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

“Is that your mother?” asked Ruben.


Adam shook his head. “No, she’s poorly, remember, and confined to bed.”


“I thought so,” replied Ruben. “I wonder who it can be.”


The old woman came towards them surprisingly fast, considering she was barely moving her feet


“How’s that possible?” asked Adam, a slight frown materialising on his brow.


“She’s a witch,” said Ruben, a snarl in his voice. “Only a witch could trick the eye and mind like that.”


If she was indeed a witch, it surprised Adam how normal she looked. Apart from her hooded brown robe, tattered and dirty around the hem, and spotted with various stains, she could have been any old woman from the village.


“We meet,” she croaked, smiling and revealing grey and yellow teeth.


The woman regarded him through narrowed eyes.


“Which of you has the fire stick?” she asked, eyeing the men carefully.


“The fire…” Then Adam realised what she meant.


Chapter 9