The rain was tapping against the window at Hela's grandmother's, as evenly as if someone was playing the drums. The living room smelled of baked apples and cinnamon. The cuckoo clock winked its golden eye, and the cat Purr was lounging in the armchair, curled up in a strip of fluffy whiskers. Lena and Kuba sat on the soft carpet and put together a sky map puzzle. The stars on the boxes glittered silver, even though it was afternoon. Grandma Hela was stirring compote in the pot and humming quietly, as if she knew the melody of rain. - Look, the Big Cart! - said Kuba, pushing the last puzzle together. - And here is the Little One - added Lena and stretched proudly. Then something flashed under Purr's seat. Something tiny, like a grain of sunshine, which for a moment came into the room, even though it was pouring rain outside the window. - What is it? - Lena asked. Kuba slid his hand under the armchair and pulled out a tiny brass key on a thin blue ribbon. The key had a star-shaped head. - Ooo! - he made round eyes. - 'It matches our jigsaw puzzle. - 'Or maybe for something else,' Lena whispered and looked at the old wooden desk standing under the window. It had many drawers, each made of a different tree: one was dark like chocolate, another was light like honey, and the third had knots resembling eyes. Grandma Hela smiled, without stopping to stir. - This desk was my grandfather's. He was a clockmaker. He used to say that wood could listen. But be careful, don't pull too hard so you don't break anything. Purr stretched, jumped off the chair and, as if by accident, jumped onto the desk. He touched one drawer with his paw. Its knob flashed and a tiny keyhole appeared. The hole was also star-shaped. - There you go - Lena tightened her fingers on the ribbon. - Shall we try it? - We'll try - repeated Kuba. - But slowly. The cuckoo clock struck half an hour and chimed only once, as if it didn't want to impose itself. Lena slid the key in. It fitted perfectly. Her heart fluttered. The rain by the window suddenly played quieter, as if covered by a blanket. And then they heard... a whisper. Very soft, like the wind in a shell. Not a word, not a sentence, just shuuu, shuuu. The knob itself trembled slightly. - Can you hear it? - Cuba's eyes opened wide, but he didn't look frightened. More like curious. - It sounds like the sea. - The sea in the drawer... - muttered Lena, and her stomach trembled from the sensation and from a bit of laughter. She pressed the key. A quiet click! It went through the wood like a drop through a leaf. The drawer slid out a millimetre. Something cool and smelling of wet grass came from inside. The purr grew a moustache and sat down, statue-like, all alert. - Wait," whispered Kuba and put his hand on Lena's palm. - Let's count to three. One, two... Before he could say 'three', someone - or maybe something - knocked quietly from inside: knock, knock, knock. Exactly three times. The children looked at each other and then at Grandma. Grandma Hela was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, holding a wooden spoon. She smiled enigmatically but said nothing. Her eyes sparkled as did the little key. - 'All right,' she just said. - Just be careful. Wood listens and remembers. Lena and Kuba knelt down at the desk. A drop of water ran down the glass and stopped at the very bottom, as if she wanted to look too. The cuckoo clock covered its beak, as if it held a secret... or rather a surprise inside. Lena slid her fingers under the edge of the drawer. Kuba held the knob. Together, slowly, they pulled. The wood rustled, but not like an old door. More like reeds by the river. A quiet chime flowed from inside, and the air became like a meadow after a storm. - 'I see a light,' whispered Kuba, leaning over. - There... something is moving. Lena looked in too. There were no ordinary papers or pencils inside. There were tiny steps, curly like ice cream, made of light wood. They went down towards a soft, cool flash. Shadows danced down the steps, like leaves on water. A purr put his paw on the edge of the drawer and murmured so low they felt it in their knees. The cuckoo clock, although it was not the full hour, hid the cuckoo deeper, as if it too was listening. - Shall we go? - whispered Lena. Her voice sounded very brave, although her heart beat faster. - First let's check if the steps are firm - said Kuba wisely and touched the first one. It was smooth and warm, as if someone had just walked on it. Or maybe many people? Or maybe... someone who is just waiting? A new sound came from the depths. A quiet plum! like a drop falling into a narrow stream. Then again: knock, knock. Not three times anymore, but two. Like a signal. Like an invitation. Grandma Hela grunted quietly and set two small cups with compote on the table. - For courage - she winked. - And remember: if you get lost, look at the stars. They always show you the way. Lena nodded. The key on the blue ribbon swayed by her hand, ringing slightly. Kuba squeezed the knob tighter. The purr curled its tail like a questioner. - Once... - Lena whispered. - Two... - replied Kuba. The drawer knob vibrated coolly in their fingers, as if someone on the other side was holding it too. The steps flashed. A fresh breeze and the scent of a distant meadow wafted from inside. - Tr... - they started together, when suddenly the knob moved of its own accord, and the drawer, even though they were holding it tightly, began to slide out from inside faster and faster....