Godt's POV

I decided to go back inside the cottage. I walked over to P'Tae's bed and shook him gently.

"Huh?" he asked sleepily.

"Bas is missing," I whispered. I heard the catch in my throat. Deep inside I knew he wasn't really missing. I knew where to find him.

P'Tae sat up in bed, now fully awake.

"Where do you think he could have gone?" he asked me.

I wasn't able to answer him. I knelt on the floor beside his bed and pushed my face onto his pillow, unable to stop the sobs that wracked my chest.

"Godt, pull yourself together," he said. "We have to go and look for him."

"I think I know where to find him," I said.

"Let's go,"he said. He seemed to know where we could find Bas.

P'Tae quickly changed into his jeans and t-shirt and I got out of my pajamas and did the same.

We quietly left and cottage and started making our way in the direction of Kong's house.

"Don't feel too bad if he decides that he wants to spend some time with P'Kul," said P'Tae. "He probably looks on P'Kul as an uncle since P'Kul seems to be like family to him. Remember he has been working for Bas' uncle since Bas was a very young boy."

I nodded. Should I tell P'Tae that my main concern was that Bas seemed to be attracted to Kong and that staying in P'Kul's house could push them closer together? I decided to keep my feelings for Bas from P'Tae for now. I did not know how P'Tae would react if I told him.

I made sure to point out the small hole to P'Tae along the trail so that he could avoid it and avoid getting a sprained ankle. I should remember to ask P'Kul to fill up that hole to prevent any more accidents.

It was almost six thirty when we reached P'Kul's house.  It had gotten brighter now.

When we knocked on P'Kul's door, Kong came to open it.

"Where's Bas?" I asked him, realizing too late that I had forgotten my manners and had not bothered to greet him a good morning.

"He's inside having breakfast with us. Please come in," he said, opening the door wider and stepping aside to let us in.

We found Bas drinking the last drop of his orange juice from a tall glass. His eyes grew very wide when he saw me and P'Tae walk into the kitchen.

P'Kul stood up from the table and offered to serve us breakfast.

We politely declined and told him that we were here to fetch Bas and bring him back to the cottage.

"I'm sorry, P'Kul," I said, 'there has been a slight misunderstanding. Bas and I will sort it out on our walk back to the cottage."

"No," said Bas, "there has been no misunderstanding. I intend to stay here with Kong for the rest of my vacation."

P'Kul did not know what to say. Kong started to look uncomfortable.

"Bas, can we step outside for a minute?" I asked. "I would like to say something to you in private."

"No!" cried Bas, "I know what you're going to do! You're going to try to persuade me to go back to the cottage but I don't want to!"

"Bas," this time it was P'Tae who spoke. "Can you please come with me outside for a minute?"

"Are you on P'Godt's side?" asked Bas.

"I'm not on anybody's side," answered P'Tae.

Bas reluctantly stood up from the table and excused himself.

I started to walk with P'Tae but Bas said, "No, I don't want to talk with you."

"Fine," I said and sat on the living room couch while he and P'Tae walked out into the porch of P'Kul's house.

I hoped earnestly that P'Tae would be able to convince him to go back with us to the cottage.