It was the kind of disturbing event that you could do without.
Especially while taking a stroll in order to clear the head and think quietly for a while. He would often get out and take a slow walk in the local forest whenever he needed to relax and concentrate on weighty affairs. He was doing just that when he heard a sudden rustling. It seemed to be close by. Interested to see whether an animal was about to cross his path he stood silently beside a tree and waited. After a few moments he caught site of what seemed to be movement. There was a strange shimmering before a small figure appeared. As it came closer, he could see that it was a tiny man. It appeared to be an elderly dwarf strolling along, looking at a tiny pocket watch.
He slowly moved back behind the tree and continued to stare in disbelief.
The creature returned the timepiece to its waistcoat and took a step up into thin air. To his amazement he saw it take another step up, going higher and higher, as though climbing and invisible staircase. It was a spiral staircase because the dwarf went around and around several times. At the top it stopped, then strolled along in mid-air where it stopped again and looked up.
It seemed to take hold of something and amble its way back along what was probably a balcony of some sort, although there was absolutely nothing to see. At this point he could make out that it was carrying a tiny book. At the top of the staircase, it paused to flip through a few pages. Apparently satisfied, it proceeded to make its way down the spiral, finally stepping back onto the ground again at the bottom.
As it waddled away, the man came forward a little to watch it go, stepping on a twig as he did. It made a crack. The dwarf turned and peered up at the man.
“Sorry,” the man said, still in a state of shock, “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I mean, I can’t believe… well, I mean…” He stood gaping while the tiny manlike creature came a little closer, adjusting its spectacles and scrutinizing the intruder.
After a moment it shrugged and said, “Sorry, the library’s closed.”
And with a shimmer, it was gone.