*
"May the peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon you." the old man said as he stepped into the dark room, holding an oil lamp in front of him with a wrinkled and skinny arm. The frail figure at the end of the room stirred, blinking against the harsh light.
"And unto you as well." Mr Evans replied as he sat up, his hands trembling from exertion. He appeared leaner than he had been a few days ago, his cheeks sunken in and his eyes gaunt with fatigue. He was weak and hungry, and everything else in between. A dull pain throbbed around his temples, and he was desperately in need of water.
The old man stopped a few feet away, staring down at Mr Evans with small and beady eyes. He was cautious not to approach too closely, as he was afraid of the man sitting in front of him. In his dish
