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June 24, 2025 18 mins

Finding the buried treasure was exciting, but with the surprising objects and a new riddle to solve, the mystery is deeper than Marie anticipated. It feels impossible to try to help solve a problem from so long ago, but Marie has a plan and she’s ready to see it through.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Previously on Adventures on Awe Island, Marie, JJ and Christian
finally found the buried treasure, and it contained A
linen bag holding an old photo of some teenagers, a metal
dragon figurine, and another Riddle asking for help.
Frustrated, JJ and Christian decided to quit, leaving Marie

(00:23):
on her own to figure out what todo next.
Later, to her surprise, as she put away the items, Marie
discovered that the strange symbol that had been on Safos's
handkerchief and ring was also stitched into the linen bag that
the treasure was in. In that moment, Marie realized
that the mystery was deeper thanthey'd ever imagined possible.

(00:52):
Welcome to adventures on Awe Island.
Chapter 3 X Marks the Spot Part 1 Marie woke up with a start.
Had she only dreamed of finding the treasure, or had it been a

(01:15):
reality? She wasn't quite sure.
Half dazed, Marie went to her desk drawer and peeked in.
The glass jar was still there. Her heart surged.
She hadn't imagined it. She and her friends had found
the treasure. She took the glass jar and

(01:36):
untwisted the rusty lid. Sliding out the linen pouch, she
opened the bag and let the contents tumble to her desk.
Carefully, she picked up the small folded paper and reread
the Riddle inside. Forward and back.
We tried our best to use our skills and pass the test,

(01:59):
friends to the end. Without a doubt, we're out of
time. Can you help us out?
Find the symbol, That's the key.The secret club, The chosen 3.
It was written in blue pen ink, neatly printed, very small.
Who wrote it, Marie wondered, And what test did they try to

(02:23):
pass? And who was the we the Riddle
referred to? Was it the teenagers in the
photo? As Marie thought of them, she
picked up the photo and unrolledit.
She wished it had more detail, but it was small and faded and
old. 25 years old if it really was taken in 2000.

(02:49):
She just turned it over to glance at the year written on
the back when she heard her dad call out to her.
Marie. Breakfast in five coming.
Marie called back quickly. She set down the items and began
to dress, throwing on her favorite jeans and a green

(03:10):
T-shirt that had the words winging it in bold font.
It was one of her favorite sayings to Marie Winging.
It meant you didn't need to haveall the answers or be fully
prepared. You just had to be willing to
try and open to learning along the way.

(03:32):
That's how she felt as a newbie detective on her first case, and
she couldn't wait to go to the library, to return to the
strange restricted section wherethe oldest and rarest books were
kept. Marie pictured the room, that
clandestine space behind the locked door deep beneath the

(03:55):
library, with walls that looked like they had been carved
straight from stone. And on the last shelf sat the
book where she'd found the map, the book titled The Secret Spot.
Just thinking about it gave Marie a thrill, but first she

(04:17):
had school. Before Marie left her bedroom,
she refolded the Riddle and picked up the rolled photo,
slipping them both back into thelinen bag.
Then she reached for the tiny metal dragon and examined it
briefly. It definitely looked old, but

(04:38):
not worn. The green patina made it look
dull, but the engraved details remained sharp and clear.
Strangely, the metal almost feltwarm to the touch, as if it were
somehow alive. Who are you?
Marie whispered to the tiny figurine, almost believing it

(05:01):
would respond to her. It remained motionless and
silent. She sighed and tucked it into
the linen pouch before stowing everything back in the glass jar
and returning it to her desk drawer.
Once at school, Marie quickly discovered Christian and JJ's

(05:22):
feelings of frustrations from the day before had not
dissipated. At lunch, they sat together in
their usual spot. I just don't see how we're going
to figure something out from 25 years ago, Christian said.
Especially when we don't know what the problem is or who is

(05:43):
asking for help. Marie fidgeted with the zipper
on her lunch bag, trying not to let her doubt show.
I think the answer is in the book the map fell out of, she
said. Hopefully we have to try.
We can't just quit when we've gotten this far.

