The Watchers

Near the coast, Polly found a small building with many antennas. Inside sat one scientist with lots of screens. Lines moved up and down. A map was full of tiny circles. Each circle was an earthquake. Most were too small to feel. Polly landed and looked. The scientist turned a screen so she could see.

This is how the people here stay safe. Before a volcano erupts, the ground shakes for days. The scientists watch day and night. Then they tell a town to leave in time.

The scientist told an old story. Long ago, lava moved toward a town's harbour. So the people sprayed cold seawater on the lava for weeks. At last it stopped. They made a deal with the volcano.

Before she left, Polly stepped in ink. She walked across his map. He laughed and put it on the wall.