The Hut in the Fog

Ines and her brother Teo go for a short walk in the mountains. The morning is sunny, so they take a small bag, a map and some water. At two o’clock, a thick fog covers the path.

“I can’t see the signs,” says Teo. They walk slowly for an hour. They are cold and tired. Ines looks at the map, but she cannot see anything. Then they hear a bell, soft and far away.

They follow the sound and find a small wooden hut. The door is open. Inside, there are two beds, a stove, some wood and a warm blanket on each bed. On the table, a notebook is open.

“It is a visitors’ book,” Teo says. Many people write in it: thanks, dates and drawings of mountains. One page says: “The fog comes fast. Light the stove and wait. The bell rings every hour.” Ines looks at Teo. Who rings the bell?

They light the stove and drink tea. At six o’clock, the fog goes away and the stars come out. A sign by the door says: “Ring twice when you are safe.” Ines pulls the rope two times. Far below, a light flashes twice.