..older than sin, and his beard could grow no whiter. He wanted to die.

The dwarfish natives of the Arctic caverns did not speak hislanguage, but conversed in their own, twittering tongue, conductedincomprehensible rituals, when they were not actually working in thefactories.

Once every year they forced him, sobbing and protesting, intoEndless Night. During the journey he would stand near every child inthe world, leave one of the dwarves' invisible gifts by its bedside.The children slept, frozen into time.

He envied Prometheus and Loki, Sisyphus and Judas. His punishment was harsher.

Ho.

Ho.

Ho.