Folk Rituals...

In a time and a land far away, two folks live in a small village. They have known each other many, many years. They speak mainly with silent looks, and gestures, and sometimes, a few choice words. The words are often a sort of code. Long trains of thought are distilled to their basic essence. Their new daily ritual, upon awaking, is always a halting, meaningful, and somewhat hopeful question: "Is he dead yet?"