The Big Block
Wanting and needing a story to tell, Jole Satry went into the woods near his home to see what he could see. The children of the village had been begging him, Jole, please tell us something new! We've already heard about lightning and the snake that was too long to die. We've already heard about the caravan of broken hearted people and its destination at the bottom of a cliff. We've heard these stories over and over and we want more.
Jole was stumped. He wanted a story to tell but wanting for and having an idea are very different things. He went into the woods and wandered a while and came upon a strange lump, large and defiant in the forest. It looked as though it had squashed the trees beneath it and parted the clouds above. How long was it here for?, Jole wondered.
The more he looked at it the more he felt this was thing was not just set on the forest floor but was a barrier. In fact, it might even be the peak, like an iceberg. He wanted to know more and began digging around it. His hands were covered in dirt and then blood and then they stopped working and he wiped his brow and realized it was getting dark. Jole worried if he left now, he wouldnt be able to find it again, so he lit a small fire near the block and began working throughout the night.
By morning he had the beginnings of a tunnel below the object. He thought, this way I can see what it is on top of! He went to a stream and caught a fish and cooked it and ate it and went back to work digging.
It was early afternoon when the earth began to shift and his tunnel collapsed behind him. Jole was now surrounded by utter darkness. He realised now that it was not a barrier to anything at all. The big block was an invitation and now it is his grave marker.
Jole died.