Diary note
Dad always says that everyone leaves their own sign on the Hill of Crosses – but some crosses tell more than others. Years ago a small group of five pilgrims is said to have climbed together to a special statue. That statue at the top of the hill is sacred to our family.
Years ago, one night, I overheard two men whispering up on the hill. The older one said:
“The first of them was the monk from the East – his cross always had three crossbars.”
His companion nodded and replied: “Then came the one who never wanted to stand out. A simple cross, nothing more – but his steps seemed more determined than the others’.”
The old man continued: “The third was broad-shouldered, a wide crossbeam like a shield. He stopped as if the wind itself was guiding him.”
A brief exchange of glances, then the younger man said: “The fourth was nervous. Always a knife with him – or a dagger? I could never tell the difference.”
Finally, the old man lowered his voice: “The last one was silent. He belonged to an old order… you could only recognize his eight-pointed cross when the moonlight hit it just right.”
Each symbol below stands for one of these crosses:
✝ – simple cross, † – dagger cross, ☦ – Orthodox cross, ✚ – broad cross, ☩ – cross of the “brothers of the order”.
Arrange the five symbols in the slots in the order Carrie’s informant marked them from left to right. The chip numbers form a code that leads to something important.
