The boy watched as the man trudged towards him on the path. It was a struggle for the man as he was carrying a canoe across his shoulders. Away in the distance was the river from which he had come, wide and slow moving.
"Hello!" said the boy as the man got closer. "Where are you going?"
"To the sea," answered the man.
"To the sea?" the boy repeated his question. "Then why have you come this way? Why have you come away from the river?"
"Everyone knows that the sea is to the West. I canoed the river for a while, but then it started to turn to the north. So I had to get out and walk. See the position of the sun? The west is this way. So this way I am going. Once I get over that mountain, maybe I will find another river which is heading to the west and canoe a bit more. It was a shame that river turned to the north. Canoeing is so much easier and faster than this."
The boy fought hard to prevent himself laughing.
"Are you sure you need to go this way?" the boy asked him after composing himself.
"Yes! Of course I am sure! You can see the sun can't you? Now please stop asking stupid questions. I don't have time to stand here talking to you."
He stormed off before the wide-eyed boy could say another word.
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