Previously on Adventures on Awe Island.
Marie was devastated when the mysterious paper that she took from the restricted section of the library went missing after she left it in the pocket of her hoodie.
However, luck was on her side.
Her hoodie was found and, with her friends Christian and JJ by her side, the race to discover the secrets of the paper was on.
Welcome to Adventures on Awe Island.
Chapter One, The Mysterious Paper, Part Three.
With the key card in hand, Marie JJ and Christian hurried up the library stairs to the green collaboration room.
Eager to uncover the mystery behind the strange paper she had found.
Marie was practically vibrating with anticipation.
What secrets would it reveal?
Where would it lead them?
As soon as the group was ensconced in the privacy of the collaboration room, Marie took out the old piece of paper and gently unfolded it, spreading it on the table in front of everyone.
Three curious faces peered down.
The paper contained strange markings lightly drawn in pencil.
A circle, a cloud, some dashed lines, some numbers, a rather large X and an arrow with an N above it.
Marie's curiosity kicked into overdrive.
What exactly were they looking at?
Whoa, Christian gasped.
What does it all mean?
I don't know.
JJ replied breathlessly, staring unblinkingly at the paper, as if willing the document to explain itself.
Christian frowned.
Random shapes and lines and numbers, he muttered skeptically.
Maybe this is just some kid's homework from a long time ago.
Maybe, JJ conceded, though the doubtful tone of her voice implied otherwise.
If that were true, it would be a huge disappointment.
After a long pause, Marie spoke.
I think it's a map, she whispered softly.
A map?
Christian repeated, disbelievingly.
How could it be a map?
It's just some random pictures and numbers.
It doesn't look anything like the map on my phone.
This paper is old, Marie said resolutely.
It must be from a time when maps were not on a phone.
So it makes sense that it looks different.
Meanwhile, JJ had been studying the Look, she chimed in.
I think this is a map.
That arrow with the N above it means that direction is north.
But if it's a map, what's it a map of?
Christian asked, glancing between his two friends.
Marie sighed.
No idea.
The lack of words on the map made it hard to pinpoint the location and the drawings didn't seem to match someplace familiar on Awe Island.
Marie cast her gaze towards JJ.
It could be anywhere, she concluded.
Don't look at me, JJ deflected.
We need to ask someone.
How about Sal?
She suggested.
No, Marie said firmly.
Sal's not working today.
Besides, we can't show it to anyone who knows us, or they might tell our parents or ask where we got it.
I don't want to get into trouble for stealing something from the rare books section.
Silence hung in the air, filling the space with uncertainty.
Abruptly, Marie slapped her open palm on the table, causing her friends to jump.
What?
Kristen blurted in surprise.
We need to look at a map of Awe Island, Marie declared.
Then we can compare it to this map and see if anything matches.
If it really is a map, and if it really is a location here on the island, Christian retorted.
He raised a skeptical eyebrow for emphasis.
It has to be.
It just has to, Marie sighed wistfully.
Nothing as exciting as finding this paper had ever happened to her before.
She felt like she was the detective in her very own mystery novel.
And she wasn't about to fail her first assignment.
Marie stood up, determined.
She carefully refolded the paper along the original crease lines and tucked it safely back into her pocket.
Come on, let's find a map.
With that, the group exited the collaboration room, rushed back to the first floor and headed straight to the information desk.
The same reference librarian who had helped them sign out the collaboration room earlier was still tending the desk.
Despite his distinctive appearance, there was something that felt vaguely familiar about him, even though Marie was sure she had never seen the man in the library before today.
Can we please see a map of Awe Island?
Marie asked. his eyebrows raised and his face lit up with a big smile.
Yes, we have an amazing interactive map of the whole island online, he noted.
Then, with an unwavering gaze at Marie, locking his eyes on hers, he asked is there a particular location you especially want to see?
Marie felt the hairs on the back of her neck go up and she inadvertently shivered.
It felt like this man knew what they were up to.
But that was impossible, Marie told herself.
It took a significant effort for her to look away.
The three friends exchanged an uncertain look.
Well, Marie hesitated thoughtfully before she had an idea.
Is there any location with a big circle on it?
She asked hopefully, looking to JJ and Christian for their reassurance.
