The Giant

A writer stops at a small-town convenience store and strikes up conversation with its proprietor.  The out-of-towner mentions that he is staying with locals in a nearby home.  The shopkeeper recognizes the family name and reflects on five daughters now grown and scattered around the world.  He remembers one, Dottie, as peculiar and prone to wandering alone in the woods at the edge of town. 

Seizing an opportunity, the author asks to be pointed to a hiking trail.  The shopkeeper recommends a path through the autumnal forest that leads to a scenic overlook.  He explains that the track will fork around a black stone and cautions against taking the right-hand way, which leads to a ghost town frequented by Dottie.

The writer reveals that he is engaged to Dottie and is in from London to visit his in-laws-to-be.

Finding the trailhead, the writer makes his way into the woods.  He reflects on the long history of the land and the rituals of its native people.  Approaching the split in the road, the author bears to the right in search of Dottie’s abandoned village.  A synthetic owl calls down to the author from a tree branch before taking to the sky.