The Killer

  THE TIDE

  A short story, say the writers of text books and the teachers ofsophomores, should deal with but a single episode. That dictum isprobably true; but it admits of wider interpretation than is generallygiven it. The teller of tales, anxious to escape from restriction butnot avid of being cast into the outer darkness of the taboo, can inself-justification become as technical as any lawyer. The phrase "asingle episode" is loosely worded. The rule does not specify an episodein one man's life; it might be in the life of a family, or a state, oreven of a whole people. In that case the action might cover many lives.It is a way out for those who have a story to tell, a limit to tell itwithin, but who do not wish to embroil themselves too seriously with theaugust Makers of the Rules.