A big circle.
A big circle, the librarian mused.
Come.
Follow me, he said, as he led them over to a computer terminal.
He sat down and with a few clicks brought up the interactive map.
I don't know where a big circle might be offhand, but you can zoom out and scan around to look for one he suggested.
If you can't find what you need, I'll help you look, the old man said, again looking at Marie.
Then he winked right at her.
She gasped in surprise.
Okay, thanks, she mumbled, before quickly turning her gaze towards the computer screen.
How she really had the feeling that somehow that man knew more about what they were up to than he let on.
But that's impossible, she told herself again.
Get it together, Detective Duguay, she told herself.
J.J. sat down at the terminal and Marie and Christian pulled up chairs.
Marie tried to shake off that suspicious feeling, putting her full attention on the interactive map.
Over the next hour the front scanned all over the map of the island, zooming in and out, searching especially for a large circular spot on the map.
There weren't many things that could be so distinctive.
First, they guessed the circle must be in town, but they had no luck finding one there.
Then they checked the animal sanctuary and the beach and outlying areas like the airport.
They couldn't find any location that had a large circle.
Told you it wasn't a map, Christian whispered dejectedly.
At least not a map of anything on Otway Island.
Marie felt deflated too.
This detective work was not as easy as they made it seem in her mystery novels.
The group decided to go back to the collaboration space so they could talk more freely.
Hello, Awe Islanders.
Did you know we have a companion podcast?
If you're enjoying adventures on Awe Island, you might also love our original podcast, Be Calm on Awe Island.
It's filled with gentle bedtime stories and calming meditations, perfect for winding down after a day of adventure.
Take a deep dragon breath, relax, and join us for a cozy story time.
You can find Be Calm on Awe Island, wherever you get your podcasts.
Once inside the collaboration room, the trio opened the paper again and stared at it, studying each element more carefully.
There's also this big rectangle that is much bigger than the circle, Christian noted.
Maybe if we find that, we will find the circle, he mused uncertainly.
Maybe.
Marie's voice trailed off.
There were so many buildings on Aue Island that were rectangular.
It would be like trying to find one particular firefly in a sea of fireflies.
She tapped on the table thoughtfully, racking her brain.
Suddenly, an unexpected idea popped into Marie's mind, inspiring her to make a suggestion.
I think we should show the paper to the reference librarian.
He might recognize what it is a map of.
Truth be told, she wasn't sure why the thought came to her, but once it did, she felt confident the old man could help them.
Christian frowned in confusion.
But you said you didn't want to show anyone, he protested.
I know, but he doesn't know us.
I've never seen him here before, so he won't tell our parents.
And he's older, like my grandpa's age, Marie explained.
Maybe he will recognize what this is a map of and where it is.
Marie's friends looked at her wide-eyed, clearly surprised that she was suggesting showing someone the map after she had been so certain they should keep it a secret.
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
I, uh...
Just feel like he might be able to tell us something, Marie stated, a little less confidently.
She silently willed her friends not to press her on the matter, because she had no idea why she felt so certain.
It was simply that, a feeling.
After a moment, JJ nodded.
Agreed, she said firmly.
If you say so, Christian conceded.
Relieved, Marie pocketed the map and the group headed back to the first floor to the reference desk.
Once more,
Excuse me, Marie greeted softly.
The reference librarian looked up from the workstation, a warm smile once more spreading on his wrinkled leathery face.
Marie gulped.
It was now or never.
We have a drawing that we think is a map of somewhere on the island, but we can't figure out where it is.
Would you mind taking a look to see if you recognize it?
Marie asked hopefully, eyes fixed on the man as she awaited his answer.
The man's smile broadened.
I love maps.
I'd be happy to take a look, he replied.
Marie breathed a sigh of relief as she took out the paper and unfolded it on the counter.
As the man looked down at the map, the three kids stared expectantly at his face, hoping for any sign of recognition.
My, my, he muttered.
This is a bit Spartan, shall we say, for a map.
I can see why you're not sure where it is.
He muttered to himself some more, as if trying to work something out.
Marie held her breath, heart pounding in anticipation.
If the reference librarian wasn't sure what this was a map of, she had no idea who else to ask.
