18. The arrow.

This is what he said:

"Let me tell you all a story."

By this time a dozen people were within the sound of his voice. Those who hadn't been watching him, which was most of them, turned as they heard him.

"Once, there was a man who was hunting in a forest. He was hunting a swan.

"As he ran through the forest, he spotted the swan. He raised his arrow and took aim. But just as he was about to take a shot, he felt himself get hit, just below the shoulder. The shot had grazed his heart. The arrow was embedded in him, protruding from his back."

He paused. Everyone was listening.

"The hunter's companions rushed to his side, knowing that he was about to die.

"His first words were, 'Who shot me?'"