Learning

The old woman pushes the objects across to the adventurer, indicating he should keep them. He picks them up, holds up the clothes peg and looks at the woman. She cackles, gets to her feet, places her arms as if holding a dance partner (for a horrifying moment, he thinks it is an invitation), dances a few steps of a waltz, then sits down and cackles again. The adventurer realises he has been given something, although he does not know what. He tries holding up another object, to see if he will get another individual explanation, but the old woman cries out and gestures vigorously. He begins to put the things away, looking for different pockets to put the objects in. She repeats the gesture. The objects must go in the same pocket. These are his first language lessons. Smoke from a fire inside the hut drifts into his face with a smell that is universally nostalgic.