to turn and run away. Yet the postman's spirit was more valiant than he himself had known, and he held it back firmly with one hand while heaving the heavy mailbag out of the cart with the other.

"Here's your mail, Sir!" he announced.

A pale, ghastly green hand appeared from nowhere to pick up the bag. "Thank you!" the voice answered.

The mailman turned the cart and loosened the reins. The pony needed no further encouragement and trotted away as fast as its legs could take it. Yet its driver held his head high. Neither rain, nor fog, nor fear had hindered him - he had done his duty and delivered the mail.

Had he been able to look inside the Barrow behind him, he could have seen the Wight lighting a candle and opening the mailbag. It was full to the brim with cards, letters, and packages. He took out the first one and opened the envelope, and this is what he read:

05-01-2006, 01:44 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,535	The Barrow-Downs Birthday Mailbag - May 2006 The young postman looked over his shoulder nervously. He couldn't help feeling as if someone was pursuing him, yet no one could be seen on the meadow that stretched back to the edge of the forest. He no longer wanted to remember the forest; it had seemed to him that the trees were alive, mocking him and moving in too close for comfort. It had taken him more time than he had planned to go around it instead of through the middle, but he was glad he had made that choice. Why, oh why had he been assigned this route? The colleague who normally delivered the mail in this section had never before been ill. Yet this morning, while sorting out the letters, he had suddenly turned pale, and someone else had to take over. Just as suddenly, all the others were very busy, and only he, the newest of them, was left to fill in. At first he had thought himself lucky - it was a beautiful, sunny day; he had a pony cart to drive; and the recipients were friendly and happy to see him. But now the sun was sinking toward the horizon, and he had one huge, heavy bag of mail to deliver to the last stop on the route. He couldn't help wondering why someone of whom he hadn't heard before would get so much mail, but then, that was none of his business. He only had to get it there, and then he could hurry home as fast as the pony and cart would take him. "Just straight on over the Downs toward the hills," his boss had told him, "you can't miss it. There's a tall stone near the entrance." It was hard to see details in the gloom of the long shadows cast by the mountains, and to top it off, a mist was spreading like a blanket. But he could recognize a pillar that towered high above all other landmarks and steered the cart in its direction. He almost ran into the standing stone, so thick was the fog on the Barrow-Downs when he arrived there. He shivered in the cold and the darkness which surrounded him. "Is anyone here?" he called out nervously. Suddenly a deep, cold voice spoke: "Here! I am waiting for you!" Now even the normally placid pony was nervous and strained at the reins, attempting to turn and run away. Yet the postman's spirit was more valiant than he himself had known, and he held it back firmly with one hand while heaving the heavy mailbag out of the cart with the other. "Here's your mail, Sir!" he announced. A pale, ghastly green hand appeared from nowhere to pick up the bag. "Thank you!" the voice answered. The mailman turned the cart and loosened the reins. The pony needed no further encouragement and trotted away as fast as its legs could take it. Yet its driver held his head high. Neither rain, nor fog, nor fear had hindered him - he had done his duty and delivered the mail. Had he been able to look inside the Barrow behind him, he could have seen the Wight lighting a candle and opening the mailbag. It was full to the brim with cards, letters, and packages. He took out the first one and opened the envelope, and this is what he read: