1 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome back to Sleepy Stories. I'm your host, Lucy, 2 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,600 and my friends and I will be reading you a 3 00:00:24,839 --> 00:00:31,039 sleepy bedtime story every week to relax you and to 4 00:00:31,199 --> 00:00:37,560 help you to drift off into a RESTful sleep. From 5 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:42,000 time to time, we will also read you a relaxing, 6 00:00:42,359 --> 00:00:49,079 peaceful meditation that will take you somewhere beautiful and calming. 7 00:00:50,719 --> 00:00:54,280 Once we have read the stories, we will then read 8 00:00:54,359 --> 00:00:59,719 them a second time, but this time they will be 9 00:00:59,759 --> 00:01:07,599 ready even slower. This will help you to relax even more. 10 00:01:08,799 --> 00:01:13,000 Before we begin, I would like you to close your 11 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:21,640 eyes and breathe in and out nice and deeply. Take 12 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:27,359 a few seconds to inhale, and then hold your breath 13 00:01:28,079 --> 00:01:35,000 for a few seconds more, and then release and breathe out. 14 00:01:36,359 --> 00:01:40,959 Do this a few times if you need to. While 15 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,599 you listen to the music and you listen to my voice, 16 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:53,000 give yourself time to let your body relax and your 17 00:01:53,120 --> 00:02:00,560 mind settle. It's important that we allow time for us 18 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:10,840 to feel safe, cozy, and completely at ease. And now 19 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:28,560 it's time for this week's story. 20 00:02:30,719 --> 00:02:36,879 Speaker 2: The Island of Borrowed Dreams, far out on a quiet 21 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:41,439 stretch of ocean, where the waves preferred whispering to roaring. 22 00:02:42,319 --> 00:02:47,120 Their sailed a sailor named Arthur Bellamy, who had developed 23 00:02:47,159 --> 00:02:53,360 a very unusual problem. Arthur could not remember the last 24 00:02:53,439 --> 00:02:58,400 time he had properly slept. This was not for lack 25 00:02:58,439 --> 00:03:06,039 of trying. He had tried hammocks, blankets, warm tea, counting stars, 26 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:12,000 counting waves, and once in a moment of desperation, counting 27 00:03:12,159 --> 00:03:18,960 extremely slow sea gulls. But sleep always hovered near by, 28 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,919 like a polite guest who had somehow misplaced the door. 29 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:30,800 Arthur's ship, a modest blue vessel called the Patient Tide, 30 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:36,120 drifted slowly across the dark water beneath the sky, so 31 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:41,879 wide and deep that even experienced sailors sometimes felt like 32 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:48,840 very small punctuation marks in a very large sentence. The 33 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:54,960 sea was calm that evening. It rose and fell in long, 34 00:03:55,280 --> 00:04:00,560 thoughtful swells that seemed less interested in traveling somewhere and 35 00:04:00,639 --> 00:04:07,159 more interested in remembering how to breathe. Arthur leaned against 36 00:04:07,159 --> 00:04:13,319 the railing and stared out at the horizon. A lantern 37 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:18,600 swayed gently above him, its light rocking back and forth 38 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:25,680 like a sleepy pendulum. Another evening, then, Arthur muttered to himself. 39 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:35,360 The ocean did not reply. The ocean almost never replied. Still, 40 00:04:35,879 --> 00:04:40,120 sailors often spoke to it anyway, because the sea had 41 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,759 a way of listening that made a person feel slightly 42 00:04:43,879 --> 00:04:51,720 less alone. Arthur rubbed his eyes and sighed. Being awake 43 00:04:51,959 --> 00:04:54,839 for too many nights in a row had made the 44 00:04:54,879 --> 00:05:01,920 world feel slightly out of focus. Cloud drifted slowly across 45 00:05:01,959 --> 00:05:08,839 the moon, like quiet ships passing through silver fog. Somewhere 46 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,720 far away, a whale exhaled with a deep, patient breath. 47 00:05:15,639 --> 00:05:20,480 Arthur watched the ripples spread across the water. Then he 48 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:26,920 noticed something strange. A faint glow had appeared on the horizon. 49 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,759 It was not the sharp white beam of a lighthouse, 50 00:05:33,519 --> 00:05:39,279 nor the orange flicker of another ship. This glow was softer. 51 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:46,279 It shimmered gently, like lantern light filtered through fog and 52 00:05:46,399 --> 00:05:54,319 old memories. Arthur leaned forward. Well now, he said, quietly, 53 00:05:55,920 --> 00:06:03,759 that is new. The patient tie drifted closer. The glow 54 00:06:03,879 --> 00:06:08,519 grew larger and warmer, until the dark outline of land 55 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:17,600 slowly emerged from the mist. An island. Arthur frowned thoughtfully. 56 00:06:19,439 --> 00:06:23,120 He had sailed these waters many times and knew the 57 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:28,639 charts almost by heart, Yet he did not remember any 58 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,360 island sitting here in the middle of the quiet sea. 59 00:06:34,319 --> 00:06:39,759 The island was small. Soft hills rose from the shoreline 60 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:46,879 like folded blankets. Strange lanterns hung from low trees, their 61 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:52,800 golden lights swaying gently in the night breeze. The entire 62 00:06:52,959 --> 00:06:56,959 island seemed to glow the way a room glows when 63 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:03,439 someone has fallen asleep beside a fire. Arthur scratched his beard. 