He stared at the wooden roof above him before turning his head toward the people surrounding him.
He didn't appear frightened.
He simply looked at them.
Jude moved closer.
"Hello. Can you hear me?"
The boy's gaze settled on him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then the child blinked.
"Where am I?"
His voice was quiet and strangely calm.
"You're somewhere safe," Jude replied. "We found you on the beach."
The boy looked around at the faces surrounding him.
"Beach?"
"Yes. Do you remember how you got there?"
The child said nothing.
Susan offered him the cup.
"Would you like some water?"
He looked at it, then at her.
After a moment, he accepted the cup with both hands.
He drank a little.
Then he looked back at Jude.
"What's your name?" Jude asked.
The boy hesitated.
"Sol."
The name was so soft that Jude almost thought he had misheard it.
"Sol?"
The child nodded.
"That's my name."
"I'm Jude. These are my friends."
He introduced the women one by one.
