Chapter 19: A Foreign Song

Chapter 19: A Foreign Song

Tom, along with the remnants of his ship and the storm-ravaged crew, had been stranded on an unknown island for three days.

The crew members were slowly regaining their strength and tending to their wounds. Tom, however, remained captive to his thoughts. Well, as usual.

He thought of his wife, of Steffen, of the mysterious voices that haunted his dreams, and, of course, of the mermaid. He'd rather believe she was just a mirage, a result of the dizziness after the storm. Yet something inside him categorically disagreed.

The problem was that even intense thinking led nowhere.
Over these three days, they'd settled on the island's shore and ventured a little inland to gather food, but they couldn't explore it fully.
This was mostly because Tom was the only one in decent health, while the others didn't feel well enough for island trekking.

However, today Harold and Henry felt strong enough to move freely, so the crew decided to explore the island.

It was a good idea—they needed to find something to repair the ship, and relying solely on fruits wasn't the best plan. They had to do something, fix the mess they'd landed in.

On the morning of the fourth day, the expedition—comprising Henry, Harold, and Tom—was ready. They didn't plan to venture too far in their search, and the island seemed small at first glance, so they aimed to return to camp by evening.

A vast sandy path stretched from the beach nearly to the island's center. Such a sight was rare.
But this very fact hinted at the island's modest size.
On both sides of the path lay a dense tropical forest, so thick that entering it from any angle without clearing a way with a blade was impossible.

Closer to the island's center, the path narrowed and began leading up a large hill at its heart.
That's where the expedition headed.
Climbing as high as possible was the best strategy in such a situation. It would let them survey the surroundings and assess the scale of their plan.
Perhaps they'd spot a ship or a familiar island nearby and compare it to their maps.
After all, they still didn't know how far they were from home.

Near the hill, the path transitioned from sand to shell-strewn ground, then became entirely rocky, making movement much harder.
The rocks, heated by the sun and razor-sharp, turned the ascent into a true trial.
Yet the men weren't deterred.

It took them about an hour to climb. But it was worth it.
From the hill, a magical view unfolded of the entire island and the ocean surrounding it.
The island proved not as small as they'd thought—much of its territory, covered in forests, stretched to the other shore. Yet westward, a few kilometers away, lay a clearing with a small lake and caves nearby.
The water there was likely fresh, so they had to reach it.

— Damn... We're in deep trouble. — Henry wasn't as enchanted by the island's beauty as the others...
— Don't worry. There's plenty of forest... We'll likely find the timber we need for repairs. And we can weave strong ropes from vines... — Harold, the chief carpenter, remained optimistic. Besides, he'd been an aesthetically inclined child since youth, and truthfully, the island's beauty captivated him.
He hadn't much liked the craft he'd inherited from his father, which is why he'd taken to the sea—to fill his life with adventure rather than live the mundane existence of a village artisan.

— Harold's right. Everything will be fine, Henry. We'll get out of here soon. Plus, there's fresh water here, and the forest must have something edible. — Tom tried to lighten the mood and boost their spirits. If they started losing hope, it would all end quickly.
— Well, if you say so, Captain. But we should get water today. Our supplies won't last long, and honestly, I don't feel like coming back here tomorrow.
— That's what we'll do...

The men carefully descended the hill and, armed with their knives, began clearing a path through the dense forest toward the lake they'd seen from the height.

The journey didn't take long, as the forest's interior wasn't as cramped. It felt as though it only guarded its edges against uninvited guests, while inside it was welcoming and picturesque for those who lived there.
And there were plenty of inhabitants—along the way, Tom and his crew encountered several wild boars, admired a flock of colorful birds (some they'd never seen before), and Henry nearly stepped on a snake that blended eerily with the grass they trod.

When they reached the lake, dusk was falling, giving them a unique chance to enjoy a purple-red sunset magically reflecting off the lake's crystalline surface.
Under such circumstances, it seemed as if a living volcano's heart beat at its depths, ready to erupt and drag everything around into its abyss.
Yet this was nature's beauty in its pristine form—a unique sight...

— The water's not salty. Hooray!
— Good thing we brought water vessels.
— Damn... It tastes amazing.

The water indeed had an unusual flavor—pleasantly cool, slightly sweet with a strange, piquant aftertaste. Yet even a single sip was enough to quench the thirst that had stealthily built up all day.

— What's that over there?! Let's check it out? — Harold was the first to notice a cave from which the lake seemed to flow to the surface.
— It's just water. — Henry was exhausted, and the injuries he'd sustained during the storm were making themselves known. He wasn't thrilled about lingering here. Truth be told, those caves just seemed eerie to him.
— What do you say, Captain? Shall we take a look? — Harold still wanted to explore.
— Captain?
— Captain!?

But Tom didn't hear them. The moment he glanced at the cave, he froze in place, staring into its depths without blinking...

— Captain!? Hey? Are you unwell?
— Huh... What?
— Are you okay?
— Yes, yes, of course... Finish up with the water, and let's go...
— What about the cave?
— The cave?
— Maybe we should take a quick look? Just a peek? Who knows, maybe treasures await us? — Harold's enthusiasm only grew.
— Yeah, but what good are treasures if we can't get back? — Henry clung to his pessimistic mood.
— Calm down... I don't think there's anything useful for us there... And it'll get dark soon—it'd be unpleasant if we got lost. We'll check it out next time.
— Ugh... You're like a mom, Captain, shooing us home at the most exciting part!
— Keep whining, and I won't give you candy tonight, Harold.
— No! No! Not that!
— Let's go! — Tom snapped sharper than usual... The cave... The cave terrified him.
It felt like it was calling him. But he couldn't give in. It surely promised nothing good for him or his crew. Tom needed to leave. He had to run from here as fast as possible...

— Finally back!

Quickly filling their water vessels, the men left the lake and returned to camp along the cleared path through the thick