The rain lashes down to the beat of worn boots sloshing through ankle-high mud. The freezing torrents whip cold bolts through the men. Their fingers, toes, ears, and nose are all painfully numb. They hold themselves tight and shudder as they march on through the miserable night.
She opens her door to them. They are hesitant, at first. The great house looms into the starless sky and the orange light that radiates from its door and windows give the suggestion of a face. But the warmth pulls them in. It stings as feeling runs back into their extremities. A kindly smile greets them.
The room smells of roasted nuts, cinnamon, and brandy. There's a fire crackling in the hearth. They mumble apologies as they walk the mud across the corridor. They gaze about in awe.
She watches them. They do not see the kindly smile warp into a delicious grin. She closes the door.
Paddy Dobson
6th December 2021