Short Short: Tambourine Marsh

Jingle, jingle.
A mournful bell sound echoes through the mist. Everyone who walks through this marsh has heard this mysterious sound. It rings every time you step on the ground.

There was a village near the marsh. The village revered the marsh as a sacred place. According to an old legend, once every few years, for a brief moment, a 'river' brought by the gods would appear in the marsh.

It is a strange story. There was already a river in the marsh. It is certainly a mysterious marsh, but it seems unlikely that any more rivers would appear. Speaking of strange, the name is also odd. This marsh was called 'Tambourine Marsh,' even though the sound you hear is that of bells.

It was a sweltering summer. A village child visited the marsh in the middle of the night. It was a year with almost no rain, and the grass was withered in many places.

When the child stepped into the marsh, *pop*. The ground bounced with a pleasant sound. It was the 'skin' of the gods. The child jumped around in a frenzy. The entire marsh had become a tambourine.

It rained at dawn. Jingle. The ground no longer bounces. The child is also missing. No word has been heard since.

Short Short No. 732

I am participating in Tarahakani-san's weekly short short note.
This week's theme is 'Mont Blanc Slip of the Tongue.' The hidden theme is 'Tambourine Marsh.'