The Alchemist - 10th Anniversary Edition
Chapter One
The Boy's Name Was Santiago. Dusk Was falling as the boy
arrived with his herd at an abandoned church. The roof had
fallen in long ago, and an enormous sycamore had grown on the
spot where the sacristy had once stood.
He decided to spend the night there. He saw to it that all the
sheep entered through the ruined gate, and then laid some
planks across it to prevent the flock from wandering away
during the night. There were no wolves in the region, but once
an animal had strayed during the night, and the boy had had to
spend the entire next day searching for it.
He swept the floor with his jacket and lay down, using the
book he had just finished reading as a pillow. He told himself
that he would have to start reading thicker books: they lasted
longer, and made more comfortable pillows.
It was still dark when he awoke, and, looking up, he could see
the stars through the half-destroyed roof.
I wanted to sleep a little longer, he thought. He had had the
same dream that night as a week ago, and once again he had
awakened before it ended.
He arose and, taking up his crook, began to awaken the sheep
that still slept. He had noticed that, as soon as he awoke,
most of his animals also began to stir. It was ... read full excerpt from: Alchemist - 10th Anniversary Edition, The ebook