64 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,360 I suppose I could take a closer look, he said 65 00:07:08,399 --> 00:07:13,680 to the ocean. The ocean continued, being very calm about 66 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:20,000 the whole situation. The patient tide drifted toward the shore, 67 00:07:20,519 --> 00:07:24,040 as if it had already decided this was an excellent idea. 68 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,720 Soon the ship bumped softly against a small wooden dock. 69 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:37,879 Arthur stepped down carefully. The dock creaked politely beneath his boots. 70 00:07:39,959 --> 00:07:44,079 Warm light from the hanging lanterns spilled across the sand 71 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,519 and drifted out over the water like slow moving honey. 72 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:55,360 Arthur walked a few steps along the shore. The sand 73 00:07:55,399 --> 00:07:59,720 felt strangely soft, as if it had once been clouds 74 00:08:00,319 --> 00:08:04,000 and had only recently decided to try being sand instead. 75 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,079 Beyond the beach stood a small collection of cottages built 76 00:08:10,079 --> 00:08:16,199 from pale wood and smooth stone. Their windows glowed warmly. 77 00:08:17,839 --> 00:08:23,800 Thin trails of smoke curled lazily from their chimneys. Yet 78 00:08:23,839 --> 00:08:31,759 the island seemed very quiet, not empty exactly, just peaceful, 79 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:36,600 in the way a house becomes peaceful when everyone inside 80 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:43,200 has fallen asleep. Arthur wandered slowly along a narrow path. 81 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,919 The lanterns hanging from the trees gave off a gentle, 82 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:55,600 humming sound, almost like someone breathing very slowly. As he 83 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:59,360 reached the center of the island, he noticed a small 84 00:08:59,399 --> 00:09:04,519 wooden see sign beside the path. The letters had been 85 00:09:04,639 --> 00:09:11,519 carved with careful, patient hands. Arthur leaned closer to read it. 86 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:21,519 Welcome to the Island of Borrowed Dreams. Arthur blinked. Well, 87 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:27,120 that sounds promising, he murmured. Just then a voice spoke 88 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:33,519 behind him, You look like someone who could use one. 89 00:09:34,039 --> 00:09:41,360 Arthur turned slowly. Standing beside a crooked little cottage was 90 00:09:41,399 --> 00:09:45,519 an elderly woman wrapped in a long sea green coat. 91 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:51,480 Her silver hair drifted softly in the breeze, and her 92 00:09:51,519 --> 00:09:55,919 eyes held the quiet sparkle of someone who had seen 93 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:03,080 many interesting nights. Married a lantern shaped like a sleeping 94 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:10,639 moon Arthur removed his hat politely. Good evening, he said, 95 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:20,440 Arthur Bellamy. The woman nodded warmly. Keep her Eliza, she replied, 96 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:27,720 you arrived at a good hour. Arthur glanced around the 97 00:10:27,799 --> 00:10:35,279 peaceful island. I must admit, he said, I did not 98 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:41,000 expect to find an island here. That is quite normal, 99 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:47,080 said Eliza. Most people don't find it until they need it. 100 00:10:48,759 --> 00:10:56,440 Arthur considered this. That sounds mysterious, he said. It is 101 00:10:56,519 --> 00:11:04,879 also quite practical, she replied. Arthur smiled faintly. I haven't 102 00:11:04,919 --> 00:11:11,799 slept properly in weeks, he admitted. Eliza lifted her lantern slightly. 103 00:11:13,519 --> 00:11:19,559 Its warm light flickered like a gentle heartbeat. Yes, she 104 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:25,159 said softly. I could tell the moment you stepped on 105 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:34,240 to the dock. Arthur looked surprised. You could, of course, 106 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:42,720 said Eliza. The island notices things like that. She gestured 107 00:11:42,799 --> 00:11:49,159 toward the glowing cottages. Every dream you see here has 108 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:55,440 been borrowed, she explained. People arrive when their sleep has 109 00:11:55,519 --> 00:12:01,120 wandered away from them. They borrow ad for the night, 110 00:12:02,879 --> 00:12:05,960 and in the morning they usually remember how to sleep again. 111 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:13,879 Arthur looked slowly across the lantern lit village. Somewhere in 112 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,559 the distance, he thought he heard the soft murmur of 113 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:25,360 people dreaming peacefully. That sounds almost too helpful, he said. 114 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:34,320 Eliza smiled knowingly. It works better than most remedies sailors try, 115 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:44,120 she said. Arthur laughed quietly. That may be true. Eliza 116 00:12:44,279 --> 00:12:52,159 turned and began walking down the path. Come along, she said, gently, 117 00:12:53,919 --> 00:12:59,120 We keep the dreams in the lighthouse. Arthur followed her 118 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:05,080 through the soft glowing lantern trees. Ahead, at the far 119 00:13:05,279 --> 00:13:09,919 end of the island, a tall, round lighthouse stood watching 120 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:15,120 the sea. But instead of shining a bright guiding beam 121 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:21,000 across the water, the lighthouse windows glowed with hundreds of slow, 122 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:29,000 drifting lights. They moved gently inside the tower, like fireflies 123 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:37,159 made of moonlight. Arthur stopped in amazement. What are those, 124 00:13:37,879 --> 00:13:46,000 he whispered. Eliza lifted her lantern toward the tower. Dreams, 125 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:52,600 she said, softly, borrowed ones waiting for sailors who had 126 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:58,440 forgotten how to rest. Arthur stared at the glowing tower 127 00:14:00,039 --> 00:14:04,519 for the first time in many nights. He felt the 128 00:14:04,639 --> 00:14:08,720 quiet beginning of sleep gently knocking at the door of 129 00:14:08,759 --> 00:14:15,919 his mind, and somewhere high inside the lighthouse, one particular 130 00:14:16,039 --> 00:14:19,840 dream flickered a little brighter, as though it had been 131 00:14:19,919 --> 00:14:24,559 waiting patiently for a sailor named Arthur Bellamy to arrive. 132 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:30,200 Arthur stood quietly for a moment at the base of 133 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:35,919 the lighthouse, while the soft, drifting lights moved behind the 134 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:43,639 tall round windows above him, like slow, thoughtful fireflies. The 135 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:48,120 tower hummed very faintly, not loudly enough to hear exactly, 136 00:14:48,639 --> 00:14:52,399 but just enough that the air seemed full of patient breathing. 137 00:14:54,399 --> 00:14:59,200 Keeper Eliza opened the wooden lighthouse door with the calm 138 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:04,840 familiarity of someone who had done so for many quiet years. 139 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:12,519 Inside a spiral staircase curved upward through the tower walls 140 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:19,039 like a path winding through a tall seashell. The glowing 141 00:15:19,159 --> 00:15:23,639 lights drifted lazily through the open center of the staircase, 142 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:30,960 rising and falling in gentle circles. Arthur removed his hat 143 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:37,320 and stepped inside. The air smelled faintly of salt, warm 144 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:42,840 lantern oil, and something else that was harder to describe. 145 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:49,240 It smelled like the moment just before sleep arrives. Eliza 146 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:57,039 began climbing the steps slowly. Arthur followed behind her. As 147 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:02,960 they climbed, the drifting lights smooth moved around them. Some 148 00:16:03,159 --> 00:16:09,759 floated past Arthur's shoulder, Others hovered near the staircase railing, 149 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:16,759 as if curiously observing the new arrival. Arthur noticed that 150 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:23,960 each light glowed slightly differently. Some shone pale blue like 151 00:16:24,159 --> 00:16:31,519 moonlit waves. Others glimmered warm gold, like distant windows on 152 00:16:31,559 --> 00:16:37,679 a winter evening. One flickered softly in shades of lavender 153 00:16:38,279 --> 00:16:45,279 and silver, like fog illuminated by starlight. Arthur paused half 154 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:54,080 way up the stairs. Each one is a dream, he said, quietly. Yes, 155 00:16:54,840 --> 00:17:02,159 said Eliza, borrowed from travelers, sailors, wanderers, and the occasional 156 00:17:02,279 --> 00:17:11,480 insomniac baker. Arthur nodded thoughtfully. I imagine bakers have very 157 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:18,799 complicated dreams, he said, mostly about bread that refuses to behave. 158 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:28,480 Eliza replied. They continued climbing. The staircase eventually opened into 159 00:17:28,519 --> 00:17:32,559 a wide, circular room near the top of the lighthouse. 160 00:17:34,319 --> 00:17:39,359 Here the lights floated more freely, drifting through the air 161 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:46,319 like slow glowing lanterns carried by an invisible tide. Arthur 162 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:53,599 stepped carefully into the room. The dreams moved gently around him. 163 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,440 One drifted close enough that Arthur felt a faint warmth 164 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:06,160 against his cheek. What happens now, he asked. Eliza set 165 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:11,480 her lantern on a small wooden table. Now you choose one, 166 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:18,720 she said. Arthur studied the floating lights. There were dozens 167 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:26,559 of them, perhaps hundreds. Each one pulse softly, as if 168 00:18:26,599 --> 00:18:31,640 breathing in its own quiet rhythm. How do I know 169 00:18:31,799 --> 00:18:40,200 which one to borrow? He asked. Eliza smiled, You usually don't, 170 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:46,680 she said. That part rarely works the way people expect. 171 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:54,759 Arthur folded his arms thoughtfully. Just then, a soft golden 172 00:18:54,880 --> 00:19:01,240 dream floated slowly past his shoulder. Inside the he thought 173 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,519 he could see the faint shape of a quiet beach 174 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:11,279 beneath a sunset. Sky Waves rolled gently onto the sand. 175 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:19,400 A hammock swayed between two palm trees. Arthur watched it 176 00:19:19,519 --> 00:19:27,119 drift by. That one looks pleasant, he murmured. Before he 177 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:31,119 could reach for it, the golden light drifted lazily away 178 00:19:31,319 --> 00:19:37,799 toward the far side of the room. Arthur shrugged. I 179 00:19:38,079 --> 00:19:47,200 suppose dreams have preferences, he said. Eliza nodded calmly. Some do. 180 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:55,319 Another dream drifted past, This one glowed a cool, deep 181 00:19:55,519 --> 00:20:02,720 blue inside it. Arthur glimpsed the slow, drifting shapes of 182 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:09,839 enormous whales swimming through a star filled ocean. He leaned closer. 183 00:20:11,799 --> 00:20:17,000 That one seems peaceful, too, he said. But the blue 184 00:20:17,079 --> 00:20:22,000 dream floated upward out of reach, like a curious bubble, 185 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:30,559 rising toward the ceiling. Arthur scratched his beard thoughtfully. I'm 186 00:20:30,599 --> 00:20:36,079 beginning to suspect they are avoiding me, he said. That 187 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:45,000 happens sometimes, said Eliza, They're simply deciding. Arthur looked around 188 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:51,200 the room again. The dreams circled slowly through the lighthouse, 189 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:58,119 like quiet thoughts moving through a sleepy mind. Then one 190 00:20:58,279 --> 00:21:02,720 light near the center of the room flickered slightly brighter. 191 00:21:04,599 --> 00:21:09,440 It was smaller than the others, a soft silver glow 192 00:21:09,799 --> 00:21:15,440 with hints of pale green drifting through it like morning mist. 193 00:21:16,799 --> 00:21:25,000 The little dream floated toward Arthur, slowly, not quickly, not dramatically, 194 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:33,759 just calmly, drifting closer until it hovered in front of him. 195 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:40,640 Arthur leaned forward. Inside the light, he could see something unexpected, 196 00:21:42,519 --> 00:21:47,920 a small wooden boat rocking gently on calm water beneath 197 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:54,880 the sky full of slow, steady stars. The boat looked familiar, 198 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:06,000 very familiar. Arthur tilted his head slightly. That looks like 199 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:12,559 the patient tide, he said softly. Eliza glanced at the 200 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:20,200 dream and smiled. Ah. She said that one has been 201 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:28,039 waiting here for quite a while. Arthur looked surprised waiting, 202 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:36,400 he asked, Yes, said Eliza, some dreams belong to people 203 00:22:36,519 --> 00:22:43,599 who haven't arrived yet. Arthur watched the small glowing light carefully. 204 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:50,640 Inside the dream, the little boat drifted peacefully across silver water. 205 00:22:52,759 --> 00:23:01,440 Lanterns swayed gently, The sky was calm, the sea breathed slowly. 206 00:23:03,599 --> 00:23:08,680 Arthur suddenly felt a deep quiet settling over him, like 207 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:16,640 a warm blanket. That one feels right, he murmured. The 208 00:23:16,759 --> 00:23:23,440 dream flickered once, as if nodding politely. Arthur reached out 209 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:29,279 the moment his fingers touched the silver glow, the dream 210 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:34,759 dissolved softly into the air, like mist touched by sunlight. 211 00:23:36,759 --> 00:23:46,960 The lighthouse room grew very quiet. Arthur blinked once, then twice. 212 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:52,279 A slow, comfortable sleepiness rolled through him, like a calm 213 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:54,160 tide returning to shore. 214 00:23:55,759 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: Oh. 215 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:06,559 Speaker 2: Arthur said softly, that works quickly. Eliza chuckled quietly. They 216 00:24:06,799 --> 00:24:14,960 usually do, she said. Arthur's eyelids began growing heavy. The 217 00:24:15,039 --> 00:24:22,720 warm lantern light, the drifting dreams, the soft hum of 218 00:24:22,759 --> 00:24:28,160 the lighthouse, all of it wrapped around him like the 219 00:24:28,279 --> 00:24:38,200 gentlest lullaby. Eliza lifted her lantern again. Come along, she said, softly, 220 00:24:40,039 --> 00:24:46,279 there's a small room downstairs where travelers rest. Arthur nodded 221 00:24:46,319 --> 00:24:52,839 sleepily and followed her down the spiral staircase. The drifting 222 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:58,839 dreams above continued their slow, peaceful dance inside the lighthouse. 223 00:25:00,839 --> 00:25:05,440 Soon Arthur lay in a small wooden bed beside a 224 00:25:05,519 --> 00:25:12,680 round window overlooking the calm ocean. The silver dream had 225 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:17,640 settled gently in his mind. He could already feel the 226 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:23,960 quiet boat drifting across calm water beneath patient stars. For 227 00:25:24,039 --> 00:25:28,640 the first time in many long nights, Arthur Bellamy closed 228 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,559 his eyes and allowed the tide of sleep to carry 229 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:38,160 him away and far above in the lighthouse tower, the 230 00:25:38,279 --> 00:25:43,799 remaining dreams floated quietly onward, waiting patiently for the next 231 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:49,079 weary traveler who might some day wander ashore in need 232 00:25:49,119 --> 00:26:04,920 of a borrowed night of rest. The island of borrowed dreams, 233 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,519 far out on a quiet stretch of ocean, where the 234 00:26:10,559 --> 00:26:16,240 waves preferred whispering to roaring. Their sailed a sailor named 235 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:23,279 Arthur Bellamy, who had developed a very unusual problem. Arthur 236 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:27,440 could not remember the last time he had properly slept. 237 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:34,720 This was not for lack of trying. He had tried hammocks, blankets, 238 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:40,960 warm tea, counting stars, counting waves, and once in a 239 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:49,599 moment of desperation, counting extremely slow seagulls. But sleep always 240 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:55,200 hovered nearby, like a polite guest who had somehow misplaced 241 00:26:55,240 --> 00:27:01,480 the door Arthur's ship, a modest blue vessel called the 242 00:27:01,519 --> 00:27:07,480 Patient Tide, drifted slowly across the dark water beneath the sky, 243 00:27:07,799 --> 00:27:13,519 so wide and deep that even experienced sailors sometimes felt 244 00:27:13,559 --> 00:27:18,480 like very small punctuation marks in a very large sentence. 245 00:27:20,519 --> 00:27:26,039 The sea was calm that evening. It rose and fell 246 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:31,039 in long, thoughtful swells that seemed less interested in traveling 247 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:37,880 somewhere and more interested in remembering how to breathe. Arthur 248 00:27:38,079 --> 00:27:42,200 leaned against the railing and stared out at the horizon. 