You pull ashore under the bridge, carefully hiding your boat in the weeds in case you need it again.
There are the remains of old fires under the bridge. You are not the first to camp here. It's only a few hours until sunset, so you spend the time gathering dry grass for a bed. There are no buildings near the bridge. Occasionally a wagon crosses the bridge, but they are unaware of you hiding below. You rest on your bed of grass until it is dark, then you set out to explore.
You look up and down the dark roadway. In one direction you see a light, so you head that way. As you draw closer to the light, you see that it comes from the window of a small house. The house has a low stone fence and flowers in the yard, although it's too dark to judge their true colors. The place seems harmless enough - if it's inhabited by humans.
You enter the yard quietly and go to the window where the light is shining. You peek inside and see a woman sitting in a rocking chair reading. There is a lamp on the table beside her. Safe enough, you think. You go around to the door and knock.
"Who is it?" she calls from inside without opening the door.
"I am lost," you say. "Can you help me?"
"What do you mean 'lost'? Go away!"
"Please! I need help. I don't know who I am or what's happened to me!"
She must hear the desperation in your voice because she cracks the door and looks at you. "Where do you come from?"
"I don't know. I don't know anything. I found a boat on the river. Please help me."
She opens the door. "Come in then. Let's hear your story."
But what can you tell her except the room with three doors, the canyon, the river, the boat, the sandbar, the bridges.
She scratches her chin. That's Nevermore Canyon," she says. "I've got a second cousin that lives up in there at the village of Tal Bryn. But you say you didn't see any village in the canyon?"
"No."
"Then your room with three doors must be on this side of his village. If you found a boat on the riverbank, then you must have been very near to Tal Bryn's village. I don't know why you should be there? Are you part of the Sisyski Delegation?"
"Sisyski? I don't know what you are talking about."
"You've never heard of the League of True Planets? You don't know that this is Nevermore?"
"I don't know ANYTHING!"
The woman seems to believe you. "Very puzzling... I don't know who you are or what you are, and obviously you don't know. Would you like me to call a policeman?"
A chill runs through you. Why should that frighten you? "A policeman?" you say. "No, I don't think that's needed. I'll be okay."
The woman looks skeptical. "But you need some help. Perhaps a doctor can help you get your memory back?"
"No... No... I'm fine. Well, I guess I better be going. You've been a big help. Thanks a lot." And you head for the exit.
"Wait!" says the woman and grabs your arm. "I really don't think you should be out there by yourself, not knowing who you are and all. Just sit down and don't be afraid."
You feel a little panic building in you. "No. Really! It's okay. I appreciate your help, but I have to be on my way."
The woman will not let go of you. Her expression hardens. "Why? Where are you going?"
You don't know where you are going. You just know you have to get away from this woman and her policemen. You wrench your arm out of her grasp and run for the door.
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