A cooper journeyed from his home to move his business to a new town. He drove his wagon along the western foot of a majestic mountain range until he came to a peak that towered above the others. Its rich, green slopes ascended to crags robed in snow even during the warm summer. As he looked upon the gigantic monolith, he saw two great wings unfold from the sides as if from the shoulders of a great beast. They stretched across the sky, and an eagle’s cry rang in his ears.

As the sight and sound faded, he was suddenly filled with the desire to find out more about this strange peak.

At first glance, the area seemed uninhabited, so he didn’t know whom he’d ask. But soon he came across a brook that ran directly from the mountain. If I follow this stream, he thought, I’ll run into someone, if there’s anyone to run into. He decided to head toward the mountain first; if he found no one, he would turn around and follow the stream as it swept across the plains.

This first journey was a short one. The brook flowed out of a V-shaped notch in the side of the mountain. A mere hundred yards through the opening, the notch widened to form a glade. In the center, the brook widened into a gentle pool. Perched on the slope to the right stood a cottage.

The cooper eyed the cliff and found where a path descended to the water. He directed his dapple gelding over to a tree and tied him to it. With a deep breath—why did his heart pound all of a sudden?—he climbed the path and came to the cabin’s door. With a hesitant fist, he knocked.

› Continue reading…