The Hut in the Fog

Ines and her brother Teo had planned a short hike in the mountains. The morning was sunny, so they took only a small bag, a map and a bottle of water. By two o’clock, however, a thick fog had swallowed the path.

“I can’t see any of the signs,” said Teo. They walked slowly for an hour, growing colder and more tired with every step. Ines studied the map, but the fog hid every landmark. Then they heard a bell, soft and far away.

They followed the sound until they found a small wooden hut. The door was not locked. Inside there were two beds, a stove, a pile of wood and a warm blanket on each bed. On the table a notebook lay open.

“It’s a visitors’ book,” Teo said. Hundreds of walkers had written in it: thanks, dates and drawings of mountains. One page said, “The fog came without warning. Light the stove and wait. The bell rings every hour for lost walkers.” Ines looked at Teo. Who was ringing the bell?

They lit the stove, drank tea from an old tin and waited. At six o’clock the fog opened and the stars appeared. Beside the door a sign read, “Ring twice when you are safe.” Ines pulled the rope twice. Far below, in the dark, a light flashed twice in answer.