Inside the Maze: The Hedge-Cutter

Klein listened to what he thought sounded liked cutting sounds emanating from two or three hedgerows inside the maze. Unconsciously drawn towards the sounds, which were becoming stronger and stronger, he moved, tentatively at first, towards the envisaged activity forming in his mind. The strange sounds were rising to a sharper, biting pitch as Klein approached them inquiringly. Without hesitating, Klein took a final turn to the left, and saw a man, two or three paces further on, with his back to him, frantically cutting at a portion of hedge that stood in front of him. The man was virtually motionless, apart from his arms, which were working as hard as they could to prune a highly skilful shape in the hedge down to the most intricate and fine-grained detail.