We walked on up the cart-track and when we reached the crest of the hill we could see the wood ahead of us, huge and dark with the sun going down behind the trees and little sparks of gold shining through.
No talking Danny, once we're inside, my father said. Keep very close to me, and try not to go snapping any branches.
Five minutes later we were there. The wood skirted the edge of the track on the right-hand side with only the hedge between it and us. Come on , my father said. In we go. He slipped through the hedge on all fours and I followed.
It was coll and murky inside the wood. No sunlight came in at all. My father took me by the hand, and together we started walking forward between the trees. I was very grateful to him for holding my hand. I had wanted to take hold of his the moment we entered the wood, but I thought he might disapprove.