Chapter 7 Scene 1

The next morning, Keruka wakes and makes her way to the secret entrance to the Sanctuary. She is pleased to find that the offering from last night was accepted, and in its place in the wagon is a parchment with drawings on it. She examines it, and decides it is a map. She brings it back to the Village as the castaways and native children are waking up.

"We need a good breakfast. You have a big day ahead."

Quest 68: Make a Fruit Salad, Fish Stew, and Vegetable Stew.

They gather a lot of nearby fruit, prepare the vegetables, and use fish saved from the day before.

Quest 68 complete!

After they eat breakfast, Keruka describes what needs to be done.

"You have to go to the top of the mountain."

"Do we have to go through the swamp again?" asks Stefi?

"No, look at the map. There appears to be a hidden trail leading from the Abandoned Village.  I believe this point is the start.  It must be hidden in some way, or there is some mechanism involved.  I don't recall ever seeing such a path."

Tom looks at the map. "This trail isn't clear. There are gaps and forks.  How do we know which path to take?"

"I expect you will have to split up into groups."

"We're more likely to find more rarities that way," points out Rogula.

Nicole is practical. "We had better bring along a lot of food."

"And tools," adds Mark.

There is no argument, and soon the group of twelve proceeds to the spot in the Abandoned Village indicated on the map. It is against a rock face of the mountains, and is covered with a lot of liana vines.

"I bet we'll find something if we climb these vines," claims Gopumbi.

"I can climb these," announces Bukela. She immediately starts climbing, and then so does Gopumbi, a couple meters to the side.

"Careful you two, this isn't a race," warns Nicole.

The children don't pay Nicole much attention and soon climb over a ledge where they see what looks like a door set into a stone wall.

"Did you find anything?" calls out Tom.

Bukela answers, "There's some kind of door but it's blocked by a large stone. We can't move it."

"The rest of us should come up, but let's make a ladder. Two lianas and ten pieces of lumber should do it."

Quest 69: Make a ladder.

Tom and Mike take the axes and chop down two dead trees to collect a total of ten pieces of lumber while Nicole takes a machete and cuts off two long pieces of liana. The other children are excited and climb the liana before the ladder is made, but after another ten minutes the ladder is assembled.

Quest 69 complete!

Tom climbs the ladder first. "Where are you?" he calls out.

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