Chapter 1805

Sol walked toward his cabin. The others watched him go. When he disappeared along the path, Scarlet turned toward Jude.

"I don’t think that child is as ordinary as he looks."

Jude glanced at her.

"What makes you say that?"

"He knew something was happening before it happened."

Serena nodded.

"And he recognized the symbol."

Layla closed her journal.

"He said it belonged to the mountain."

Jude looked toward the northern forest.

"We’ll have to investigate."

The evening was quieter than usual.

Nobody wanted to discuss the beach too much while Sol was nearby, so the conversation around the firepit remained ordinary. They talked about the storehouse repairs, the vegetable gardens, and the possibility of finishing the covered shelter.

Sol joined them for dinner.

He seemed cheerful again, eating fruit and listening to Scarlet describe her plans for the garden gate.

At one point, he leaned toward Jude.

"Can we go somewhere tomorrow?"

"Where would you like to go?"

"The mountain."

Jude stopped eating.

"What mountain?"

Sol pointed north.

"The tall one."

Jude exchanged a glance with Sophie.

"Why do you want to go there?"

Sol looked down at his plate.

"I want to see something."

"What?"

The boy was quiet.

Then he smiled faintly.

"It’s a surprise."

Scarlet immediately leaned forward.

"I like surprises."

Jude did not.

"Let’s talk about it tomorrow."

Sol nodded.

"All right."

The rest of dinner passed without incident.

Afterward, Jude walked the boy back to his cabin.

At the doorway, Sol turned around.

"Jude?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think mountains can hear people?"

Jude considered the question.

"Not in the way we do."

Sol looked toward the northern trees.

"What if they can?"

Jude smiled gently.

"Then I suppose we should be polite."

Sol nodded.

"Good night."

"Good night."

The boy went inside.

Jude remained outside for a moment, looking at the northern mountain beyond the trees.

A thin cloud had gathered around its summit.

He returned to his cabin with a strange feeling that the island had become much larger than he had ever understood.

The following day began with clear skies.

Jude woke early and gathered Sophie, Serena, and Layla near the firepit. He had decided they would explore the lower northern trail, but they would not attempt to climb the mountain without knowing what lay ahead.

Sol was already waiting.

He had packed his little wooden bird, the clay bowl, and two pieces of bread.

Scarlet appeared behind him.

"Are you going without me?"

Jude looked at her.

"We haven’t decided whether we’re going yet."

"Then decide that I’m coming."

Layla shook her head.

"We should keep the group small."

"I’m small enough."

"You know what I mean."

Sol looked up at Scarlet.

"Can I come?"

Jude crouched beside him.

"Not today. The northern path is difficult, and we don’t know what we’ll find."

Sol’s expression fell slightly.

"Maybe another day."

"Perhaps."

He nodded.

"Then I’ll wait."

Jude smiled.

"Stay with the others."

The group left shortly afterward.

They followed the northern path through thick forest, moving slowly as the ground rose toward the mountain foothills. The trail became narrower, and the trees grew taller.

After an hour, they reached a rocky clearing.

Layla examined the ground.

"Look."

Several shallow grooves had been carved into the stone.

The same symbol appeared again.

Three curved lines around a central point.

This time, however, the markings were arranged in a circle, with each symbol facing toward the middle.

Jude crouched.

"Someone made these deliberately."

Sophie looked around.

"Who?"

Serena pointed toward the mountain.

"Perhaps whoever built the old structures."

They followed the markings.

The grooves continued between the rocks, leading toward a narrow passage hidden behind a curtain of hanging vines.

Jude pushed the vines aside.

A dark opening appeared.

A cave.

They stood at its entrance, listening.

A faint sound came from within.

Not water.

Not wind.

Something like a distant whisper.

Layla stepped closer.

"Can you hear that?"

Jude nodded.

He took a torch from his pack and lit it.

The cave walls were covered with the same strange markings.

Some were faded.

Others looked almost new.

Sophie examined one of the walls.

"These don’t look weathered."

Serena ran her fingers near a carved line without touching it.

"Could someone have been here recently?"

Jude looked into the darkness.

"Let’s not go too far."

They entered cautiously.

The passage sloped downward for several metres before opening into a small chamber. In the centre stood a flat stone platform.

A circular depression had been carved into its surface.

Jude approached it.

The depression was almost exactly the size of the silver disc they had found at the beach.

Layla looked around the chamber.

"Perhaps the disc belongs here."

"Or it belongs somewhere farther inside," Sophie said.

Jude examined the walls.

There were no doors, no other passages, and no visible objects.

Then he noticed a line of writing carved beneath the circular depression.

He leaned closer.

The symbols were unfamiliar, but one drawing appeared to show a mountain with a dark opening beneath it.

Below the mountain was a small figure.

And beside the figure stood another shape, much taller.

Serena frowned.

"What do you think that means?"

Jude studied the carving.

"I don’t know."

A faint vibration passed through the chamber.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Sophie stepped backward.

"Jude?"

The sound came again.

This time, it was accompanied by a low rumble.

The stone platform trembled beneath Jude’s hand.

He pulled away.

"Everyone out. Now."

They hurried toward the entrance.

The passage shook as they reached the vines. A small piece of rock broke loose and fell behind them.

When they emerged into the clearing, the ground was still.

The forest was silent.

Layla looked back toward the cave.

"Something is moving beneath the mountain."

Jude nodded.

"And I think Sol knows more than he’s telling us."

Back at the village, Sol was sitting beside the flower garden.

Stella was showing him how to carve simple patterns into a piece of wood.