(06:04):
We can quit and we should. JJ retorted.
If those kids were out of time back then, like the Riddle said,
then it's definitely too late now.
Marie didn't have an answer. What Christian and JJ said was
exactly what she feared too, buthearing them admit it out loud

(06:28):
felt like a punch to the gut. They were just giving up so
easily after everything, she thought they were a team to the
end. Marie stared at them for a
moment, then picked up her lunchbag with a huff.
Fine, she said flatly. I'll figure it out myself.

(06:51):
She stood up from the table and left without looking back.
The rest of the afternoon as shesat through her classes, Marie
fought off tears. She hated fighting with her
friends, but she was so mad at them for being quitters.
It hurt a lot because it felt like they were giving up not

(07:14):
only on the mystery but also on her.
After school, her dad picked herup.
They had errands to run, including going to the library.
Marie had assumed the library would be their first stop, but
her dad had other plans. Sweetie, I need to make a pit

(07:35):
stop at the post office 1st and get this box mailed to the
university before it closes. He said.
Marie was in such a bad mood that the news only added to her
frustration. OK, she replied dejectedly.
Truth be told, going to the postoffice first was probably smart,

(07:59):
as both Marie and her dad tendedto get lost in the library for
hours once they started browsingthe books.
After her dad had mailed his package, the duo headed straight
for the library. Marie was still mad, mad at her
friends for giving up and maybe a little mad at herself for

(08:22):
caring so much, but the closer they got to the library, the
more her anger began to fade. She was investigating on her own
now, So what? She was the detective on the
case, and the secret spot might hold the next clue.

(08:43):
By the time they were walking through the library doors,
Marie's feelings from earlier had turned to excitement and
anticipation. Sal was at the help desk.
Ah, ya Sal. Mr. Duguay greeted.
We'd like to go to the out of print and rare books room,
please. The restricted section.

(09:04):
Marie added, perhaps a little too hastily.
That's what most people called the room because it was hidden
behind a heavy door labeled restricted.
Certainly. Sal replied, taking the key from
the drawer. The librarian led the way
through the ground floor to the back of the library where the

(09:26):
doorway was. This place is popular today.
Sal remarked as they reached thedoor.
Twisting the key in the lock, they added.
You 2 are the second patrons to ask to come here.
Harry's eyes widened. Previously, Sal had told them

(09:47):
that almost no one ever visited this area, so it was definitely
a surprise that they were the second people that day to
request access. Really, who was it?
Marie asked incredulously. That's their business.
Sal said, pulling the heavy dooropen with a Creek.

(10:09):
Sal clicked on the ancient fluorescent lighting.
You know the drill. Please turn the lights off when
you are done and close the door firmly.
It will relock automatically. With that, Sal turned and headed
back to the help desk. This area of the library was
rarely used, so the fact that someone else had been here today

(10:35):
gnawed at Marie. Who had it been?
Was it just a coincidence? Setting those questions aside
for now, Marie stepped onto the landing.
A wave of chill air prickled herskin and the musty scent of old
books tickled her nose. She and her dad descended the

(10:56):
stairs. This time, Marie was prepared
for the eerie atmosphere of thisroom.
The hand carved rock walls, the thin yellow light, and the
constant buzz from the aging fluorescent bulbs overhead made
the whole place seem otherworldly.

(11:18):
When they had been down here last, Marie hadn't seen any of
the monsters rumored to lurk down here, but she still wasn't
sure there were no ghosts. Her eyes darted around the room,
scanning for any signs of movement.
There were none. I'll only be a minute.

(11:38):
I know what I want. Marie told her dad as she headed
down to the last row where the kids section was.
She was determined to find the book that she'd found the map
tucked into. She could picture it in her mind
perfectly. It had a plain tan dust cover

(11:59):
and a bold X on the front with the title The Secret Spot
printed in black lettering. The kit section was quite small,
and Marie's eyes went immediately to the place where
she'd first found the book. She gasped.
The book was gone. There was an empty gap on the

(12:20):
shelf where it should have been.Marie blinked in disbelief.
Her eyes had to be deceiving her.
She began scanning the other books in the section, and all of
them appeared to be in exactly the same place as she'd left
them before. Right next to the open slot was

(12:41):
the book titled Why or Why Not and other age-old questions,
just as she'd remembered it. But the secret spot was gone.
No, Marie exclaimed, louder thanshe meant to.
Her dad called out. What's wrong?

