He hid behind a tree, watching for a moment before walking over to stand beneath her. He tilted his head back and gazed up at her.
Then, the woman in the tree saw him.
Lillian Bancroft pointed at the rope. The woman in the tree nodded at him. He turned toward the tree, but he was moving so slowly that the woman shouted impatiently, "Can you hurry up! Don't you see I'm about to die up here?"
Startled, Lillian Bancroft immediately untied the rope. He had no time to dodge and was knocked over as her body fell.
Then, he thought, 'She must be so thirsty.' He sprinted back home, fetched a bowl of water, and brought it to her lips himself.
"You're… so… beautiful…"
"I'm hungry. Do you have anything to eat?"
"Yes!" Lillian Bancroft was thrilled. "I have some at my place. I'll take you home!"
Without giving her a chance to protest, he hoisted the woman onto his back and took off at a run, as if he weren't carrying anyone at all.
