# VI: “Eyes of Fire!” explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Manly Wade Wellman.

## What happens

The narrator awakens in a dark, warm grove after escaping from prison and a mob. He explores the area, discovering a small stream and lush vegetation. While striking a match to observe his surroundings, he glimpses strange, non-human feet beneath bushes. A creature follows him through the grove, and he eventually finds himself in a clearing. When he lights a cigarette, he sees two fiery eyes in the tunnel behind him. The creature emerges, revealing the same misshapen, point-eared silhouette he saw earlier in John Gird's dining room.

## Themes in this chapter

### Supernatural Evil and Occultism

The grove is described as a 'Devil's Croft' and the creature with eyes of fire and a point-eared silhouette evokes supernatural evil.

### Fear and Control

The narrator's escalating fear and loss of control as he is stalked by an unknown, non-human entity in the dark grove.

## Character check-ins

### Talbot Wills

The narrator and protagonist, who wakes in the Devil's Croft and is pursued by a strange creature.

### John Gird

Referenced as the owner of the dining room where the narrator previously saw the creature's silhouette.

## Key lines

> I let myself think of Shakespeare’s philosophy anent the candle and the good deed in a naughty world.

I recalled Shakespeare's idea that a small light can do good in a wicked world.

_The narrator reflects on the symbolism of light in darkness._

> Eyes of fire!

Two glowing eyes like flames.

_The narrator sees the creature's eyes in the matchlight._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/vi-eyes-of-fire
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters