Member-only story
The Hermit On the Mesa
And a growing global movement
Helen, Fisher, Lyle, and Patricia finally reached the mesa after hiking for hours. Fisher and Lyle had been to the old man’s cave before but the two women had not.
Reaching the cave Fisher called out, “Hello!”
There was no answer. The four people slowly entered the cave.
Lyle spoke up, “Well, the cave’s not abandoned. He’s got food and firewood stocked up. Some of his clothes are still here.”
“The fire pit seems recently used,” remarked Patricia. “And look, these food peelings seem fresh. You know, when you guys told me that he lived in a cave I didn’t know what to think but it looks like he’s got a nice set up here.”
The four people exited the cave to find the old hermit standing just outside leaning on his walking stick with a huge grin on his face. The grin revealed that there were a couple of teeth missing. The old man’s hair was down to the bottom of his back and his gray beard was down to the middle of his chest. He had moccasins on his feet and was wearing some sort of leather pants and an old torn denim shirt.
“Well. Well. Well. I was wonderin’ if I’d ever see you two guys again. I see that this time you had the sense to bring some females with you.”
