The Helpless
The day wears on…
We trudge through brush and branch, growing wearier by the hour. As the sun reaches its height, the unmistakable shriek of a wailing baby pierces the air. There, cradled by the exposed roots of an ancient tree, lies a newborn child swaddled in rags.
We attempt to comfort the babe, but quickly discover that this is no mortal child. Its skin is ice to the touch, its eyes amber-bright. Surely this is some phantom of the wood? And yet the child continues to wail in such anguish that its plight is unmistakeable: it needs our help.
We are faced with a choice. Do we bring the baby with us, apparition though it must be? Or do we abandon this child to the wilds, like those who came this way before us?
The Conundrum
The travellers may first discuss between themselves.
Then, clockwise starting with the Reader, each traveller may take it in turns to choose whether to CARRY the babe, or LEAVE IT BEHIND.