249 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:49,640 A lantern swayed gently above him, its light rocking back 250 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:56,319 and forth like a sleepy pendulum. Another evening, then, Arthur 251 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:03,880 muttered to himself. The ocean didn't reply. The ocean almost 252 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:11,039 never replied. Still, sailors often spoke to it anyway, because 253 00:28:11,079 --> 00:28:13,960 the sea had a way of listening that made a 254 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:20,720 person feel slightly less alone. Arthur rubbed his eyes and sighed. 255 00:28:22,759 --> 00:28:26,200 Being awake for too many nights in a row had 256 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:32,400 made the world feel slightly out of focus. Clouds drifted 257 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:38,400 slowly across the moon, like quiet ships passing through silver fog. 258 00:28:40,079 --> 00:28:45,480 Somewhere far away, a whale exhaled with a deep, patient breath. 259 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:52,240 Arthur watched the ripples spread across the water. Then he 260 00:28:52,359 --> 00:28:58,680 noticed something strange. A faint glow had appeared on the horizon. 261 00:29:00,559 --> 00:29:03,519 It was not the sharp white beam of a lighthouse, 262 00:29:05,279 --> 00:29:11,039 nor the orange flicker of another ship. This glow was softer. 263 00:29:13,119 --> 00:29:18,039 It shimmered gently, like lantern light filtered through fog and 264 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:26,079 old memories. Arthur leaned forward. Well now, he said, quietly, 265 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:35,519 that is new. The patient tide drifted closer, the glow 266 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:40,279 grew larger and warmer, until the dark outline of land 267 00:29:40,799 --> 00:29:49,359 slowly emerged from the mist. An island. Arthur frowned thoughtfully. 268 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,920 He had sailed these waters many times and knew the 269 00:29:55,039 --> 00:30:00,359 charts almost by heart, Yet he did not remember any 270 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:04,119 island sitting here. In the middle of the quiet sea. 271 00:30:06,079 --> 00:30:11,519 The island was small. Soft hills rose from the shoreline 272 00:30:12,039 --> 00:30:18,640 like folded blankets. Strange lanterns hung from low trees, their 273 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:24,599 golden lights swaying gently in the night breeze. The entire 274 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:28,720 island seemed to glow the way a room glows when 275 00:30:28,799 --> 00:30:36,079 someone has fallen asleep beside a fire. Arthur scratched his beard. 276 00:30:37,119 --> 00:30:40,119 I suppose I could take a closer look, he said 277 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:45,440 to the ocean. The ocean continued, being very calm about 278 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:51,759 the whole situation. The patient tide drifted toward the shore, 279 00:30:52,279 --> 00:30:56,839 as if it had already decided this was an excellent idea. 280 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:03,640 Soon the ship bumped softly against small wooden dock. Arthur 281 00:31:03,759 --> 00:31:10,440 stepped down carefully. The dock creaked politely beneath his boots. 282 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:15,839 Warm light from the hanging lanterns spilled across the sand 283 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,279 and drifted out over the water like slow moving honey. 284 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:27,119 Arthur walked a few steps along the shore. The sand 285 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:31,480 felt strangely soft, as if it had once been clouds 286 00:31:32,079 --> 00:31:35,759 and had only recently decided to try being sand instead. 287 00:31:37,759 --> 00:31:41,839 Beyond the beach stood a small collection of cottages built 288 00:31:41,839 --> 00:31:47,960 from pale wood and smooth stone. Their windows glowed warmly. 289 00:31:49,599 --> 00:31:55,559 Thin trails of smoke curled lazily from their chimneys. Yet 290 00:31:55,599 --> 00:32:03,519 the island seemed very quiet, not empty exactly, just peaceful, 291 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:08,359 in the way a house becomes peaceful when everyone inside 292 00:32:08,559 --> 00:32:14,960 has fallen asleep. Arthur wandered slowly along a narrow path. 293 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:20,680 The lanterns hanging from the trees gave off a gentle, 294 00:32:20,839 --> 00:32:27,359 humming sound, almost like someone breathing very slowly. As he 295 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:31,079 reached the center of the island, he noticed a small 296 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:36,920 wooden sign beside the path. The letters had been carved 297 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:43,240 with careful, patient hands. Arthur leaned closer to read it. 298 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:53,279 Welcome to the Island of Borrowed Dreams. Arthur blinked. Well, 299 00:32:53,319 --> 00:32:58,880 that sounds promising, he murmured. Just then a voice spoke 300 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:04,759 behind him, You look like someone who could use one. 301 00:33:05,799 --> 00:33:13,119 Arthur turned slowly. Standing beside a crooked little cottage was 302 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:17,279 an elderly woman wrapped in a long sea green coat. 303 00:33:19,039 --> 00:33:23,240 Her silver hair drifted softly in the breeze, and her 304 00:33:23,279 --> 00:33:27,680 eyes held the quiet sparkle of someone who had seen 305 00:33:27,839 --> 00:33:34,319 many interesting nights. She carried a lantern shaped like a 306 00:33:34,359 --> 00:33:41,960 sleeping moon. Arthur removed his hat politely. Good evening, he 307 00:33:42,079 --> 00:33:50,880 said Arthur Bellamy. The woman nodded warmly. Keep her Eliza, 308 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:58,839 she replied, you arrived at a good hour. Arthur glanced 309 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:06,680 around the peaceful island. I must admit, he said, I 310 00:34:06,759 --> 00:34:11,679 did not expect to find an island here. That is 311 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:18,119 quite normal, said Eliza. Most people don't find it until 312 00:34:18,159 --> 00:34:25,960 they need it. Arthur considered this. That sounds mysterious, he said. 313 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:34,119 It is also quite practical, she replied. Arthur smiled faintly. 