Outcast Island Chapter 3
398 Words
She walked for a time, lost in her thoughts. She almost walked past the only other person on the Island. She didn’t see the canoe pulled up on the beach to her left, or the person leaning against a tree to her right.
“Who goes there, walking on my island?” It was a man’s voice. She was startled for a moment. She froze, caught her breath and looked in the direction of the voice. He seemed to be looking in her direction — she couldn’t quite tell. He was moving his head as if he was straining to see — or hear.
“I was outcast to this island this last festival day.” she said.
“As was I!” he said far more cheerfully than she was expecting. “Two people cast out from the rest of mankind by the gods, for no reason or fault of our own.” He said, his voice loud and clear. “Tell me woman, for what reason were you chosen by the gods to live forever on this island with me?” He said with a slight hand gesture and bow, still seated in the sand against the tree.
“Why do you mock me?” She yelled at him. “Are you blind, man?” She said hotly. “Can you not see I was born with only one arm? Must you make me scream it to the world? Am I now to starve next to a man without respect for any life at all? It would have been better to die by the venom of one of the poisonous snakes that frequented the gardens which I have now been cast out.”
“Forgive me.” he said in a softer tone. “Had I not been born blind in one eye I would have never asked such a hurtful question. I can only see shadows and shapes, and even they are nothing like the objects I touch.”
“You’re blind?” She asked in a softer tone as she took a few steps closer.
“Yes, but I can hear your footsteps in the sand.” His face turned more toward her direction as she stepped towards him.
“You can hear my footsteps over the sound of the breaking waves?” She asked.
“Yes. I can hear everything.” He said.
- Writer
