Approaching the light, he saw now that it was a campfire, one that burned with a strange purplish-green brilliance. Adjacent to the fire was a man in a deep green cloak, sitting atop one of the tree roots protruding from the ground. The tree itself appeared clearer now, partially lit by the fire, its image like no living thing he had seen, challenging his imagination.
“Please,” the cloaked figure said, gesturing to a stone next to the fire.
“We have much to discuss.” The man’s appearance struck Barlow in the same unusual way the tree's did, but his qualities were actually closer to the fire’s. He seemed almost transparent. As if he sat with only one foot in our world. Barlow had the bizarre sense that the man stood all around him. Pausing for a moment, to take everything in, Barlow decided to do as he requested. Sitting down he moved to warm his hands and realized the fire, produced no heat. The cloaked figure laughed quietly and drew a large key from his robes.
“Now, where were we…”