(13:02):
And she could hear his footstepsapproaching.
The book I wanted is gone. Marie said, anguish rising in
her voice. Solving this mystery already
felt impossible. But now, without that book,
there was no hope. Marie had no idea where else to

(13:24):
search for clues. I need to talk to Sal.
Marie muttered as her dad rounded the corner to join her.
He nodded. Marie was grateful he didn't ask
her any questions. The pair walked up the stairs,
switched off the light, pulled the heavy door to the restricted
section closed, and headed for the help desk.

(13:47):
It was unattended. Sal must be helping another
patron, Marie thought. They waited for a bit and it
wasn't long before Sal returned.Did you find what you wanted?
Sal asked Marie with a smile. No, Marie said.
There was a book called The Secret Spot.

(14:08):
It's gone. Sal's eyebrows shot up in
surprise. That's the book the other patron
checked out. It was Marie's turn to be
shocked. It seemed too uncanny that
someone else had showed up on the same day as she had to get
the same book she needed. Don't worry, they have to return

(14:33):
it in three days and then you can borrow it, Sal added.
But I need it now. Marie insisted, choked with
panic. I'm sorry, Sal said gently.
I don't have it for you now. Marie felt the tears well up in
her eyes again. She didn't want anyone to see

(14:55):
her cry, so she turned and beelined for the door.
Her dad hurried after her. Once outside, Marie stopped in
her tracks, unable to hold back her tears.
It'll be OK sweetheart, we'll come back and get the book.
Her dad said, placing his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

(15:19):
You don't understand. Marie snapped, turning to face
him. Her dad sighed and held out his
arms, offering a hug. Instinctively, she stepped
forward, allowing herself to be wrapped in his arms.
Marie let the tears flow freely into her dad's sleeve.

(15:42):
Every emotion she had been feeling today gushed forth.
She was furious someone had beaten her to the book, she was
afraid she would never solve themystery.
And most of all, she was hurt, feeling abandoned by her two
best friends. Mr. Duguay didn't say anything.

(16:06):
He just held his daughter until the tears slowed.
When she finally pulled back, Marie felt a little calmer.
True, everything hadn't gone according to plan, but that was
what winging it was all about. This case was far from closed.

(16:28):
As she and her dad finished the remainder of their errands,
Marie got lost in her own thoughts.
Who took that book out? And why did they know about the
map and the buried treasure thatshe, JJ and Christian had found?
And Sophos? Who was he really?

(16:50):
Why was he suddenly appearing and disappearing in different
odd jobs? Did he know more than he was
letting on? Amazingly, once she let her
feelings out and cleared her mind, the next step came to
Marie as plainly as writing on awhiteboard.

(17:11):
She needed to talk to Sophos again while she waited for the
book to be returned. He was her best lead.
She had to ask him about that strange logo that kept popping
up. It was on his handkerchief and
his ring and the linen bag that held the items in the glass jar.

(17:32):
That logo was her clearest indication yet that Saphos was
connected to the mystery. What did it represent?
Marie's determination returned with a vengeance.
She decided to go to the librarytomorrow after school to talk to
Sophos. It was risky.

(17:54):
She had no idea for sure if he would be there, but so far he
had a way of turning up when sheneeded him most.
She hoped the same would be truethis time.
Right now, she needed his help more than ever.

(18:17):
Marie's plan to get help from Sappho's may be in jeopardy as
she gets some shocking news. Just when she hits another dead
end, another clue reveals itself.
Will it be enough to resolve thedisagreement between her, JJ and
Christian? Find out when the adventure
continues in our next episode ofAdventures on Awe Island.

(18:45):
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