Theo jumped a little when the guy dropped out of the trees in front of him. For a second he thought the stranger had just fallen from the sky; then he remembered that trees could be climbed. After the long pause, he'd almost thought no one was going to respond -- that he'd been mistaken about hearing a voice, or that it had been some kind of magical trick.
"Thank you," Theo said, sounding quite grateful. He glanced in the direction the stranger had pointed, then paused, evaluating the chances that he'd actually make back to Haulani without getting lost again. "Er, I don't suppose you happen to be headed that way, do you?"
He had to take a moment to think about the man's question; then he decided to tell the truth. Well, half of it, anyway. It wouldn't hurt if rumors about a treasure in the jungle increased even more. "Well, I heard there was a great treasure out here somewhere, the find of a lifetime. Unfortunately, finding isn't my forte."
"Thank you," Theo said, sounding quite grateful. He glanced in the direction the stranger had pointed, then paused, evaluating the chances that he'd actually make back to Haulani without getting lost again. "Er, I don't suppose you happen to be headed that way, do you?"
He had to take a moment to think about the man's question; then he decided to tell the truth. Well, half of it, anyway. It wouldn't hurt if rumors about a treasure in the jungle increased even more. "Well, I heard there was a great treasure out here somewhere, the find of a lifetime. Unfortunately, finding isn't my forte."
Theo
"Poker" by ND Strupler is licensed with CC BY 2.0.
