Thief of Time

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According to the First Scroll of Wen the Eternally Surprised, Wen stepped out of the cave where he had received enlightenment and into the dawning light of the first day of the rest of his life. He stared at the rising sun for some time, because he had never seen it before.

He prodded with a sandal the dozing form of Clodpool the apprentice, and said: ‘I have seen. Now I understand.’

Then he stopped, and looked at the thing next to Clodpool.

‘What is that amazing thing?’ he said.

‘Er … er … it’s a tree, master,’ said Clodpool, still not quite awake. ‘Remember? It was there yesterday.’

‘There was no yesterday.’

‘Er … er … I think there was, master,’ said Clodpool, struggling to his feet. ‘Remember? We came up here and I cooked a meal, and had the rind off your sklang because you didn’t want it.’

‘I remember yesterday,’ said Wen thoughtfully. ‘But the memory is in my head now. Was yesterday real? Or is it only the memory that is real? Truly, yesterday I was not born.’

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