章 105: Hosting

Shioko secured Taya to stay out the door. Along with her companions, she entered the hut.

The visible light from the windows came from rows of candles disorderly scattered across the room. When Yoichi and Enatsu set foot in the village leader's house, dozens of people looked at them fearfully.

Women, children, older and young men: some of those who had managed to escape the Hebigure attack were sheltering themselves there in the hope that the great snake would spare their lives.

The villagers were so numerous that they crowded almost the whole ground floor of the hut, occupying every corner of its perimeter. Children were sitting on a chest, others above a closet, perched like owls.

Entire families of survivors were under the protection of that strange little man, seemingly harmless. A narrow flight of spiral stairs led to the floor above, also full of people.