The golden hills of Humble lush with nourishing grains feed the denizens who vow fealty to Humble and all within it. They love Humble in a quiet, consistent, and unromantic way. They love the sparrows in the sky, the mice and rabbits in the field and meadows, and minnow in the lakes and streams.
A slat fence runs around the little land to keep out grazing animals in neighboring lands. Visitors come to Humble to work in its fields. They remove rocks, plow and harvest, shuck, and grind corn into flour between two heavy stones.
In return for their service, they can take home bags of Humble flour, enough to feed them flatbreads for a year.
“There was nothing remarkable, but something restorative about the experience,”says Miss Emeline Traveler. “You ought to try it. The denizens of Humble welcome all who wish to share their labors.”
The old capitol, Plain, is a stone encampment with smooth paths that circle around the ruins.
"It felt very familiar," said Miss Doe Friend. "Although I could not think I had truly been there before."
"But you probably have," said the Guide. "It is quite common. See how smooth the stones are worn, how well-trodden the paths."
"It is a comfortable place to rest," says Miss Doe Friend. "And we quite enjoyed the bakery where all is made of Humble flour. The flat bread is delicious served hot on enormous stone platters. They had little flavor but were surprisingly nourishing and filling."
"Everyone who visits here gets the experience they expect," says the Guide.
The bakers and stone-makers who live in Plain live long, unremarkable lives. They love deeply though — all the people and animals they meet and form tight bonds.
Sometimes visitors come wearing the gems and jewels of Beauty and then the Plain sigh. They look at the Beautiful in awe and then return to baking and nibbling upon the corners of the flatbread.
Comments
Post a Comment