Jude looked at him.
The child seemed impossibly small beneath the towering doors.
"Why are you afraid?" Jude asked.
The boy swallowed.
"Because I don't know whether I'm the one who belongs with you."
Jude's expression softened.
"Then we'll find out."
The child looked at him.
"You can't promise that."
"I can promise that I won't leave you here."
The boy stared at Jude for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
A sudden sound came from the nameless door.
A gentle tap.
"Jude?"
The voice was quieter now.
Almost a whisper.
"Can you do something for me?"
Jude didn't answer.
"Can you tell me whether the tree is still alive?"
The fourth Sol slowly turned towards the door.
His eyes widened.
"What?" Jude whispered.
The voice behind the door repeated the question.
"Is the tree still alive?"
The boy moved closer.
"Don't answer," he said.
Jude looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't know."
"Who doesn't know?"
"The one behind the door."
