The student arrived early.
The floor was clean.
The weapons were laid out.
He bowed and waited.
The master entered, looked once around the room, and said:
“Today, do nothing.”
The student frowned.
“But I am ready.”
The master nodded.
“That is why.”
They sat.
Time passed.
The student’s breath slowed.
The room grew ordinary.
Nothing happened.
At last the student asked,
“When do we begin?”
The master replied,
“When there is something to do.”
The student bowed again.
This time, he understood a little.