314 00:34:36,119 --> 00:34:42,320 I haven't slept properly in weeks, he admitted. Eliza lifted 315 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:50,599 her lantern slightly. It's warm light flickered like a gentle heartbeat. Yes, 316 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:56,800 she said softly. I could tell the moment you stepped 317 00:34:56,840 --> 00:35:06,000 on to the dock. Arthur looked surprised. You could, of course, 318 00:35:06,599 --> 00:35:14,480 said Eliza. The island notices things like that. She gestured 319 00:35:14,519 --> 00:35:20,920 toward the glowing cottages. Every dream you see here has 320 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:27,199 been borrowed, she explained. People arrive when their sleep has 321 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:32,880 wandered away from them. They borrow a dream for the night, 322 00:35:34,639 --> 00:35:37,719 and in the morning they usually remember how to sleep again. 323 00:35:39,599 --> 00:35:45,639 Arthur looked slowly across the lantern lit village. Somewhere in 324 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:50,320 the distance, he thought he heard the soft murmur of 325 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:57,119 people dreaming peacefully. That sounds almost too helpful, he said. 326 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:06,079 Eliza smileild knowingly. It works better than most remedies sailors try, 327 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:15,880 she said. Arthur laughed quietly. That may be true. Eliza 328 00:36:16,039 --> 00:36:23,920 turned and began walking down the path. Come along, she said, gently, 329 00:36:25,679 --> 00:36:30,920 We keep the dreams in the lighthouse. Arthur followed her 330 00:36:31,079 --> 00:36:36,840 through the softly glowing lantern trees. Ahead, at the far 331 00:36:37,039 --> 00:36:41,679 end of the island, a tall, round lighthouse stood watching 332 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:46,880 the sea. But instead of shining a bright guiding beam 333 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:52,760 across the water, the lighthouse windows glowed with hundreds of slow, 334 00:36:52,960 --> 00:37:00,719 drifting lights. They moved gently inside the tower, like fireflies 335 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:08,880 made of moonlight. Arthur stopped in amazement. What are those, 336 00:37:09,639 --> 00:37:17,800 he whispered. Eliza lifted her lantern toward the tower. Dreams, 337 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:24,360 she said, softly, borrowed ones, waiting for sailors who had 338 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:30,199 forgotten how to rest. Arthur stared at the glowing tower 339 00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:36,280 for the first time, and many nights he felt the 340 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:40,480 quiet beginning of sleep gently knocking at the door of 341 00:37:40,519 --> 00:37:47,679 his mind, and somewhere high inside the lighthouse, one particular 342 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:51,599 dream flickered a little brighter, as though it had been 343 00:37:51,679 --> 00:37:56,320 waiting patiently for a sailor named Arthur Bellamy to arrive. 344 00:37:58,679 --> 00:38:01,960 Arthur stood quietly for a moment at the base of 345 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:07,679 the lighthouse, while the soft, drifting lights moved behind the 346 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:15,400 tall round windows above him, like slow, thoughtful fireflies. The 347 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:19,880 tower hummed very faintly, not loudly enough to hear exactly, 348 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:24,199 but just enough that the air seemed full of patient breathing. 349 00:38:26,159 --> 00:38:30,960 Keeper Eliza opened the wooden lighthouse door with the calm 350 00:38:31,079 --> 00:38:36,559 familiarity of someone who had done so for many quiet years. 351 00:38:38,199 --> 00:38:44,280 Inside a spiral staircase curved upward through the tower walls 352 00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:50,800 like a path winding through a tall seashell. The glowing 353 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:55,400 lights drifted lazily through the open center of the staircase, 354 00:38:56,239 --> 00:39:02,719 rising and falling in gentle circles. Arthur removed his hat 355 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:09,079 and stepped inside. The air smelled faintly of salt, warm 356 00:39:09,199 --> 00:39:14,400 lantern oil, and something else that was harder to describe. 357 00:39:15,079 --> 00:39:21,000 It smelled like the moment just before sleep arrives. Eliza 358 00:39:21,079 --> 00:39:28,800 began climbing the steps slowly. Arthur followed behind her. As 359 00:39:28,840 --> 00:39:35,440 they climbed the drifting lights moved around them. Some floated 360 00:39:35,559 --> 00:39:42,360 past Arthur's shoulder, others hovered near the staircase railing, as 361 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:49,000 if curiously observing the new arrival. Arthur noticed that each 362 00:39:49,199 --> 00:39:57,079 light glowed slightly differently. Some shone pale blue like moonlit waves, 363 00:39:59,119 --> 00:40:04,280 others glimmer warm gold, like distant windows on a winter evening. 364 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:10,960 One flickered softly in shades of lavender and silver, like 365 00:40:11,079 --> 00:40:18,199 fog illuminated by starlight. Arthur paused half way up the stairs. 366 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:27,360 Each one is a dream, he said, quietly. Yes, said Eliza, 367 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:35,400 borrowed from travelers, sailors, wanderers, and the occasional insomniac baker. 368 00:40:37,079 --> 00:40:44,800 Arthur nodded thoughtfully. I imagine bakers have very complicated dreams, 369 00:40:45,199 --> 00:40:52,159 he said, mostly about bread that refuses to behave. Eliza replied. 