Hidden Things
Hanging from the thatched ceiling were many rows of assorted rations; carrots, bushels of herbs, fruit with leaves left attached. Half-shadowed by gray light filtering from a wide, oval entrance. By it, over a cooking pot, stood a being round in the waist and wearing a tunic and pants that concealed black hair spotted white. It whistled a melody through its teeth while it cut vegetables and when he woke the boy recognized the tune. He crept out of a lumpy cushion raised above a colossal branch that cut meandering through the wood paneled floor like a pulsated vein and he hugged his back on the curved wall. His neck hurt. The creature appeared not to notice him and in trepidation the boy plotted fast his method of slipping away unseen. But something was missing. His boots were tied together and set aside his neatly folded coat and his pack preceded them. They were there prepared for him, but still it was missing. "Oh, you're awake. You were out for a good six hours." Sai...