Nathaniel, a horse-riding traveler in eighteenth century Europe, emerges from a vast forest to see a field of golden wheat. At the centre of the field is a large tree and, at its base, a man. Strangely, the man appears to be talking to the tree.<br><br>At the village inn, Nathaniel asks the barman about the man and tree. The barman refuses to tell him anything, so Nathaniel decides to visit the man himself. The following morning he rides back to the field, where he notices the man is still there, talking to the tree.<br><br>He introduces himself to the man, whose name is Adam. When questioned about why he sits beside the tree, talking to it, Adam reveals a story so amazing, it borders on being unbelievable. Nathaniel, too, has a similar tale, the conclusion of which is just as bizarre and shocking as Adam’s.

Man and Tree

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m ready to work hard. I won’t let you down.” He glanced at Adam. “Either of you.”


True to his word, in the days ahead Ruben worked just as hard as Adam, which impressed Adam’s mother to no end. He joined Adam and his mother at the table for breakfast and supper, although lunch was more often than not eaten out in the field. After supper, after he’d helped clear the table, he retired to a small room in the barn, no bigger than his bed and the small table beside it.


Sundays were a day of rest, and after prayers, the day was theirs to enjoy.


“Let’s have a picnic by the stream,” said Adam on Ruben’s first Sunday. “To celebrate Ruben’s one-week anniversary.”


His mother sucked her teeth and shook her head. “You expect me to go all that way just for lunch? In my condition? No. You two go and have fun. I’ll eat my dinner at the table like a civilised person.”


Chapter 6