Inside the stove， he found

    a passageway， leading to a set of stairs.

    This caused him a great deal of worry

    as well as elation¹ and gladness of living.

    He did not， however， venture

    into the oven， but sent his little brother in

    in his stead. This seemed at first

    a good idea， but when the brother

    had been gone three days， he began

    to second-guess the wisdom

    of his rash choice. He'd go in after him，

    he decided². But the passage

    had shrunk by then， and no normal-sized

    person could fit through. Yes， that's it，

    I sent him in because， from a purely³ physical

    standpoint， I myself could never have gone.

    And besides， he mumbled⁴ to himself，

    it's probably nice in there.