370 00:40:53,880 --> 00:41:00,920 They continued climbing. The staircase eventually opened into a wide, 371 00:41:01,199 --> 00:41:06,800 circular room near the top of the lighthouse. Here the 372 00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:12,320 lights floated more freely, drifting through the air like slow 373 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:19,079 glowing lanterns carried by an invisible tide. Arthur stepped carefully 374 00:41:19,119 --> 00:41:26,360 into the room. The dreams moved gently around him. One 375 00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:30,719 drifted close enough that Arthur felt a faint warmth against 376 00:41:30,719 --> 00:41:38,079 his cheek. What happens now, he asked. Eliza set her 377 00:41:38,159 --> 00:41:43,679 lantern on a small wooden table. Now you choose one, 378 00:41:43,719 --> 00:41:50,480 she said. Arthur studied the floating lights. There were dozens 379 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:58,320 of them, perhaps hundreds. Each one pulsed softly, as if 380 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:03,400 breathing in its own quiet rhythm. How do I know 381 00:42:03,559 --> 00:42:11,960 which one to borrow? He asked. Eliza smiled, You usually don't, 382 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:18,960 She said. That part rarely works the way people expect. 383 00:42:20,199 --> 00:42:26,519 Arthur folded his arms thoughtfully. Just then, a soft golden 384 00:42:26,639 --> 00:42:32,519 dream floated slowly past his shoulder. Inside the glow, he 385 00:42:32,679 --> 00:42:35,880 thought he could see the faint shape of a quiet 386 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:43,039 beach beneath the sunset sky waves rolled gently onto the sand. 387 00:42:44,960 --> 00:42:51,159 A hammock swayed between two palm trees. Arthur watched it 388 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:58,880 drift by. That one looks pleasant, he murmured. Before he 389 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:02,880 could reach for it, the golden light drifted lazily away 390 00:43:03,079 --> 00:43:09,559 toward the far side of the room. Arthur shrugged. I 391 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:18,960 suppose dreams have preferences, he said. Eliza nodded calmly. Some do. 392 00:43:20,719 --> 00:43:27,079 Another dream drifted past. This one glowed a cool, deep 393 00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:34,480 blue inside it. Arthur glimpsed the slow, drifting shapes of 394 00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:41,599 enormous wails swimming through a star filled ocean. He leaned closer. 395 00:43:43,559 --> 00:43:48,760 That one seems peaceful, too, he said. But the blue 396 00:43:48,840 --> 00:43:53,760 dream floated upward out of reach, like a curious bubble, 397 00:43:53,960 --> 00:44:02,320 rising toward the ceiling. Arthur scratched his beard thoughtfully. I'm 398 00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:07,840 beginning to suspect they are avoiding me, he said. That 399 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:16,760 happens sometimes, said Eliza, They're simply deciding. Arthur looked around 400 00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:22,960 the room again. The dreams circled slowly through the lighthouse, 401 00:44:23,920 --> 00:44:29,880 like quiet thoughts moving through a sleepy mind. Then one 402 00:44:30,039 --> 00:44:34,480 light near the center of the room flickered slightly brighter. 403 00:44:36,360 --> 00:44:41,239 It was smaller than the others, a soft silver glow 404 00:44:41,559 --> 00:44:47,360 with hints of pale green drifting through it like morning mist. 405 00:44:48,559 --> 00:44:56,760 The little dream floated toward Arthur, slowly, not quickly, not dramatically, 406 00:44:58,679 --> 00:45:05,480 just calmly, rifting closer until it hovered in front of him. 407 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:12,400 Arthur leaned forward. Inside the light, he could see something unexpected, 408 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:19,679 a small wooden boat rocking gently on calm water beneath 409 00:45:19,679 --> 00:45:26,639 a sky full of slow, steady stars. The boat looked familiar, 410 00:45:28,639 --> 00:45:37,760 very familiar. Arthur tilted his head slightly. That looks like 411 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:44,320 the patient tide, he said softly. Eliza glanced at the 412 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:51,960 dream and smiled. Ah. She said that one has been 413 00:45:52,000 --> 00:46:00,159 waiting here for quite a while. Arthur looked surprised waiting, 414 00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:08,159 he asked, Yes, said Eliza, some dreams belong to people 415 00:46:08,280 --> 00:46:15,400 who haven't arrived yet. Arthur watched the small glowing light carefully. 416 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:22,400 Inside the dream, the little boat drifted peacefully across silver water. 417 00:46:24,519 --> 00:46:33,199 Lanterns swayed gently, The sky was calm, the sea breathed slowly. 418 00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:40,440 Arthur suddenly felt a deep quiet settling over him, like 419 00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:48,400 a warm blanket. That one feels right, he murmured. The 420 00:46:48,519 --> 00:46:55,199 dream flickered once, as if nodding politely. Arthur reached out 421 00:46:56,880 --> 00:47:01,039 the moment his fingers touched the silver glow. The dream 422 00:47:01,159 --> 00:47:07,639 dissolved softly into the air, like mist touched by sunlight. 423 00:47:08,519 --> 00:47:17,559 The lighthouse room grew very quiet. Arthur blinked once, then twice. 424 00:47:18,760 --> 00:47:24,039 A slow, comfortable sleepiness rolled through him, like a calm 425 00:47:24,199 --> 00:47:25,920 tide returning to shore. 426 00:47:27,519 --> 00:47:27,920 Speaker 1: Oh. 427 00:47:28,639 --> 00:47:38,320 Speaker 2: Arthur said softly, that works quickly. Eliza chuckled quietly. They 428 00:47:38,559 --> 00:47:46,760 usually do, she said. Arthur's eyelids began growing heavy. The 429 00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:54,480 warm lantern light, the drifting dreams, the soft hum of 430 00:47:54,519 --> 00:48:00,039 the lighthouse, all of it wrapped around him like the 431 00:48:00,119 --> 00:48:09,960 gentlest lullaby. Eliza lifted her lantern again. Come along, she said, softly, 432 00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:18,039 there's a small room downstairs where travelers rest. Arthur nodded 433 00:48:18,079 --> 00:48:24,599 sleepily and followed her down the spiral staircase. The drifting 434 00:48:24,719 --> 00:48:30,599 dreams above continued their slow, peaceful dance inside the lighthouse. 