On a certain continent, in a certain country, there was a certain forest, in which was a certain hut. The hut was small, barely large enough for a single person, and crafted simply, out of mud and wood.
One day, I happened upon this hut in the course of my travels. Night was encroaching, and I was weary and sore. Unable to go any further, I walked up to the hut, and knocked on the door.
At first, there was no response. I waited a moment, and heard not a sound. I was about to walk away and make camp for the night, when the door opened, and an elderly man greeted me with a smile.
"Well, well. It's not often I get a visitor," he croaked, in a terribly raspy voice. I tipped my hat to the gentleman and gestured to the surroundings.
"I found myself here right when I was in a bind as to where to spend the night, sir. I seem to have found my luck today," I chuckled. The older gentleman nodded knowingly.
"Yes, yes. Won't you come in and rest the night?" he invited. I removed my hat and stepped inside the hut. As I had suspected, the simple addition of one man made the place feel very crowded.
The hut was a single, four-walled room. Opposite the door was a small fireplace, with a built-in stove. To the left wall was a bookcase, and by the other, the man's bed. In the middle of the room was a small, square table, situated low to the ground.
"Pardon the intrusion," I said, taking a seat by the table, on the left side. The elderly gentleman passed by me and tended to the stove, which I now noticed was cooking a pot, though no scent invaded my nostrils. I rose to aid my host, but he waved me down.
"Far be the day when I fail to do this much myself," he winked. I let out a small laugh, and it echoed across the room. I realized that the hut was even emptier than I had previously thought. The gentleman poured me a glass of water from a jug by the fireplace, and I took it gladly.
"Thank you for your kindness. It's quite a cozy home you have," I commented, indicating the various aspects of the room. Pouring himself a glass, my host took a seat opposite me.
"Yes, it is fine for a single person. However, I'm afraid I've nowhere for you to sleep," he explained, pointing to the only bed in the room. I shook my head, understanding.
"It's fine, sir. I've slept against walls before. Just what you've done already is more than enough," I said. As I spoke, I could already feel sleep's warm grasp taking hold of my senses, and I let out a loud yawn. Realizing my rudeness, I rose from the table and bowed to my host.
"I believe I shall take leave of your company now. Do you mind if I take the wall by the bookcase as my own?" I inquired, motioning to the wall behind me. The gentleman simply nodded, and so I lay my back against the wall, my head leaning against the bookcase. Soon after, sleep took me.
When I awoke the next morning, the elderly gentleman was not in sight. I rose from my night's post and stretched my limbs, in preparation for my day's journey. I studied the bookcase out of slight interest, and learned that my night's host was well-read in both classics and science.
Knowing not where my host had gone, and in a rush to continue my journey, I left the hut and hiked off in the direction I had been headed the day before. Being unhindered by personal affects, I made quick headway.
Rather, I thought I was making headway. However, as the day continued on, I noticed I was passing by landmarks I had noted the previous day. Just as night fell and my limbs began to ache, I happened upon a clearing which held a familiar sight.
It would seem that, throughout the course of the day, I had been turned around, and had tread a large circle. Before me, in the center of the clearing, was the old man's hut.
To be continued...
One day, I happened upon this hut in the course of my travels. Night was encroaching, and I was weary and sore. Unable to go any further, I walked up to the hut, and knocked on the door.
At first, there was no response. I waited a moment, and heard not a sound. I was about to walk away and make camp for the night, when the door opened, and an elderly man greeted me with a smile.
"Well, well. It's not often I get a visitor," he croaked, in a terribly raspy voice. I tipped my hat to the gentleman and gestured to the surroundings.
"I found myself here right when I was in a bind as to where to spend the night, sir. I seem to have found my luck today," I chuckled. The older gentleman nodded knowingly.
"Yes, yes. Won't you come in and rest the night?" he invited. I removed my hat and stepped inside the hut. As I had suspected, the simple addition of one man made the place feel very crowded.
The hut was a single, four-walled room. Opposite the door was a small fireplace, with a built-in stove. To the left wall was a bookcase, and by the other, the man's bed. In the middle of the room was a small, square table, situated low to the ground.
"Pardon the intrusion," I said, taking a seat by the table, on the left side. The elderly gentleman passed by me and tended to the stove, which I now noticed was cooking a pot, though no scent invaded my nostrils. I rose to aid my host, but he waved me down.
"Far be the day when I fail to do this much myself," he winked. I let out a small laugh, and it echoed across the room. I realized that the hut was even emptier than I had previously thought. The gentleman poured me a glass of water from a jug by the fireplace, and I took it gladly.
"Thank you for your kindness. It's quite a cozy home you have," I commented, indicating the various aspects of the room. Pouring himself a glass, my host took a seat opposite me.
"Yes, it is fine for a single person. However, I'm afraid I've nowhere for you to sleep," he explained, pointing to the only bed in the room. I shook my head, understanding.
"It's fine, sir. I've slept against walls before. Just what you've done already is more than enough," I said. As I spoke, I could already feel sleep's warm grasp taking hold of my senses, and I let out a loud yawn. Realizing my rudeness, I rose from the table and bowed to my host.
"I believe I shall take leave of your company now. Do you mind if I take the wall by the bookcase as my own?" I inquired, motioning to the wall behind me. The gentleman simply nodded, and so I lay my back against the wall, my head leaning against the bookcase. Soon after, sleep took me.
When I awoke the next morning, the elderly gentleman was not in sight. I rose from my night's post and stretched my limbs, in preparation for my day's journey. I studied the bookcase out of slight interest, and learned that my night's host was well-read in both classics and science.
Knowing not where my host had gone, and in a rush to continue my journey, I left the hut and hiked off in the direction I had been headed the day before. Being unhindered by personal affects, I made quick headway.
Rather, I thought I was making headway. However, as the day continued on, I noticed I was passing by landmarks I had noted the previous day. Just as night fell and my limbs began to ache, I happened upon a clearing which held a familiar sight.
It would seem that, throughout the course of the day, I had been turned around, and had tread a large circle. Before me, in the center of the clearing, was the old man's hut.
To be continued...
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