The Visitor and the Kindly Bell

A Visitor came to a Bell beneath a hill by a path the Bell declined to name.

“I know what sort of creature you are,” said the Bell.

The Visitor was impressed, for the Bell knew how the journey had begun.

“Why did you continue?” asked the Bell.

The Visitor could not remember answering, though the Bell behaved as if an answer had been given.

The Bell repeated the answer in a deeper voice, and from the dark came a murmur: “So did we.”

“How many are there?” asked the Visitor.

“As many as you need there to be,” said the Bell.

Then the Visitor understood that the Bell had learned one footprint, borrowed one confession, and called the two a soul.