Keil was awakened by a loud rumble. A woman's voice angrily shouted something he couldn't understand. He enjoyed the cozy warmth of his bed for a moment until he got up. His basin was clean. Someone had poured in new water. He completely submerged his head once. The water was pleasantly cool. When he pulled his head out again, he noticed the hustle and bustle in the yard. He looked out the window. What he saw surprised him. Both men and women carried boards or worked something together. He found Josh in the middle of this crowd. When Josh saw Keil he waved to him. Keil stepped from the window. He patted his clothes. Then he went into the kitchen. He smelled fresh bread and Teena greeted him brightly.
"Ah wedge! I thought you weren't coming anymore!"
He sat down next to Cody, who looked rather sleepy. He yawned constantly and laid his head on the table top.
"Looks like you three were at Berlot's too long yesterday.I told you, don't stay up too long! By the way, Mr. Berlot has long been awake. He helps the workers outside. "
Wedge looked up.
"What is being built there?"
"Oh, you sleepyheads didn't even notice. It's Gotz's birthday tomorrow. We want to prepare a nice party for him."
Gotz was the village's lumberjack and charcoal burner. It was thanks to him that most of the animals stayed away from the village. The fire of his charcoal burner quickly chased the animals away.
Wedge was silent. Teena brought him and Cody half a loaf of bread.
"But hurry up with the food. We'll need your help later."
They both continued to eat in silence until Teena had left.
"This is the best opportunity," Cody muttered.
Wedge nodded.
"Bring the supplies to Berlot's room. Your mother certainly won't go into his room."
"I will."
Cody jumped up. In a few steps he was in the pantry under the stairs. He grabbed a few loaves of bread and as much cheese as he could carry.Keil followed him and took a few things with him. In Berlot's room they thought about what to do with the things. Cody pointed to Berlot's backpack. Wedge nodded and put his 'prey' on the bed. He quickly removed some things from the backpack, which he demonstratively put on the table. Cody quickly packed the food inside. Now Teena could even come in, she didn't touch a guest's private belongings.
"We'd have that, Cody."
He nodded. He stood at the door and listened. When he heard nothing he motioned to Keil. They slipped through the door. They wanted to get back to their bread as soon as possible.
"What are you doing up there?"
The two stopped, frightened. Cody looked around as if he feared Teena would have come.
"Am I that scary Cody already?" Asked Leina mockingly.
"Leina! Man you scared me!" Keil breathed a sigh of relief.
"Were you expecting someone else?"
"Yes, of course."
She snorted in response. The three of them went back into the kitchen.Leina took a piece of bread from one of the halves. The boys slowly sat down in their places.
"So now tell me what you did up there."
Cody looked at her speechless. Somebody could enter at any moment!
"Don't worry. They didn't even notice that I was gone, even though I said I would be right back."
"Well, Leina, if you really need to know: Cody and I brought up some supplies."
“Up?” Leina raised an eyebrow. "And you are quite sure that nobody will find it?"
"Absolutely.", Cody began. "We hid them in Berlot's rucksack. Mother certainly doesn't go into a guest's private belongings. And father doesn't take part in cleaning the house. So don't worry."
She snorted again and took another piece of bread. Cody and Keil finished their meal. The bread suddenly tasted bitter. Just as they were brushing the crumbs off the table, Josh entered the house.
"Well, the two sleepyheads are still up!"He grinned broadly. Visibly satisfied, he sat down on a chair
"What's the matter, father? You seem satisfied."
"Oh yes, I am too. This Berlot only brings us luck. A few hunters actually managed to kill some wild boars and deer. It will be a feast tomorrow! And the good wine ... Ahh delicious!"
Keil stared at Josh in horror at that answer. Cody hit the table with full force. Leina drew in a breath of alarm.
"What!" Yelled Cody. "This can not be!"
"Take it easy, my boy! Even if our village can eat a lot, there is still enough left for you!"
Cody's neck tightened. Keil ground his teeth. Only Leina remained calm.
"Oh Josh, you know them both! They can devour anything!"
With a warning look she motioned for both of them to stay calm. Josh started laughing.
"Yes, you're right, Leina. You are very voracious!"
'Quite harsh words for someone who can eat half a pig himself.'thought Wedge. The day before, when Keil returned, Josh had eaten almost half the pig alone. Since everyone was partying, nobody noticed. But in retrospect, Keil had to remember that he had only got a small piece of the pig.
