outside the wind stopped whistling, and began to howl.
as alexa and zucky reached the door to the kitchen stairs, suddenly they heard what sounded like a furious pounding on the front door.
“what is that?” zucky asked.
“just the wind,” alexa shrugged.
“i think it’s a little more than the wind,” said zucky, as the banging continued.
”the wind picked up some big hollow log, and is banging it against the door.”
“as regular as that?” zucky persisted.
“sure, every time it starts to roll away, the wind blows it back. elementary, my dear.”
then they heard what sounded like a voice!
“did you hear that?” zucky asked.
“it is just some animal trapped in the log - a monkey or a raccoon or something,” alexa replied.
“do you know what i am going to do?” asked zucky.
“no, what are you going to do?”
“i am going to go open the door and see what is out there.”
“really? well, wait please, until i am on the other side of this door, because i don’t want a monsoon washing over me.” and with that, alexa opened the door to the kitchen stairs, entered it, and quickly closed it behind her.
“scaredy cat!” zucky called after her, and then made her way across the “front parlor” to the big front door.
as she did the voice - definitely a human voice - got louder but she could still not make out any words.
zucky pulled at the door handle. it did not give right away - the girls hardly ever used it but exited and entered the house by the back door closer to the kitchen.
she pulled harder and the door flew open, followed by a blast of wind and rain that knocked her on her back.
as she struggled to get up she saw a tall figure standing over her. its body was covered by a long black cloak and its face by a wide brimmed black hat, both streaming rain.
“who might you be?” zucky gasped through the water in her face.
the figure did not answer, but with a flick of its wrist sent the heavy door crashing closed behind it.
“i could ask you the same.” it answered zucky in a deep voice. “do you need some assistance getting up? you do not look very comfortable lying there like a wet sack of oats.”
zucky pushed herself to her feet. “i asked you first.”
“i am a weary traveler,” answered the man, pushing his hat back to reveal a long dark face, “seeking shelter from the storm.” he smiled, showing fierce white teeth. “obviously.”
“are you alone?” zucky asked.
“yes, i am alone.”
“do you have a horse?”
the man shook his head. “i did, but he gave out about a mile back, at the edge of the swamp.
zucky stared at the man, “and you just left him there?”
“yes, i left him there. should i have carried him?”
“is he still there?”
“i don’t know. i don’t know how much the vultures mind the rain. why are you so interested in my poor horse?”
“that’s a lot of good meat you left back there, master. we could use it here for our soup.”
the man laughed, really laughed, showing zucky his white teeth. “well, this is a fine welcome for a gentleman and a lonely traveler! i seek shelter and hospitality and all you want is to eat my horse! not exactly the most elegant reception i have ever received.”
“you won’t find much elegance here, master,” zucky replied evenly. “none at all, in fact.”
the lone traveler looked around the gloomy and dusty front parlor. “but surely you will not deny me all hospitality? lonely and desolate as the place is, some trace of civilization must remain?”
zucky considered her reply. the rain beat harder on the windows.
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