Mountain of Fire by Radhika Puri

a distance Fitri saw the watchtower. It was intact! Dusty, dirty and grey instead of blue, but at least it was there. Fitri heaved a sigh of relief. That watchtower was her favourite place to hide away and think.
    Straggling along right behind her was Aditya.
    Fitri and Agus had not mentioned to the villagers and their parents their escapade with Aditya and the tree sap. Aditya was the only boy in the village that still kept a distance from Agus and Fitri, refusing to be drawn in by the excitement of the secret kingdom. But getting to see gold treasure with his own eyes? This was too much to resist.
    Fitri watched him warily. His hand was back to normal and she felt a twinge of regret at what she had done with the anthill. Perhaps she had overreacted. He didn’t seem to have too many real friends. Even that Reza had deserted him.
    She turned around and called out, “So are you coming to see the cave?”
    Aditya stopped short, looking around nervously.
    â€œIt’s okaaaaay, Aditya. I’m not going to do anything to you.”
    He nodded, still not saying anything. He sped up to walk beside Fitri.
    Suddenly, he spoke up in a loud burst, “So I just wanted to tell you thanks!”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor not telling anyone that I followed you in the forest that day. And about what I said that day in the watchtower.”
    Fitri shrugged. She saw that her father had stopped walking ahead with the others and was coming back towards them. He stopped, looking from one child to the other.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” he asked suspiciously.
    â€œNothing, Ayah, we are just talking.”
    â€œHmmmm, not planning to put his head in the ash or something, are you?” her father said softly, his eyes smiling slightly.
    Fitri laughed and shook her head.
    â€œOkay then. Aditya, are you coming along with us? Come on then. Fitri?”
    â€œYou go along, Ayah, with Aditya. I’ll follow you soon. I just need to check on something.”
    Ayah nodded and went on ahead with Aditya, who walked many steps behind Fitri’s father.
    Fitri followed them till the watchtower and then took the turn to go back down the mountain road, to Pak Eko’s hut.
    The tree over Pak Eko’s home was almost untouched by the eruption. The dry season had passed and there was a hint of rain in the air. The leaves on the tree were now golden, brown and orange. Fitri continued to walk back down the road, to the clearing where Pak Eko’s hut stood. She could see the door open – he never closed or locked it. She hesitated for a second and then stepped in.
    She saw a broken coffee cup lying on the floor, some cigarettes and maps everywhere. Fitri went to the maps lying on the table and opened one of them. She saw the Merapi clearly marked, and her village. But Pak Eko, or someone, had drawn a line with a red pen from the dome of the Merapi to another spot on the map. It looked like a place far away from the village. There were no markings next to that place, just a bunch of squiggly lines, which made no sense to her. She folded the map and put it back carefully, just as she had found it.
    Fitri heard a slight sound behind her and spun around to see Pak Eko standing at the door, his face entirely covered by a mask.
    â€œWelcome. I know your brother has been in many times, but this is the first time for you in my home. Yes?”
    Fitri nodded, not sure whether she was in trouble or not.
    Pak Eko paused. His face was hidden but she could see that his brow was creased with worry. She could see that he was trying to tell her something.
    â€œWhat is it, Pak? Is something wrong?”
    â€œTaufan has escaped,” Pak Eko said quietly.
    â€œWhat! How?” Fitri exclaimed.
    â€œHis leg was badly infected when he was caught by the polisi, because he had been walking around in the forest with it bleeding. So he had to be taken to a hospital.”
    â€œAnd then?”
    â€œThe guard was careless.