'Looks bad for us with the feast. But maybe we are expected. Then departure could be a problem. Does Gotz already know that I'm back? The best thing to do is just ask Josh. '
"Josh tell me, does Gotz know that I'm back?"
"Good question. He wasn't there yesterday when we celebrated you. But maybe one of the villagers let him know."
Leina got up.
"How about if Keil, Cody and I tell Gotz everything?"
Josh thought for a moment.
"Well, I don't know. Teena may not be happy if three workers are missing. On the other hand, we have to keep Gotz away from here today. And so far nobody has agreed to go to him.Everyone wants to help with the preparations.
"Good. Yes, you can go. But just keep him away from the village."
'Good idea, Leina. But how should we let Berlot know? '
"So I'm just going to get some things quickly. Are you guys waiting that long?"
The two nodded eagerly. Leina was really a stunner! Josh got up slowly.
"I will then also help further."
At that moment Berlot entered the kitchen. He looked at Keil and Cody in surprise. Keil had an idea.
"Could Berlot not accompany us Josh? Gotz has not met him yet and I am sure that he really wants that. Maybe he would even come to the village to see him!"
Josh just nodded. He couldn't forbid Berlot to do anything. Immediately, Keil and Cody jumped up and dragged Berlot with them.
"What are you doing there?"
"Be calm!"
They pushed him up the stairs to his room. They pressed him rough on the bed. After exchanging a look with Keil, Cody positioned himself at the door.Berlot stared at them with open mouths.
"What's all this going on? And what are you doing anyway?"
In response, Keil pointed to Berlot's backpack. The same drew this to itself. Amazed, he pulled out a loaf of bread. Just as he was about to ask Keil what this meant, he noticed that some of his things were on the table. Suddenly he realized why the boys had brought the supplies to his room.
"Are you going to pack your things too? Some of my own, which you put out so nicely, are pretty important!"
Wedge nodded. Cody pressed an ear to the door.
"I think father went outside."
"Good. Then we shouldn't waste any time."
Cody nodded and opened the door. Both disappeared into their rooms. Berlot was stunned.
'The three of them take this very seriously. I'm really proud of her. '
After a short time, the two had their backpacks with them. Without talking or looking at Berlot, Cody reached for the backpack.He quickly packed a few loaves of bread and a little cheese. Keil had taken some from the pantry. The old man got up now too. He shuffled to the table and picked up some of his parcels. He tossed two each to Keil and Cody.
"You can wear it. But just watch out for it.
Oh and besides, you have to pack the eggs. "
He pointed under the bed. Cody immediately knelt in front of it and reached under it. At first he had Keil's cherry red egg in his hands. He handed it to him in awe. After some more rummaging, he pulled out his. He stuffed it in his backpack. He gave Leina's egg to Berlot.
"I think it's best if you keep this. At least until we're out of the village."
Berlot looked out the window. The hustle and bustle down there calmed him down. Your departure would certainly go unnoticed. But he did not notice the shadow that slipped from house wall to house wall. He craned his head as if he were looking for something. None of the working people saw the abandoned shadow.Berlot turned away from the window. Cody and Keil were shouldering their backpacks. He sighed deeply when he saw the grim determination on the boys' faces. He took his backpack off the floor and went to the door.
"Come on, guys."
Keil took a deep breath. Soon he would leave his home behind. The thought left him pretty cold. Now, shortly after the bear killed his parents, only his friends could bind him to this place.
They met Leina in front of the house. She shifted impatiently from one foot to the other. When she saw the packed rucksacks, she snorted. Hers was a lot thinner. Cody walked past her and whispered something to her. Startled, she felt for her backpack. Berlot and Keil watched in silence. When she found nothing to worry about, she opened her mouth. But she stopped when she saw a boy walking past with a hammer and a saw. She sighed and started walking. The other three followed her.
When they were in the protective forest, Berlot finally asked:"So where exactly are we going? This is certainly not our departure now, is it? If I have understood your last words and the hustle and bustle in the village correctly, we will now set off to another villager for whom this festival is being held. Is not it?"
"Yes, Berlot," replied Keil, "It is our Koehler's birthday tomorrow. He's a nice person and he really deserves this party. It's just a shame that we will leave before we had time to celebrate."
"My mother and Leina's mother and a few others are going to prepare a feast that would even leave the king speechless," remarked Cody.
Berlot sighed. Lost in thought, he