The sun was streaming hot through the windows and slats when Styrm awoke. Through the hot, groggy throbbing of his addled head he heard the staccato beat of a fist pounding against the door. He began to rise when he felt a hand alight on his shoulder. He looked to its source and saw the old man, his finger pressed against his lips.
"Shh..."
Over the old man's shoulder he could see the other man, the one he'd fought. He looked tragic in his pain and his fear, but he was awake. His good arm was raised; there too a finger over lips.
The pounding at the door was replaced by a voice: "Open up!"
No one answered.
More pounding, and again: "Open up!"
Styrm made as if to move toward the door, but the shop-owner called out just then that they were closed for the day.
Silence.
The three of them waited, each in the character of their own expectations: fear, remorse, rage.
It was silent another moment, and then, "Fine. But you'll be open tonight."
None spoke, wondering if the visitor had truly gone. Finally, the broken man's voice cracked their musings, trembling but sure. "He'll come tonight. We should all go."
The proprietor looked around at his life and his eyes glistened in his indecision.
"I won't," was Styrmsthal's only reply.
"Shh..."
Over the old man's shoulder he could see the other man, the one he'd fought. He looked tragic in his pain and his fear, but he was awake. His good arm was raised; there too a finger over lips.
The pounding at the door was replaced by a voice: "Open up!"
No one answered.
More pounding, and again: "Open up!"
Styrm made as if to move toward the door, but the shop-owner called out just then that they were closed for the day.
Silence.
The three of them waited, each in the character of their own expectations: fear, remorse, rage.
It was silent another moment, and then, "Fine. But you'll be open tonight."
None spoke, wondering if the visitor had truly gone. Finally, the broken man's voice cracked their musings, trembling but sure. "He'll come tonight. We should all go."
The proprietor looked around at his life and his eyes glistened in his indecision.
"I won't," was Styrmsthal's only reply.
