Out of Desire, the Snow Child Appears
Carter's tale begins with a Count and Countess traveling on horseback in the dead of winter. As the Count ponders the silent white world around him, he says, "I wish I had a girl as white as snow." Further on, they come upon a hole in the snow filled with blood, and the Count says, "I wish I had a girl as red as blood." After seeing a black raven, he adds, "I wish I had a girl as black as that bird's feather." As soon as the Count states his full desire, a young girl stands before him: white skin, red lips, black hair and stark naked.