CHAPTER V

The woman sat on the floor, as always, facing away from the one Corner of the house. It seemed that if she could somehow move all the filth and squalor into that one corner, then she would never have to look at it again. But perhaps the empty floor would be no less depressing, and at any rate it would be impossible. After a while, she stood up and pressed her face against the window, to her surprise, there was somebody walking down the road.

"Help! help!" She cried, and the person turned and ran toward the house. It was a young man. He came up to the window and put his head up to the bars and looked in.

"What's the matter?" He asked.

"I displeased the white queen, and she has imprisoned me here. Please let me out!"

"But," said the man, looking around, "The door is locked from the inside. And... look! Isn't that the key, sitting on that table over there? Look!" He said, pointing toward the Corner.

"No!" She said.

"What?"

"I won't look!"

"Why not?"

"Because it's my taboo! I will never look at, or approach, the corner of a house that points toward the forest. And I certainly could never take anything from that corner!"

"Well, I won't tell anyone if you do it."

"No! You don't understand! Not one of my people has ever broken their taboo. Ever!"

No! I can't! I can't!? She said, falling on the ground and weeping. "Please rescue me!"

"I'm sorry." Said the young man. "But I don't know how to break in. I feel sorry for you, but if you aren't willing to help yourself, then there's nothing I can do for you. And I don't have any time. I have to find the crone of the forest."

And he turned away, and began walking toward the forest.

"Oh!" She said. "I see what kind of person you are! You'd rather go off on some grand, impossible quest, than actually help someone in need! You're no hero! I hope you do find the crone of the forest! You'll get what you deserve!" And then she fell onto the floor and began to weep."