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"Thanks," Henry said He took it and dashed back to the greenhouse to Ishibashi’s side

Ishibashi narrowed his eyes as Henry carefully unfolded the paper, revealing the burned corners

"It’s a map See? Arti to the center island "And this one over here," he said, pointing to the easternmost island, farthest from the fake mass of land, "is your island"

"I see" Ishibashi studied theti to the large piece "Have you ever been here?"

"It doesn’t exist," Henry said "We tried to get there, but the sea sed us and spun us around the bottom of the world, and we ended up here"

Ishibashi stared at Henry "What a horrible journey that must have been," he said softly, and reached for the map "May I have a closer look?"

Henry nodded and held out the map Ishibashi took it and held it close to his face It shook in the old scientist’s hands "Where did you get this, Henry-san?" he asked gently--so gently that it made Henry look up in surprise There was pain in the old man’s eyes

"My sister--she found it in a book that washed ashore on Artimé after an air vessel fell out of the sky," Henry said, puzzled "Why are you sad? Don’t you want to come to Artihed Then he s them once more, and patted Henry on the shoulder "Did all of your farow up on your island? Your parents, too?"

"Yes," said Henry

"Your people--is it the same for them? All born on your island?"

"Except for Crow and Sky and Copper They ca to the island on the map He looked up, puzzled "Which island did you come frothat I do not reht that was ridiculous--how could anyone not remember which island he came from? But he kneould be rude to say so Instead he said, "I think you would like Artimé"

Ishibashi handed the map back to Henry "Life is very coh "Filled with dreams and adventures, and disasters and broken hearts, too"

Henry tilted his head, puzzled "I don’t get it"

The old scientist turned back to his work "I arateful for your kind offer, Henry-san," he said, "and so are Sato and Ito But our home is here Our work is here," he said "And our preciouswe dedicated our lives to is right out there, half-buried in the sea We could never leave it behind"

He hesitated, glancing at thehis hands into the dirt around a plant "This is our life, now There is no one left to search for" He trailed off and hunched over, focusing intently on the task before hih he didn’t He got the feeling that Ishibashi didn’t want to talk about it any there in a somewhat aard silence, Henry folded up the ot your toolbox back, at least" He pointed at the crate, which Florence had delivered to the shelter the day after they arrived "That’s good, right?"