Hearing footsteps behind him, Argus stepped from the light of the open door into the shadows. He turned and wondered if his pursuers had found him here. He was relieved to see a scruffy man with set jaw of determination or possibly anger walking toward the door.<br/><br/>An easy glance showed the situation. A carriage with a broken wheel. The wheel had been removed; there would be no more travel this night.<br/><br/>It was too dark to see the carriage well, and the curtains concealed the passengers. Perhaps a person or persons of wealth. Perhaps not. Argus had no idea of who might be in the carriage, their intent, their destination. But it was certain it wasn't here. And as he appeared now, beat up and disheveled, to say the least, he knew that approaching the carriage would not be welcomed.<br/><br/>He watched the driver walk toward the door. "Perhaps if I paid the driver he would take me with him," Argus thought, as he thrust his hand into the pocket of his tattered pants. It was then he realized he had no money. He was flat broke. He was pursued, you know, and didn't have time to pack. He realized that with no coin he would not be eating, drinking, or sleeping at this tavern, this night.<br/><br/>Bewildered and angry, he thought to himself, "As long as I am accused of being a criminal, and will be convicted, innocent or not, I might as well be a criminal." With this thought in mind, he backed further into the shadows and then circled the carriage. He was aware of a person or people inside and thought they perhaps were armed. Perhaps not. He had no way of knowing. He dared not a robbery.<br/><br/>Sneaking away, he circled the tavern, and as expected there was a back door. "Perhaps I can sneak in and get some food," he thought to himself. He approached the door cautiously, and then quietly pushed it just enough to see if it was unlocked. Good fortune failed him again. The door was locked.<br/><br/>He stepped back and circled around to the front of the tavern. Backing into the shadows, he positioned himself to watch the carriage and the front door of the tavern. He leaned on a tree wondering what his next move would be.