Jason Weiser

... ...

Shin, atop his master's grand horse that he had recently recovered, saw a naked man sprint across the road with an armful of mushrooms.

That was something you don't see every day, one hopes.

The Moondong was wise.

After the horse ate his fill of salt, he took off on a trot down the city street, then out into the country.

Ending up at a manor, the horse went directly to the country estate, and Shin helped him open the gate.

Then, he trotted to the stable to slurp up water, right next to Shin's master's horse.

Creeping over and grabbing a saddle, Shin tacked up the horse and had nearly made it to the gate when he heard shouts.

"'Hey, what are you doing with my horse?'

Shin didn't turn the horse, but looked over his shoulder to the man rushing out of the house."

I'm taking my horse back, Shin said.

Not if I catch you, the man pointed.

Also, that's not an admission of guilt.

That's just a statement of fact.

Okay, you can't because your horse is old and sad.

If you try to say I stole it, I'll have my master testify.

And according to the text, you'll be paddled, which is probably euphemistic, Shin declared.

With that, he left the horse thief's estate.

Riding home and marveling at the wisdom of the Mundang, Shin was so lost in thought that he almost ran over a man standing on a bridge.

weeping shin was about to ask the man if he was all right but the man turned to him first and screeching asked if the rider could hear him too please please say he could hear him too shin had already been through enough nonsense steered wide around the man and galloped off toward home