Door Handle.
Instinct takes you right. It leads further into the labyrinth of alleys, a better refuge perhaps to a stranger's mind. But unless she's prepared to swim, the harbour beyond will ultimately have her cornered.
Your guess is right. It's not long before you spot her unmistakeable figure, those red and white shoes still brilliant, though the soles are now caked in mud.
She turns and heads up the alley towards you, coughing as she runs. Her short black hair is plastered to her head, accentuating her large eyes. She spies you and stumbles to a stop, spluttering as she catches her breath.
Face to face with the lady, you take off your cap and squeeze it between your hands.
She skids to a halt and stares at you. "Alf..."
She knows my name!
For the first time you notice she is holding something very valuable in her hand. It looks like a golden egg, with faerie-like figures etched into its surface. She hands it out to you.
"Take it! Now get away from here! Do you understand?"
"Who are you? What is this thing?"
"No time! Keep it. Keep it safe." She motions for you to put it in your pouch.
"It is stolen?"
"I've not stolen anything from these people. Now go!" she looks over her shoulder as the echoes of the chase grow stronger.
"Lady, you will be hung if you are caught!" you tell her. "Come! Come with me." You hold out your hand to her.
Her mouth tightens for a moment. "Okay."
"Okay?" you repeat the unfamiliar word.
She raises her hands in exasperation. "Alright! Yes! Whatever! Show me the way!"
You turn on your heels and start running in the direction you just came from. There is a path that branches left and you look round to make sure she is following, before you take the turning.
She hasn't moved.
You stop and face her, perplexed, and watch as the mob appears behind her. She closes her eyes and the rain streams down her face like tears as they catch up and close in around her.
"No..." you whisper, as she is swallowed by the crowd.
The object feels heavy in your hand. What secrets does it hold about this strange lady?
The farmer emerges from the throng and strides towards you, and you quickly stuff it back into your pouch. He claps a hand on your shoulder. "Well done lad, that was a good turn. Pity there's no reward fer this'n, eh?"
You stare down the alleyway as the crowd take their strangely attired captive away. Why had she tried to trick you into running away? Why had she allowed herself to be captured if she knew it will lead to certain death?
"Who is she?" you say. "What did she do?"
He shrugs. "It all 'appened very quick. Trespassing in the landlady's chamber, so I come to understand. Came from nowhere and damaged some of 'er belongings. She were caught before she could take any'tn though. Might be worth look'n fer a free ale, eh?"
You put your cap back on, and notice that he's watching you carefully.
"Ye didn't know her, did ye?"
"No," you say, "I've never seen her before."
"C'mon boy, ye look like ye could do with a drink. You're a hero. What say ye?"
You feel a buzzing sensation around your hip, as if the object in your pouch is vibrating. What if it were discovered?
Your guess is right. It's not long before you spot her unmistakeable figure, those red and white shoes still brilliant, though the soles are now caked in mud.
She turns and heads up the alley towards you, coughing as she runs. Her short black hair is plastered to her head, accentuating her large eyes. She spies you and stumbles to a stop, spluttering as she catches her breath.
Face to face with the lady, you take off your cap and squeeze it between your hands.
She skids to a halt and stares at you. "Alf..."
She knows my name!
For the first time you notice she is holding something very valuable in her hand. It looks like a golden egg, with faerie-like figures etched into its surface. She hands it out to you.
"Take it! Now get away from here! Do you understand?"
"Who are you? What is this thing?"
"No time! Keep it. Keep it safe." She motions for you to put it in your pouch.
"It is stolen?"
"I've not stolen anything from these people. Now go!" she looks over her shoulder as the echoes of the chase grow stronger.
"Lady, you will be hung if you are caught!" you tell her. "Come! Come with me." You hold out your hand to her.
Her mouth tightens for a moment. "Okay."
"Okay?" you repeat the unfamiliar word.
She raises her hands in exasperation. "Alright! Yes! Whatever! Show me the way!"
You turn on your heels and start running in the direction you just came from. There is a path that branches left and you look round to make sure she is following, before you take the turning.
She hasn't moved.
You stop and face her, perplexed, and watch as the mob appears behind her. She closes her eyes and the rain streams down her face like tears as they catch up and close in around her.
"No..." you whisper, as she is swallowed by the crowd.
The object feels heavy in your hand. What secrets does it hold about this strange lady?
The farmer emerges from the throng and strides towards you, and you quickly stuff it back into your pouch. He claps a hand on your shoulder. "Well done lad, that was a good turn. Pity there's no reward fer this'n, eh?"
You stare down the alleyway as the crowd take their strangely attired captive away. Why had she tried to trick you into running away? Why had she allowed herself to be captured if she knew it will lead to certain death?
"Who is she?" you say. "What did she do?"
He shrugs. "It all 'appened very quick. Trespassing in the landlady's chamber, so I come to understand. Came from nowhere and damaged some of 'er belongings. She were caught before she could take any'tn though. Might be worth look'n fer a free ale, eh?"
You put your cap back on, and notice that he's watching you carefully.
"Ye didn't know her, did ye?"
"No," you say, "I've never seen her before."
"C'mon boy, ye look like ye could do with a drink. You're a hero. What say ye?"
You feel a buzzing sensation around your hip, as if the object in your pouch is vibrating. What if it were discovered?