An Insignificant Find

Please note: This story is a continuous, multi-chapter narrative. You can find the correct order in the right sidebar. All texts were originally written in German and translated into English using AI. I asked the AI to preserve the original stylistic flair wherever possible.   Almost a week had passed since the dream had haunted the camp. Many had experienced similar dreams, some with slight variations, and a handful hadn’t dreamed at all. Afterwards, however, there were no more strange dreams. Of course, there had been much speculation and conjecture, but ultimately it was believed to stem from a story everyone had heard at some point, which—combined with the eerie backdrop of the nocturnal forest—had stirred everyone’s imagination.   It was unusual that so many had shared a similar dream, but since no further dreams followed, the subject remained a topic of conversation without deeper significance. Work started only a few hours late, and the familiar sounds of steel striking wood and the steady rasp of large two-person saws filled the air. Occasionally, a warning rang out: “Watch out! Tree falling!”   The clearing in the forest looked like a wound. Debranched trunks lay on the sides, and where roots had once grown, pits now yawned. The roots of the spruces were too deep to remove completely—they were merely severed. The firs could be uprooted entirely. After three days, the holes were filled with soil, and the path was prepared for moving the camp. The clearing had been pushed roughly a kilometer into the forest, and a few more trees were felled to create a new glade for the camp. Another three days later, they advanced roughly another kilometer.     Ebram was out with his assistants and porters, searching the area around the second camp for clues to the lost city. He carried a probing stick, similar to those used by mountain rescuers to locate buried persons. So far, he had found nothing—but he had not expected to, so close to the forest’s edge. His porters walked quietly at a distance, chatting softly, while his assistants scanned the ground with their probes.   Ebram had divided the area into a grid and wanted the surroundings examined systematically. It served as training for his assistants, even though they had assumed they might already find something here. Later, at the proper site, only the assistants would probe; Ebram would evaluate, catalog, and professionally package all findings. Special discoveries, he would examine closely on site.   All the more surprised was he when one of his assistants suddenly called out: “Dr. Rolfo? I think I’ve found something!”   Ebram forced a smile and approached the young man. At first, the name escaped him, but he remembered: “Mr. Matthei, what have you found?”   The assistant grimaced, pointing with the probe to a spot on the forest floor to his right. Ebram passed him and stopped short—a bone. A human bone.   With curiosity awakened, he crouched and examined the stark white bone protruding from the dark soil. “Mr. Matthei? Tell the porters to fetch shovels and a crate. I suspect this bone belongs to a full skeleton.”   “Doc… tor… is that… a human… bone?” stammered the young man, his face pale.   “Yes, definitely. I’d say it’s the fibula.”   Ebram dug carefully with one hand and pulled the bone slowly from the earth with the other. Behind him came the sound of a young man retching, followed by vomiting.     Two crates stood on stools inside his tent. One contained the bones found so far, the other the personal belongings of the deceased. Ebram was sure it had been a man. Thoughtfully, he took several bones from the crate and examined them closely. There were no signs of cause of death—not that he was an expert, but violence often left traces on bone. These showed none: no stabbing, no blunt-force trauma, no bite marks.   Deep in thought and absorbed in examination, he initially failed to notice a throat clearing, which escalated into a demonstrative cough. He turned to the entrance, ready to reprimand whoever had disturbed him. Mr. Hollwart stood there.   “Hello, Dr. Rolfo. Sorry to intrude, but I heard you found a corpse?” His tone was calm, factual.   Ebram shook off the brief flare of anger and smiled faintly. He liked Hollwart—practical, pragmatic. “Oh, no… technically, it’s a skeleton. The unfortunate soul likely got lost and most probably starved,” he explained.   Hollwart gestured to the tent. “May I come in and see it? And why do you think he starved?”   “Since there are no traces of violence on the bones, that seems the most plausible explanation,” Ebram said, stepping aside.   Both approached the crate. Hollwart leaned over without touching, inspecting the bones. “Hmm… odd, though. No signs of wild animals—no gnawing, no nibbling.”   Ebram turned a bone in his hand, furrowing his brow. “You’re right. Very strange.” He examined more bones—still no signs of wildlife. Thoughtfully, he scratched the back of his head.   “Well, there must be an explanation. Besides, I’ve seen very few wild animals here.”   Hollwart nodded. “Indeed, but given all the noise we’re making, that’s hardly surprising.”   “Pack it up and set it outside,” Hollwart instructed. “I’ll have it taken back to the city. Three trucks will be bringing new supplies tomorrow anyway.”   Somewhat disappointed, Ebram looked at the skeleton and sighed. “Of course, you’re right. Perhaps the remaining equipment can help identify who this person was. Maybe there are relatives. I’ll place the gear in the bone crate—please get me a replacement crate for it.”     Ebram watched the trucks as they moved toward the forest’s edge. One carried the bones and the deceased’s equipment. He had added a few extra requests to a list and hoped the trucks would bring the desired items the next day. Until then, he had to wait.   At breakfast, he noticed that Assistant Matthei was absent. When he inquired, he learned the young man had gone to the city with the trucks. Ebram rolled his eyes, thinking the young man probably wouldn’t return—too sensitive.   The morning and midday passed without further finds. Late in the afternoon, however, the sound of approaching vehicles reached the camp. Everyone accompanying Ebram lifted their heads and listened. He too tried to discern what was happening. The dispatched trucks were not due back until the next day.   Ebram scanned the group: “Does anyone know if we’re expecting visitors?” General shaking of heads. “Very well. Let’s see what’s happening,” he said, leading the way.   At the camp, he saw the three trucks from the morning—but they looked battered, almost shabby. Nearly the entire camp had gathered. Ebram elbowed his way through the crowd and looked down in astonishment at four utterly terrified individuals: the three drivers and his assistant Matthei. Eyes wide, they stared at something only they could see. Not a coherent word escaped their lips—only murmurs and humming.   Hollwart crouched, trying to bring one or another back to their senses—speaking, shaking, even slapping. Nothing worked.   Ebram placed a hand under Matthei’s chin, forcing him to look. The head followed the motion without resistance. The fear-widened eyes stared right through Ebram. “Whatever happened—whatever they saw—must have been terrifying. We cannot leave them here; they need medical attention.”   Hollwart nodded. “Yes. Two of you—Thomasch, Ivon—take one of the trucks and bring the four to the city. Closed vehicle.”     Half an hour later, Thomasch and Ivon departed with the four affected individuals. Meanwhile, Ebram and Hollwart inspected the returned trucks. Hollwart ran his hand over dents in the side panels.   “As if they were attacked… or driven into obstacles relentlessly.”   He picked up a splinter and a few crumbs from one of the dents. “Wood, bark, a few fir needles—very strange.”   Ebram looked down. “Any explanation?”   “No, none that makes sense. Maybe they strayed from the path and tried to squeeze between the trees?”   Impulsively, Ebram walked over to the loading ramp of the truck that had transported the skeleton and lifted the tarp.   “Hollwart… did the trucks reach the city? Were they unloaded?”   “No… why?”   Ebram pointed. The crate… it was gone.