Free The Apple Tree by Daphne du Maurier

if you believe that too," I said.
    "I do," he answered. "The children believe it, here in the village, the few that remain."
    Talking to me had tired him. He reached out for a pitcher of water that stood beside the bed.
    "Look here," I said, "these aspirins can't hurt you, they can only help, if you have fever. And you might get some sleep."
    I made him swallow three, and drew the blankets closer round him.
    "Are there any women in the house?" I asked.
    "No," he said, "I've been puzzled about that, since I've been here this time. The village is pretty much deserted. All the women and children have shifted to the valley. There are about twenty men and boys left, all told."
    "Do you know when the women and children went?"
    "I gather they left a few days before I came. This fellow here—he's the son of the old man who used to live here, who died many years ago—is such a fool that he never knows anything. He just looks vague if you question him. But he's competent, in his own way. He'll give you food, and find bedding for you, and the little chap is bright enough."
    Victor closed his eyes, and I hoped that he might sleep. I thought I knew why the women and children had left the village. It was since the girl from the valley had disappeared. They had been warned that trouble might come to Monte Verità. I did not dare tell Victor this. I wished I could persuade him to be carried down into the valley.
    By this time it was quite dark, and I was hungry. I went through a sort of recess to the back. There was no one there but the boy. I asked him for something to eat and drink, and he understood. He brought me bread, and meat, and cheese, and I ate it in the living-room, with the boy watching me. Victor's eyes were still closed and I believed he slept.
    "Will he get better?" asked the boy. He did not speak in patois.
    "I think so," I answered, "if I can get help to carry him to a doctor in the valley."
    "I will help you," said the boy, "and two of my companions. We should go tomorrow. After that, it will be difficult."
    "Why?"
    "There will be coming and going the day after. Men from the valley, much excitement, and my companions and I will join them."
    "What is going to happen?"
    He hesitated. He looked at me with quick bright eyes.
    "I do not know," he said. He slipped away, back to the recess.
    Victor's voice came from the trestle bed.
    "What did the boy say?" he asked. "Who is coming from the valley?"
    "I don't know," I said casually, "some expedition, perhaps. But he has offered to help take you down the mountain tomorrow."
    "No expeditions ever come here," said Victor, "there must be some mistake." He called to the boy, and when the lad reappeared spoke to him in the patois. The boy was ill at ease, and diffident; he seemed reluctant now to answer questions. Several times I heard the words Monte Verità repeated, both by him and Victor. Presently he went back to the inner room and left us alone.
    "Did you understand any of that? " asked Victor.
    "No," I replied.
    "I don't like it," he said, "there's something queer. I've felt it, since I've lain here these last few days. The men look furtive, odd. He tells me there's been some disturbance in the valley, and the people there are very angry. Did you hear anything about it?"
    I did not know what to say. He was watching me closely.
    "The fellow in the inn was not very forthcoming," I said, "but he did advise against coming to Monte Verità."
    "What reason did he give?"
    "No particular reason. He just said there might be trouble."
    Victor was silent. I could feel him thinking there beside me.
    "Have any of the women disappeared from the valley?" he said.
    It was useless to lie. "I heard something about a missing girl," I told him, "but I don't know if it's true."
    "It will be true. That is it, then."
    He said nothing for a long while, and I could not see his face—it was in shadow. The room was lit by a single lamp, giving a pallid glow.
    "You must climb tomorrow and warn Anna at