The Green God

A weary traveller sets out on a long walk from London toward the southwest coast, hoping the open road and sketch‑book will bring fresh air and inspiration. An unexpected October gale forces him to accept a lift from a rugged, bronzed stranger in a motorcar, whose terse manners hide a strangely attractive smile. The two speed toward Exeter, the storm growing louder, and the narrator watches the world blur into wind‑swept rain.

The driver steers them into a solemn, gray‑stone gateway surrounded by towering oaks, where a large, gloomy manor looms at the end of a gravel drive. Servants open the massive door just as the rain hammers the shutters, and the air feels charged with an uneasy stillness. As the traveller steps inside, he senses that the house holds secrets far beyond a simple shelter, hinting at a deeper, perhaps ancient power that watches from the shadows.