The Fire
Shivering, you have walked toward the light for what has seemed like hours, and the light fortunately appears to have gotten brighter in the enveloping darkness. You still cannot be sure of what it is yet, but your spirits rise knowing that at least something obeys logic in this strange universe, and you are getting closer to the source of the light as you make your way toward it. It feels almost as if the coldness abates temporarily when you look directly at the light.
A woman emerges out of the darkness. You suspect that she is a ghost, much like the last being that you encountered.
She appears to be a plain woman: not young, nor old; not thin, nor fat. She does not seem beautiful, but nor does she seem ugly either.
She speaks in a soft, soothing voice, "Where are you going, my child? There is nothing there. It is but an illusion in your head. You are sick. The cold has tainted your mind. The mirage leads nowhere. Look here instead." She turns away from the light, toward another direction in the darkness.
"Who are you? Are you a ghost?" you ask.
"No. I am as real as you are. I am here to guide you on your way. Look closely."
You squint your eyes at where the woman is facing. You see nothing but pitch darkness.
You have doubts about whether this woman is telling the truth. You are about to speak up when you see a faint image coalesce in the distance. It grows clearer and larger, and you are able to make out the form of a pile of treasure: gold coins, a giant diamond, pearl necklaces, gemstones, and jeweled crowns. The woman turns to you.
"That is what you should seek. Treasures, worth a large fortune. You will be able to feed your family, and your family's families, and your family's family's families. Everyone will be proud of you. Your mother, your father, your children- they will all love and look up to you. You will be famous and admired. You will be the richest man in the world. Look no further, my son. Go to the treasure, and let go of your dreams of the light."
A woman emerges out of the darkness. You suspect that she is a ghost, much like the last being that you encountered.
She appears to be a plain woman: not young, nor old; not thin, nor fat. She does not seem beautiful, but nor does she seem ugly either.
She speaks in a soft, soothing voice, "Where are you going, my child? There is nothing there. It is but an illusion in your head. You are sick. The cold has tainted your mind. The mirage leads nowhere. Look here instead." She turns away from the light, toward another direction in the darkness.
"Who are you? Are you a ghost?" you ask.
"No. I am as real as you are. I am here to guide you on your way. Look closely."
You squint your eyes at where the woman is facing. You see nothing but pitch darkness.
You have doubts about whether this woman is telling the truth. You are about to speak up when you see a faint image coalesce in the distance. It grows clearer and larger, and you are able to make out the form of a pile of treasure: gold coins, a giant diamond, pearl necklaces, gemstones, and jeweled crowns. The woman turns to you.
"That is what you should seek. Treasures, worth a large fortune. You will be able to feed your family, and your family's families, and your family's family's families. Everyone will be proud of you. Your mother, your father, your children- they will all love and look up to you. You will be famous and admired. You will be the richest man in the world. Look no further, my son. Go to the treasure, and let go of your dreams of the light."