Chapter 1801

Stella wanted to know whether he liked the wooden bird. Grace wanted to know whether he preferred sweet fruit or roasted vegetables. Lucy asked him whether he had ever climbed a treehouse, and Zoey immediately warned him that some of the walkways were slippery.

Sol answered every question with remarkable seriousness.

When Stella asked whether he wanted another wooden toy, he shook his head.

"The bird is enough."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. It can be lonely if it doesn’t have a friend."

Stella smiled.

"Then perhaps I should make another one."

Sol looked at the wooden bird in his hands.

"Would you?"

"Of course."

He seemed pleased.

Jude watched the conversation with quiet satisfaction. The boy was still reserved, but he was beginning to relax around them.

After breakfast, Jude gathered everyone near the firepit.

"We have several things to do today. The storehouse roof still needs repairing, the vegetable beds need attention, and we should check the western fence after yesterday’s rain."

Scarlet raised a hand.

"And the new shelter?"

"Not today."

"Why?"

"Because we have other work."

"But—"

"Scarlet."

She lowered her hand.

Sol looked at her.

"Do you always ask for things?"

Scarlet turned toward him.

"Only important things."

"Is the shelter important?"

"Very."

"More important than breakfast?"

"Nothing is more important than breakfast."

Sol nodded thoughtfully.

"I agree."

Scarlet pointed at him.

"See? He understands me."

Jude shook his head.

The women divided the day’s work among themselves. Susan and Rose would inspect the storehouse, Natalie and Serena would work in the vegetable gardens, and Sophie would accompany Jude to the northern path to examine the fallen tree.

Grace and Stella planned to finish the flower garden, while Emma prepared food for later. Zoey and Lucy were assigned to collect dry wood.

Sol watched them discussing the tasks.

"What can I do?"

Jude looked at him.

"You can stay here and enjoy yourself."

"Why?"

"Because you’re a guest."

Sol frowned.

"I don’t want to be a guest."

"Why not?"

"Guests don’t do anything."

Scarlet nodded approvingly.

"That’s true."

Rose gave her a look.

Sol continued.

"I want to help."

Jude considered the request.

"All right. You can help Stella with the flower garden. Just remember not to pick anything unless she tells you it’s ready."

Sol nodded.

"I won’t."

Stella offered him her hand.

"Come along, then."

He took the little wooden bird and followed her.

The flower garden was his first assignment.

Stella showed him the different plants, explaining which ones had been brought from the western meadow and which ones had been collected near the eastern stream.

Sol listened carefully.

"This one is still growing," she said, pointing to a small patch of soil. "We planted its seeds yesterday."

"Where are the flowers?"

"They haven’t appeared yet."

"Why?"

"Because seeds need time."

Sol crouched and examined the earth.

"How much time?"

"Sometimes a few days. Sometimes longer."

He looked up.

"That’s a long time for a flower."

Stella laughed.

"It is."

Sol picked up a small wooden marker and examined the writing.

"What does this say?"

"Violet meadow flowers."

He tried to read the words aloud.

"Vi-o-let... meadow... flowers."

"Very good."

He placed the marker back in the soil.

Then he noticed a small worm moving near the edge of the garden.

He stared at it.

Stella continued arranging the stones.

After a moment, Sol pointed.

"What’s that?"

"A worm."

"Does it live here?"

"Yes."

"Does it have a house?"

Stella smiled.

"Not like ours."

"Where does it sleep?"

"Under the ground."

Sol considered this.

"Does it have a family?"

"I suppose it might."

He leaned closer to the worm.

"Hello."

Stella stopped working.

Sol watched the little creature disappear beneath a damp leaf.

"It’s shy," he said.

Stella laughed.

"Perhaps."

A few minutes later, he found a small beetle crawling along one of the stones.

He carefully moved his hand in front of it, allowing it to climb onto his palm.

"Look," he said.

Stella leaned closer.

"That’s a little beetle."

"Can I keep it?"

"Better to let it stay in the garden."

Sol looked disappointed.

"Why?"

"Because it belongs here."

He gently placed the beetle back on the stone.

"Goodbye."

Stella smiled.

"You’re very kind to little creatures."

Sol looked at her.

"Someone should be."

For a moment, Stella had no answer.

Then she handed him another marker.

"Would you like to help me place this one?"

Sol nodded enthusiastically.

He pushed it into the soil.

Unfortunately, he pushed it too far.

The entire marker disappeared.

Stella stared.

Sol stared.

Then he slowly looked up at her.

"I think I planted it."

Stella burst into laughter.

At the same time, Jude and Sophie were making their way toward the northern path.

The fallen tree was located beyond the familiar village trails, near a rocky section of the mountain foothills. Its trunk had come down during an earlier storm, and Jude had considered using the wood to repair the storehouse.

They carried ropes, a small axe, and a few wooden tools.

Sophie walked beside him, looking at the forest.

"Sol seems happier today."

"He does."

"It’s strange how quickly he’s become comfortable."

"Children often adapt quickly."

"Perhaps."

She looked toward the path behind them.

"Do you think he’ll remember where he came from?"

Jude was quiet for a moment.

"I hope so. If someone is searching for him, we should try to help."

Sophie glanced at him.

"You know that’s difficult."

"I know."

They both understood what that meant.

The island had been their home for years. They had explored its forests, climbed its mountains, followed its rivers, and walked along its beaches. Yet they had never encountered another person from beyond its shores.

Not once.

No passing ships.

No distant settlements.

No travellers.

The island was isolated from the world, and the world had never come looking for them.

Until now, apparently.

Sophie looked ahead.

"Do you think there could be other people here?"

"On the island?"

"Yes."

"We’ve explored a lot of it."

"Not all of it."