I shrug. In the warmth of the rough walls and dumped manure I accept that I shall never see the inside of the tavern itself. And that is all right; it is cozy where I am and it is where I choose to be. As each animal arrives I lead it into the stables and unsaddle or unharness it as the case may be and give it a quick rubdown with clean gunny sacks. As oblivious of my presence as their humans are, I cannot ignore the needs of the steeds.