Following that, the old man began digging in happily once more. Wilbur saw that and continued eating on his own. The old man, however, had a positively frightful appetite and eaten all four trotters and arge piece of pork within half an hour.


    The old man sat on the ground, licking the grease off his fingers as he stared at the rest of the boar on the grill. "That was really quite good. I''d even say it''s the best wild boar I''ve had in thirty years."


    Wilbur said, "Are you done eating now, sir?"


    "Yes, I''m done," the old man smiled.


    "Alright, I''ll put it away now."


    The old man saw Wilbur getting up and scrambled to his feet to grab Wilbur. "Hey, hey, what''s the rush? You can put it awayter."


    Wilbur took a deep breath. "Sir, I can tell you really like the taste of this wild boar. You could just say that, and I''d be happy to give you half of it so we can both have food, okay?"


    There were plenty more wild boars in the forest, some of them even weighing more than this one. Wilbur was more than happy to catch another boar and cook it for himself, as it barely took an hour. He did not see the point in fighting with an old man over some pork.


    Yet Wilbur noticed that the old man had been extremely entitled from the start, even after he had eaten a great deal of the grilled boar Wilbur had made. This made Wilbur rather annoyed, and he wanted to lure the old man into lowering his pride.


    That would at least make Wilbur feel a little better. Yet the old man seemed to be able to tell what Wilbur was thinking, and he let go of Wilbur to stroke his beard proudly. "Why would I care about a mere grilled boar? I was just trying to see the kind of person you are. Food is one of man''s greatest needs, and it is rare to see someone who can bear empathy and tolerance toward others when ites to food. I admire your sense of respect, so I''m willing to give you a chance."


    "A chance?" Wilbur stared at the old man. "What chance?"


    The old man stroked his beard. "Young man, did you notice that every single piece of pork I had was given to me from your hand? I never took any of it on my own."


    "Yes, because you told me to do that. Is that supposed to be virtuous to you?"


    The old man coughed again. "It''s not what you think it is. I''m just trying to tell you that I only eat the best of whatever I can take out of another''s hands. Everything good has tond in my hands, regardless of who I''m with. You are no exception."


    The words made Wilbur rather ufortable, and he scowled at the old man. "And if I hadn''t given you the pork myself, sir?"


    The old man sneered, ring at Wilbur. "Well, I''d beat you into submission until you beg me to hand me that pork."


    "Surely that''s not necessary?" Wilbur said coldly.