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It is pretty creepy, but you'd never forgive yourself if you didn't at least try and find out what was going on. So you take a deep breath and start walking in the direction the voice came from. This aisle is quieter than the main one, and the stalls are shadowy, the stallholders not cheery and bright like the ones when you came in, but dressed in dark clothes and frowning out of the gloom. You try to pay attention to your surroundings without looking around too much - you don't want to seem scared. You hear the voice again, calling your name, and you jump. You're definitely going in the right direction, though. You look at the few other people around to see if they've heard anything, but none of them make eye contact. Your heart starts to beat a little faster. You imagine you see shapes in the shadows, and movements out of the corner of your eye. You follow the aisle as it turns a corner - and stop short. Suddenly, in the middle of the semi-darkness is a little patch of vibrant, glowing colour - a pretzel stand. It's made of cheerful light wood, with red ribbons entwined around it, and bright yellow-ish lights strung along the roof and around the serving window. There are pretzels as big as your head hanging in bunches, and they smell delicious. Suddenly you remember that you were hungry. The man standing behind the stall is smiling and jolly, and his smile widens when he sees you. 'Pretzel for the young gentleman?' he asks. You frown. 'How did you know I speak English?' He shrugs. 'It is easy to spot the tourists, I have worked here for many years.' 'I'll think about it...' you say. 'First pretzel is free?' he offers. 'I guarantee you will want to pay for another.' You look at them. They do look really good, and free food is free food. Still, you're worried. Something seems odd, and you still haven't found the source of the mysterious voice. And this man seems a little over-eager. You decide to take a pretzel. Business is obviously scarce in this part of the market, he probably doesn't get many customers. You won't take it. He seems too anxious that you should, and you're not sure you trust him. |