A Lily Pond

The little wizened thing could have been any age. Its face was deeply lined, butwas framed with elfin, pointed ears that gave it a look of eternal youth. Long whitehair was parted down the middle and hung down on either side of the blue-skinnedhead. The being was bipedal, and stood on short legs that terminated in tridactyl,almost reptilian feet. It wore rags as gray as the mists of the swamp, and in suchtatters that they must have approximated the creature's very age. For the moment, Luke could not decide whether to be frightened or to laugh.But when he gazed into those bulbous eyes and sensed the being's kindly nature, herelaxed. At last the creature motioned toward the pistol in Luke's hand. "Away put your weapon. I mean you no harm," it said. After some hesitation, Luke quietly put his pistol back into his belt. As he didso, he wondered why he felt impelled to obey this little creature. "I am wondering," the creature spoke again, "why are you here?" "I'm looking for someone," Luke answered.