…we found that island and collected a lot of fruit. But when we returned home… when we returned something happened…” Professor Wisen tried hard to remember what happened when they were returning, but in vain. “In fact, all I remember is that I was flying in the sky, then some field, a forest… Yes, yes, a forest, this forest. I entered the forest and found this hut. There was a lot of food supplies in here, everything was so clean as if the master of the house was about to return. But I’ve never met him.”
“But why did you stay in this hut, why didn’t you return to your city?” asked Nolton suddenly.
“I…” professor Wisen wanted to say something but he was immediately interrupted by Barti, who had started to snore very loudly, having fallen asleep at the table during the conversation. In his left hand he was holding a bun that he had already bitten into and an empty cup in his right hand.
“You must be very tired from the road. Let us put off all questions for tomorrow,” said the grey-haired Sharmuzik.
Without even arguing, everyone went to bed, tired after the night-time adventures. Lumi and Renchi settled in hiking beds, which unfolded from a small wooden cube into a rather comfortable bed. Archi decided to settle in the armchair by the fireplace. Nolton settled on the couch and Barti, who had already fallen asleep during the conversation, remained at the table.
The next morning, Nolton was awakened by a very delicious smell. Reluctantly opening his eyes, he saw Professor Wisen standing by the fireplace and stirring some kind of liquid in a cauldron. Barti was still sitting at the table with the unfinished bun and the tea cup in his hands. Not even the pestering fly that was constantly whirling over his head had managed to wake him up. But as soon as Professor Wisen asked everyone to the table, Barti immediately opened his eyes and got ready for breakfast – finishing yesterday’s bun eagerly, having sat down at the table and placed a plate in front of himself. The others did not mind a good breakfast either. In less than a minute, everybody was sitting on the chairs.
“We should have a hearty meal before going on with our expedition. I’m certain that it will now be much easier to find… what do you call it… Tulun,” said Archi, getting up from his chair after a sound sleep.
“Easier? Why do you think it will be easier now?” asked Renchi.
“Because now we’re going to have a guide,” said Archi, glancing in the direction of Professor Wisen, who did not immediately catch the drift of what the conversation was about, and continued to stir the liquid. Suddenly he stopped, noticing that all those present were staring at him.
“What? So you want me to be your guide?” Professor Wisen asked, surprised.
“Why not? You know where the city is located, and you can certainly get us out of this forest,” said Archi, but seeing Professor Wisen’s expression, his confidence waned.
“The problem is that I can’t get you out of the forest,” said the grey-haired man dryly and went back to his cauldron.
“Why? The forest is not endless,” said Lumi grinning, who was not expecting such a response at all.
Turning away from what he was doing, Professor Wisen said with a serious expression: “Herein lies the problem… No matter how long you walk along the trail, you are bound to return to this hut. It is impossible to get out of this forest.”
All those present were shocked by what they just heard. The thought that they were forever stuck here flashed through Nolton’s mind.
“Well then… the broth is ready,” said Professor Wisen, taking the wooden stick on which the cauldron was suspended and attempting to carry it to the table by himself. But he gave up on this idea as the cauldron turned out to be much heavier than it appeared at first glance. Realising what was happening, Lumi and Renchi promptly ran up to Professor Wisen. Lifting the cauldron with much effort, they carried it to the table. Barti, who was the least worried about the forest and other matters, was already ready for the meal. But at that moment, when the Sharmuziks placed the cauldron on the tablecloth, the table fell through in the middle and together with the cauldron disappeared underground. There was a huge hole in the floor around which the Sharmuziks were sitting, having been left without breakfast.
“Is there a vault under the hut?” asked Nolton, peering into the hole with the others.
“Now there is,” said Professor Wisen, who was as surprised as the others.
Lumi was the first to go down a rope to the newly formed vault and hung on the walls several camping flashlights. They emitted a blue light and resembled small balls. Now it was easy to look around the entire space. It was quite a spacious and cool room, without anything special. Except for a passage that led into an unknown direction and a staircase that led upwards.
“Well, what’s in there?” asked Archi, who had stayed with the others above.
“It seems there’s nothing… I’ve found a staircase, I’ll go check!” said Lumi whose voice echoed from the walls. Lighting his way, Lumi quickly climbed the stairs and came against something wooden.
“Where are you? Lumi?” shouted out Archi again, losing sight of his friend. And suddenly, from behind, a cabinet collapsed on the floor almost squashing Barti who was standing next to it. Lumi had pushed it as he stood in the gap between the walls. As it turned out, the staircase that led to the vault was located right behind the cabinet.
Part 5. Wind, Fire and Water
The Sharmuziks decided to go down the stairs to see the room for themselves.
“What’s this place?” asked Archi as soon as he got there. But obviously he did not get an answer.
“Look, there’s some kind of an inscription,” said Nolton and pointed to almost inconspicuous letters above the stone arch that adorned the entrance into a tunnel.
Lumi immediately directed the light of the lantern in that direction. With the artificial lighting, it was possible to see distinct golden letters that formed the inscription: Find two trees and walk through them if you wish to find the way out of the forest.
“What does this mean? Any idea?” Archi asked again, not fully understanding the meaning of the words above the arch.
“The only thing I understand is that we need two find two trees. Walk through them… And… that way get out of the forest,” Barti explained repeating the content of the inscription.
“Thank you, Barti, it’s all clear now,” said Archi jokingly. In return, Barti simply smiled, thinking that he had really helped somehow.
“We have to go into this tunnel,” suddenly said Professor Wisen, who was standing behind all this time.
“Into the tunnel? But why?” Renchi asked, surprised.
“This inscription is located above the entrance into the tunnel, and not on a plate in the forest. That’s why I think that it’s a logical decision to try to find the trees in the tunnel,” explained Professor Wisen, having already taken the first steps to the entrance, but suddenly stopped. It seemed to him some strange sounds were coming from there, in the darkness. For a moment, fear completely took hold of his reason.
“It’s best if the one with the flashlight goes first,” suggested Professor Wisen and stepped aside.
Everyone looked at Lumi, as he was holding the flashlight. Realising what was going on, Lumi was not happy with the role of trailblazer. Nevertheless, he did not argue and began to move slowly through the narrow walls of the tunnel, without a clue about where this path would lead him.
Step by step, the Sharmuziks were going deeper into the darkness. The tunnel was winding. First it was straight, then turned right and then sharply left. Now,