What an old man told me

by Claire

I don't know if it happened or if I dreamt it. It is as vivid to me as waking and as ghostly as a nightmare. I was taken to the rotted out hollow at the base of the biggest tree where I had something greasy applied to my upper lip. I was turned to face the darkness in trunk and this what I was told.

Go down beneath the tree roots. Start from the middle, keep the wall on your left and walk. Even if you come to a dead end, keep moving forward with the wall on your left. Rest your knuckles on the wall so there is always contact. Don't be drawn towards lights, these will shimmer like gifts for your sight but will blind you. Ignore wafts of scent, which at first will seem linen fresh but which turn fetid and rank if you seek out there source. Don't listen for anything but the scrape of stone on your left hand.

If you see the shadow of a horned monster stay still, keep your head down and your mouth shut. If you are lucky it will pass you by and then you can keep moving forward. If you look down the way and see the outline of an old woman do not go to her. She doesn’t need your help, she is a hag, a mouldering aunt who will eat your nose and use your body as a coat. Just keep moving and she will forget you quickly, so old is she.

There will be no light, except for distant flames around which wraiths dance to tempt you with their nudity. Sometimes the firelight will glint off their sabre fanged mouths as a warning, don't let your desire take you to them. Just keep your hand on the wall to your left. Feel it but do not mind it as it takes the skin from you. You can dress the wounds with strips of soft woven cloth when you are done.

It is a long way around and out from this labyrinth and it will take you a day and a night to reach the open fields above. But you can never stop moving in all this time, never sit or lean to close your eyes for just a moment. If you do that, the underground creatures will swarm, they will cut off your toes for stew, flay your back for leather and pick out your eyes to make jewellery. This is what happened to some before you and that is how we know what you need to do. If you listen to me and do as I say with courage and attention you will emerge and be blessed with abundance and good fortune. Go now, and keep the wall to your left.

This is what I was told. This is what was told to my brothers and sisters who did not pass through and to my brothers and sisters who did. This is what I shall tell my grandchildren.

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