HOUSES & OTHER DWELLINGS TEXTS

HOUSES & OTHER DWELLINGS

INSPECTION

HOUSEBARNTENT"Private residence," Locklear said. "I'm not sure if anyone is about or not."James shrugged. "Looks like this building is being used for storage," he said. "Beyond that, anyone's guess would be as good as mine."

The tent was small. Though he wasn't certain how many men it might hold, it was large enough to hold at least one person who wished them dead.TREE HOUSEPANTH TIANDNINVALID?Wind toyed with the rope. Glancing up into the canopy of limbs that spread overhead, Owyn could see that the rope provided access to some manner of house.No man had made the structure. Created from some material unlike any that Owyn had ever seen, the dwelling had qualities about it that reminded him of an animal's burrow.James shrugged. "It's a building," he said. "Beyond that, anyone's guess would be as good as mine."

James took a step forward. "We need to approach this house from the front," he said decisively.

LET'S HAVE A LOOKOwyn pushed the door open.
"The place is abandoned," Locklear said, looking around the room. "Maybe the occupants left something behind we can use."Locklear looked around nervously as Owyn knocked.
"Doesn't seem that anyone's about," he said. "Luck's with us."James pushed the door open.
"The place is abandoned," James said, looking around the room. "Maybe the occupants left something behind we can use. Let's have a look."

Gorath pulled back a tent flap.
"The place is abandoned," Gorath said, looking around. "But maybe the occupants left something behind we can use. Let's have a look."Chicken clucks greeted their entry. James pulled back the door of the barn and took a look inside. "It would appear normal, but still it bears investigation."Locklear pushed the door open.
"Looks like an abandoned tavern," Owyn said, looking around the room. "Maybe the former owners left something behind we can use."

NOTHING OF INTERESTAt one time the crumbling farmhouse probably sheltered a small family. Now it lay in ruins, a casualty of overworked soil, or perhaps a drought from decades past. "We won't find anything here," Locklear said. "Let's move on."The building was empty.
At Owyn's insistence they conducted a quick search, but finding nothing of interest soon left to resume their search.The small dwelling was abandoned. "This was more a shelter against the wind than anything else," James said. Looking around he commented, "Judging by the shape it's in I'd say no one has actually lived here for some time."

James pushed open the wooden door. "No one has lived here in some time," he said, looking around the empty room.The dwelling was now empty.
Gorath walked inside and looked around. Finding nothing of interest he motioned to Owyn and they left the small building together.The house was now empty.
James walked inside and looked around. Finding nothing of interest he turned to leave. "There is nothing of use to us here. We should leave before any others return."

They approached the small tent. Pulling back the flap Owyn took a moment to survey the interior. "This tent hasn't been lived in for some time," he said.James approached the small tent and peeked inside. "No one has lived here in some time," he said. "We should leave."James pushed open the door. "Looks like this used to be a shop of some kind," he said. "But there's no one doing business in here now."

James pushed open the door. "Looks like this used to be a temple of some kind," he said. "But it would appear this place was abandoned some time ago."James pushed open the door. "Looks like this used to be an inn of some kind," he said. "But it would appear this place was abandoned some time ago."James pushed open the door. "Looks like this used to be a tavern of some kind," he said. "But it looks as though this place was abandoned some time ago."

James looked around the small barn.
Judging by the variety of livestock he guessed it was community property, perhaps owned by the citizens of the town. He poked around for a few minutes, then said, "Nothing of much interest here. Let's move on."Still panting from the climb Owyn studied the tree house. "I think we just wasted our energy climbing up here. There doesn't seem to be anyone about."

NOBODY HOME?Locklear knocked on the door.
For a long moment he leaned against the door frame as he waited, positioning himself so he could listen for the sounds of any stirrings inside. When at last it was evident no one was coming, he stepped back with a shrug. "Doesn't seem that anyone's about," Locklear said.No one answered Locklear's persistent knocking.
After circling the house he announced, "Either the occupants slipped out, they're ignoring us, or they're stone dead sleepers. Whatever the case may be, we would probably have better luck if we moved on."

TEA & SYMPATHYA woman escorted them inside.
After a friendly chat and a steaming pot of tea, they refused any further hospitality from the hostess. "Would that we could pass the time with you a bit longer, Locklear said, "but duty calls us. We have a...trading caravan waiting on us."They were greeted warmly.
After a friendly chat and a steaming pot of tea, they refused any further hospitality from their hosts. "You've been more than generous," James said, grabbing his pack. "I think it's time we made for the road again."They were met at the door by a friendly couple.
James introduced himself and greetings were offered all around. He sat and traded stories for several minutes, then rose, "We really must be going. You have been very kind."

WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFOREThe door remained latched.
"I get the feeling we aren't welcome here," Locklear said, a faint grin touching his lips. "Of course, now that I think about it, I seem to recall that we might have done something to upset the tenants."

Gorath hesitated. "We've been here before," he said. "I don't see what purpose would be served by us visiting this place again."Gorath hesitated. "Considering the circumstances, I don't think it would be a good idea to come back to this place. We should leave."Gorath hesitated. Turning to Owyn he said, "I don't see any purpose served by returning to this place. We should leave."

The barn looked familiar. "We've been here before," said James. They explored the interior for a couple of minutes, but not finding anything of interest they left.James approached the small tent. "Judging by the way this tent is sealed up," he whispered, "I'd say if there was anyone inside they don't wish to be disturbed right now."Owyn hesitated in front of the tent. "We have been here before. I see no purpose served by returning to this place."