She silently willed the man to have a stroke of insight.
"'Oh,' he whispered with a sudden lilt in his voice.
"'Oh, yes, indeed,' he said a little louder."
Indeed what?
JJ cried, unable to control her excitement.
I know where this is, the man stated with certainty.
It has been a long time since it looked this way, but I'm quite confident this is.
He paused, staring down once more at the map, as if to confirm what he was about to say.
The kids all stared at him in anticipatory agony.
Where could it be?
Hope and excitement etched their faces.
It's this library, the man concluded deftly, wearing a pleasant smile.
He looked up to see dubious expressions on the kids as they stared at him.
Oh, you don't recognize it because this is how things looked before they did the renovation 10 years ago.
He explained.
See this?
He tapped the paper in the center of the circle.
There used to be a big fountain that was on the east side of the building.
That's the circle.
Then he pointed at the large rectangle.
And this big rectangle is the library before they did the addition, he noted.
And this, the librarian pointed to the thing that looked like a cloud on the west side of the map.
This has to be the old oak tree that everyone used to sit under in the warm weather.
It became diseased and died shortly before they started the renovation.
Marie, JJ, and Christian were stunned.
Here they looked far and wide to figure out the map. and the location was right under their feet.
To Marie, it all seemed to make sense then.
Finding the folded paper in the library wasn't just a coincidence.
The map was hidden at the library because it was an overhead view of the library grounds at the time it was drawn.
Someone had drawn this map of the library long ago, before the renovations, before the oak tree died, and they'd hidden it in a book called The Secret Spot.
But why would they do that?
Marie wondered.
It was yet another mystery.
This was getting exciting.
Thank you for your help, Marie said breathlessly as she went to fold up the map.
Hang on, JJ whispered.
She took out her smartphone and snapped a picture of the map.
Okay, now you can put it away.
Marie grinned at JJ, impressed with her friend's quick thinking.
She folded the map and slipped it back into her pocket.
Goodbye, the old reference librarian said.
As the trio turned to leave, the man's craggly voice followed them.
I'll see you again if you need me.
Again, the hairs on the back of Marie's neck tingled.
What did that mean?
He would see them again if they needed him.
But there was no time to ponder.
Her friends were already moving towards the front door of the library, so she hurried after them.
Moments later, the three dashed outside, squinting in the suddenly bright sunlight.
JJ pulled out her phone, grinning.
Now we can look at the picture of the map instead of worrying about losing or damaging the real map or having anyone see it and ask us about where we got it.
JJ explained.
Brilliant, Marie said, giving her friend a fist bump of appreciation.
As they studied the map on JJ's smartphone, JJ pointed to the east side of the library which was closest to the street.
Where the circle was on the map, there was now a planting of wildflowers.
That must be where the fountain was, she stated thoughtfully.
Then, pointing to the west side, where the addition to the original building now stood, she added and over there, that's probably where the oak tree used to be.
For the longest time, the kids just stood there, looking from one side of the building to the other.
Marie tried to imagine how different it must have looked when this map was drawn.
After a while, Christian cleared his throat.
Uh, now what? he asked, looking uncertainly at his friends.
I mean...
What do we do?
Marie's eyes twinkled.
Detective Duguay was ready to lead the team into solving the mystery of the map.
We follow the dashes to the X, she asserted confidently.
That's how the sleuths do it in the mystery novels, she explained.
Just then, a voice called out from the pickup area.
Hi, kids.
JJ's father, Mr. Young, was waving from the driver's seat of his car.
Oh, no, I have to go, JJ cried, disappointment dripping in her voice.
I told your parents I'd drop both of you off at your homes, Mr. Young said to Marie and Christian.
Marie looked at her two best friends with a resigned sigh.
We'll follow the map tomorrow then, she asked them.
Tomorrow, they repeated as they hopped into Mr. Young's car.
As the car drove away, Marie's heart buzzed and she fidgeted in anticipation.
She couldn't shake the feeling that the mystery was just beginning.
The mysterious paper appears to be a map of the library grounds.
Will Marie and her friends find the treasure they're looking for?
Find out when the adventure continues in our next episode of Adventures on Awe Island.
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