I was sitting in my cell with Jared, playing Chess. I had his queen in a death trap that would only cost me a Bishop, two Pawns, and a Knight, when there was a tapping on the Tree. I knew that it was probably Lan Leaffy, and wondering what it could mean, I started to ask Jared why he thought Lan would be tapping.
"What do y-" but he stopped me with a,
"Shh, it is Morse Code, let me decipher it." That cut me short, and when the tapping stopped, I asked him what Morse Code was.
"It is a way of communicating using short and long pulses that was invented before telephones came out." Once again, I was reminded of the vast technological barrier between PAM, and the Kingdom of Meltolot.
"Well, anyway, what does he say?"
"He says that he has a message for you. I'll go and get it."
"Thanks, but- are you going to tell your boss?"
"Well, I wouldn't want to get into disfavor, but this time I will keep it a secret."
At that moment, the tapping resumed, but Jared crossed the room and with a few knocks and taps, apparently told Lan that he was coming.
When Jared returned, he gave me a slip of paper, and after putting away the unfinished Chess game, he told me he that it was his turn on watch. He left hurriedly and forgot to bar the door.
I looked down at the piece of paper in my hand, and in old Meltolonian read the following:
"Dear Mr. Newston and fellow Prisoner, I came to the knowledge that it
was you who was stored in cell 2 only this morning by a sneering remark
made by that devil Creakle. It has also come to my knowledge ( by the
same source,) that the famous Coale Janterbel was was also captured, but
escaped off Nelly's Bridge. On a different note, I have noticed that this tree
is hollow, and if you could get a hold of a good saw, we could make our
escape and get back to the City. Maybe you could get Jared to help a bit."
This communication restored me to my courage, and realizing my cell door was not barred, I sneaked out to try to find the storerooms.
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