Chereads / Valley Forge / Chapter 4 - Poof

Chapter 4 - Poof

From the eyes of the clouds, there was no valley to be seen just an unadulterated blanket of snow. Then suddenly "poof" a man. Seemingly from thin air, he materialized. In all of his physical being, he caught snow on his shoulders.

He wore a black cloak gutted with red felt. Leather straps measured his body and cut it into small pieces. On his hip hidden behind his cloak was a simple short sword, chipped and scratched. He was neither heathen nor villager and while he looked ready for almost any battle the test of cold seemed too much for him.

Hugging his own body through the cold he wagged his bed back and forth seeing nothing of interest disappeared again in "poof" of smoke. The snow that had found sleep on his shoulders now made its final journey to the ground. Only to be caught in the man's shoes as he appeared again.

"poof"

Looking a tab bit confused, and more then a little frustrated he disappeared again.

"poof"

"poof"

Back on the mountain, he took one final look around, jerking his head behind him and then in front of him. Then:

"poof"

"poof"

Now more than a little frustrated and battling his dwindling patience he conceded to a full 360. As he began, likely due to his ebbing patience, he took a poorly placed step onto his cloak. Falling to the ground he was met by a small basket hidden in the snow.

You could not meet a less curious stranger than this man but upon discovering that he could not leave this place he was met with an easy choice. First stripping the snow from the top of the basket then de excavating it from where it lay he brought it onto his lap. He knew that its placement here was no more random than his own. Upon opening the basket he again decided to test his luck.

"poof," he disappeared the basket again falling into the snow, and from it a loud wail. Emitting from a wail from the child that it held.

"poof," the stranger appeared again.

No older than five months old I felt as though I witnessed a miracle, a man disappearing and appearing as if though by magic. This was far from my first miracle I witnessed, another being the particular face the man was making. It was smugged a contorted in such a way that wrinkles erupted throughout the whole thing. I overcame the fear that was hurled upon me much as I the ground and let out a small giggle.

"poof,"

"poof,"

The man had done it again, I giggled.

"Shit," the man said as he picked up my cradle and disappeared.