Chapter 1803

The afternoon passed pleasantly. Jude helped Susan and Rose inspect the storehouse roof. The damaged section needed several new panels, but the timber he and Sophie had collected would provide enough material for the repairs.

Natalie and Serena worked in the eastern garden, while Emma prepared food for the evening. Grace finished shaping the clay pots, and Stella began carving another wooden bird for Sol.

The boy moved between them, curious about everything.

He watched Susan prepare vegetables and asked why some had to be peeled.

He followed Natalie to the garden and asked how she knew when a fruit was ready.

He sat with Layla while she wrote in her journal and asked whether books could remember things.

Layla smiled at the question.

"Books can preserve what people write in them."

"Then they remember?"

"In a way."

Sol considered this.

"Can they remember people who are gone?"

Layla’s pen stopped.

"Yes," she answered softly. "They can."

Sol looked at the journal.

"That’s good."

Layla watched him for a moment, then returned to writing.

Later, he found Grace shaping a clay pot.

"Can I try?"

Grace handed him a small piece of clay.

"Of course. Start with something simple."

Sol pressed the clay between his palms.

It flattened immediately.

He looked at it.

Grace smiled.

"That’s all right. Try again."

He gathered the clay and began shaping it into a small round object.

After several attempts, it resembled a lopsided bowl.

He held it up proudly.

"Look!"

Grace examined it.

"That’s very good."

Sol smiled.

"What can I put inside?"

"Whatever you like."

He thought for a moment.

"My bird."

"Your wooden bird?"

He nodded.

"Then you’ll need to make it a little bigger."

Sol looked at the small bowl.

"Perhaps I can make another one."

Grace laughed.

"Perhaps."

By evening, the village had settled into its familiar rhythm.

The cooking fires burned beneath their shelters, and the smell of roasted vegetables drifted between the cabins. The treehouses were illuminated by lanterns, their wooden platforms glowing warmly among the branches.

Sol sat beside Jude during dinner.

He had become much more talkative.

He told them about the beetle, the hare, the garden marker, and the clay bowl. His story about the missing marker became increasingly dramatic, as though he had personally survived a great adventure.

"And then," he explained, "the ground swallowed it."

Stella shook her head.

"You pushed it too far."

"The ground swallowed it."

"That’s not what happened."

Sol looked at Jude.

"Do you believe me?"

Jude pretended to consider it.

"I’m afraid Stella has evidence against you."

Sol lowered his head.

"Then the ground is innocent."

Everyone laughed.

After dinner, Sol helped carry the bowls to the washing area. He was careful with them, though one slipped from his hands and landed in the grass.

He immediately picked it up.

"Sorry."

"It’s all right," Susan assured him. "Nothing broke."

He looked relieved.

The others gathered around the firepit afterward.

Scarlet brought up the idea of the garden gate again, and this time Sol supported her with great enthusiasm. Stella finally agreed to let them build a small decorative entrance, provided it didn’t interfere with the plants.

Jude listened to their discussion while looking at the boy.

It was strange how quickly the village had changed.

Only yesterday, Sol had been a mysterious child found alone on the beach. Now he was sitting among them, laughing at Scarlet’s jokes, asking Layla questions, and making plans for the flower garden.

He seemed to belong.

And yet the mystery of his arrival remained.

Jude glanced toward the western path.

Tomorrow, he would return to the beach.

He wanted to examine the place where they had found Sol and see whether anything else had been left behind.

Perhaps there would be a clue.

Perhaps there would be nothing.

Either way, he needed to understand how the boy had arrived.

Night settled over the village.

Sol was reluctant to leave the central firepit.

"Can I stay here a little longer?"

Jude looked at the others.

"Only if you’re not too tired."

"I’m not."

Scarlet leaned forward.

"Then I can tell you a story."

Sol looked interested.

"What story?"

"A very frightening one."

Stella sighed.

"Please don’t frighten him before bedtime."

"It’s a good story."

"What is it about?" Sol asked.

Scarlet lowered her voice dramatically.

"A creature that lives beneath the old mountain. Nobody knows what it looks like, but sometimes people hear it moving beneath the ground."

Sol looked toward the northern mountains.

Jude noticed.

"That’s enough, Scarlet."

"Why? It’s only a story."

Sol looked back at her.

"Does it have eyes?"

Scarlet blinked.

"Eyes?"

"Yes."

"I suppose it does."

"What colour?"

Scarlet thought for a moment.

"Yellow."

Sol nodded.

"That’s not so frightening."

Scarlet looked offended.

"Not frightening?"

"No. Yellow eyes are ordinary."

Jude laughed.

"Perhaps we should leave the frightening stories for another evening."

Sol yawned.

It was the first time all day he had shown signs of tiredness.

Jude stood.

"Come on. Time for bed."

Sol picked up his wooden bird and followed him.

The path to his cabin was quiet. The lanterns were glowing softly, and the moonlight filtered through the trees.

At the doorway, Sol turned toward Jude.

"Will you be here tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

Jude nodded.

"I promise."

Sol looked satisfied.

"Good night."

"Good night, Sol."

Jude waited until the boy was inside before returning to the central path.

A few minutes later, he heard the cabin door close.

He looked toward it once, then continued toward his own home.

The next morning, Jude intended to take Sophie, Serena, and Scarlet back to the beach.

But before sunrise, Sol appeared outside his cabin again.

This time, he was already dressed.

He held the wooden bird in one hand and a small cloth bundle in the other.

Jude opened the door.

"Good morning. You’re awake early."

Sol nodded.

"Can I come with you?"

Jude looked at the bundle.

"What do you have there?"

"My things."

"Your things?"

The boy opened it.