Man and Tree

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.

Wayne Mansfield · LGBT+

Not enough ratings

16 Chs

Chapter 5

It was a stroke of luck his mother had not yet arisen. Had she been up, she likely would have wondered at Adam taking an armful of his clothing from the house.

“Here you are,” he said upon returning to the barn, and passing the bundle to Ruben. “I think we’re almost the same size, although you’re a little broader in the shoulders.”

“Chopping wood does that, gives you broad shoulders. I worked for a carpenter for a good while in my early teens. Chopping wood day after day.” Ruben dropped the bundle of clothing onto the straw-covered floor and held up his hands to show Nathaniel the blisters and calluses decorating his palms. “It’ll give you these, too.”

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