“When he was a little boy, Michel Lucius spent a lot of time here by the stream, looking at stones and digging in the ground. Later, he became a famous geologist and moved away. He studied rocks all across the country and even abroad,” the stone explains.
Suddenly, Bella barks towards a dark valley ahead of us.
“What’s over there?” I ask Mia.
Mia shakes her head, but the stone speaks again.
“That is the ‘Schankegriecht’. It is home to the ‘Schankemännchen’, an old bony ghost who loves playing tricks and scaring hikers.”
Mia swallows nervously. “That sounds scary.”
“Don’t worry,” I say bravely, although I feel a little uneasy myself. “You can’t see ghosts during the day.”
The stone chuckles. “Still, be careful. And every time you cross a bridge, remember to say hello to me.”
I gently place it back into the water.
We continue our way, counting the remaining bridges and looking back each time. Somehow, I am sure the stone is still watching us… and hopefully the “Schankemännchen” hasn’t noticed us.
