The Chestnut Man

by Søren Sveistrup

“A chestnut man consists of a head and a body. The head has eyes, which are made with an awl or some other sharp implement, and the body has four matchsticks, which are supposed to be its arms and legs. But a chestnut man doesn’t have any hands. Nor does it have any feet.”

He can see it, but it is as impossible as it is obvious. When comprehension dawns, his first thought is that it is too late to fight back.

“Chestnut man, do come in. Chestnut man, do come in—”