435 00:48:32,599 --> 00:48:37,199 Soon Arthur lay in a small wooden bed beside a 436 00:48:37,280 --> 00:48:44,440 round window overlooking the calm ocean. The silver dream had 437 00:48:44,440 --> 00:48:49,400 settled gently in his mind. He could already feel the 438 00:48:49,480 --> 00:48:55,719 quiet boat drifting across calm water beneath patient stars. For 439 00:48:55,800 --> 00:49:00,400 the first time in many long nights, Arthur Bellamy closed 440 00:49:00,440 --> 00:49:04,320 his eyes and allowed the tide of sleep to carry 441 00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:09,920 him away and far above in the lighthouse tower, the 442 00:49:10,039 --> 00:49:15,559 remaining dreams floated quietly onward, waiting patiently for the next 443 00:49:15,719 --> 00:49:20,960 weary traveler, who might someday wander ashore in need of 444 00:49:21,000 --> 00:49:51,800 a borrowed night of rest. The island of borrowed dreams, 445 00:49:54,079 --> 00:49:57,400 far out on a quiet stretch of ocean, where the 446 00:49:57,480 --> 00:50:03,159 waves preferred whispering to roar there sailed a sailor named 447 00:50:03,360 --> 00:50:10,159 Arthur Bellamy, who had developed a very unusual problem. Arthur 448 00:50:10,280 --> 00:50:14,559 could not remember the last time he had properly slept. 449 00:50:15,880 --> 00:50:21,639 This was not for lack of trying. He had tried hammocks, blankets, 450 00:50:22,119 --> 00:50:27,880 warm tea, counting stars, counting waves, and once in a 451 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:36,519 moment of desperation, counting extremely slow seagulls. But sleep always 452 00:50:36,639 --> 00:50:42,079 hovered nearby, like a polite guest who had somehow misplaced 453 00:50:42,119 --> 00:50:48,400 the door. Arthur's ship, a modest blue vessel called the 454 00:50:48,440 --> 00:50:53,920 Patient Tide, drifted slowly across the dark water, beneath a 455 00:50:54,079 --> 00:51:00,000 sky so wide and deep that even experienced sailors sometimes 456 00:51:00,119 --> 00:51:05,400 felt like very small punctuation marks in a very large sentence. 457 00:51:07,440 --> 00:51:12,960 The sea was calm that evening. It rose and fell 458 00:51:13,119 --> 00:51:17,960 in long, thoughtful swells that seemed less interested in traveling 459 00:51:18,039 --> 00:51:24,800 somewhere and more interested in remembering how to breathe. Arthur 460 00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:29,119 leaned against the railing and stared out at the horizon. 461 00:51:31,239 --> 00:51:36,519 A lantern swayed gently above him, its light rocking back 462 00:51:36,559 --> 00:51:43,199 and forth like a sleepy pendulum. Another evening, then, Arthur 463 00:51:43,280 --> 00:51:50,159 muttered to himself. The ocean did not reply. The ocean 464 00:51:50,320 --> 00:51:56,960 almost never replied. Still, sailors often spoke to it anyway, 465 00:51:57,599 --> 00:52:00,760 because the sea had a way of listening that made 466 00:52:00,760 --> 00:52:06,719 a person feel slightly less alone. Arthur rubbed his eyes 467 00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:12,039 and sighed. Being awake for too many nights in a 468 00:52:12,159 --> 00:52:16,199 row had made the world feel slightly out of focus. 469 00:52:18,159 --> 00:52:23,920 Clouds drifted slowly across the moon, like quiet ships passing 470 00:52:24,079 --> 00:52:30,320 through silver fog. Somewhere far away, a whale exhaled with 471 00:52:30,440 --> 00:52:36,760 a deep, patient breath. Arthur watched the ripples spread across 472 00:52:36,800 --> 00:52:43,840 the water. Then he noticed something strange. A faint glow 473 00:52:44,039 --> 00:52:48,679 had appeared on the horizon. It was not the sharp 474 00:52:48,800 --> 00:52:53,760 white beam of a lighthouse, nor the orange flicker of 475 00:52:53,800 --> 00:53:02,119 another ship. This glow was softer. It shimmered gently, like 476 00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:09,400 lantern light filtered through fog and old memories. Arthur leaned forward. 477 00:53:11,039 --> 00:53:18,280 Well now, he said, quietly, that is new. The patient 478 00:53:18,440 --> 00:53:25,400 tide drifted closer, the glow grew larger and warmer, until 479 00:53:25,440 --> 00:53:31,280 the dark outline of land slowly emerged from the mist. 480 00:53:31,880 --> 00:53:39,639 An island. Arthur frowned thoughtfully. He had sailed these waters 481 00:53:39,719 --> 00:53:45,880 many times and knew the charts almost by heart, Yet 482 00:53:45,920 --> 00:53:49,519 he did not remember any island sitting here in the 483 00:53:49,559 --> 00:53:56,280 middle of the quiet sea. The island was small. Soft 484 00:53:56,360 --> 00:54:03,320 hills rose from the shoreline like folded blanks. Strange lanterns 485 00:54:03,440 --> 00:54:07,840 hung from low trees, their golden lights swaying gently in 486 00:54:07,880 --> 00:54:13,800 the night breeze. The entire island seemed to glow the 487 00:54:13,840 --> 00:54:18,119 way a room glows when someone has fallen asleep beside 488 00:54:18,159 --> 00:54:25,039 a fire. Arthur scratched his beard. I suppose I could 489 00:54:25,039 --> 00:54:29,599 take a closer look, he said to the ocean. The 490 00:54:29,639 --> 00:54:35,880 ocean continued, being very calm about the whole situation. The 491 00:54:35,920 --> 00:54:39,800 patient tide drifted toward the shore, as if it had 492 00:54:39,840 --> 00:54:45,360 already decided this was an excellent idea. Soon the ship 493 00:54:45,480 --> 00:54:51,960 bumped softly against a small wooden dock. Arthur stepped down carefully. 494 00:54:53,719 --> 00:54:59,840 The dock creaked politely beneath his boots. Warm light from 495 00:54:59,840 --> 00:55:04,119 the the hanging lanterns spilled across the sand and drifted 496 00:55:04,159 --> 00:55:09,880 out over the water like slow moving honey. Arthur walked 497 00:55:09,920 --> 00:55:15,679 a few steps along the shore. The sand felt strangely soft, 498 00:55:16,440 --> 00:55:19,559 as if it had once been clouds and had only 499 00:55:19,679 --> 00:55:25,480 recently decided to try being sand instead. Beyond the beach 500 00:55:25,599 --> 00:55:29,800 stood a small collection of cottages built from pale wood 501 00:55:30,159 --> 00:55:37,519 and smooth stone. Their windows glowed warmly. Thin trails of 502 00:55:37,559 --> 00:55:43,559 smoke curled lazily from their chimneys. Yet the island seemed 503 00:55:43,760 --> 00:55:51,440 very quiet, not empty exactly, just peaceful, in the way 504 00:55:51,639 --> 00:55:57,840 a house becomes peaceful when everyone inside has fallen asleep. 505 00:55:58,519 --> 00:56:05,000 Arthur wandered slowly along a narrow path. The lanterns hanging 506 00:56:05,039 --> 00:56:09,920 from the trees gave off a gentle, humming sound, almost 507 00:56:09,960 --> 00:56:15,320 like someone breathing very slowly. As he reached the center 508 00:56:15,360 --> 00:56:19,760 of the island, he noticed a small wooden sign beside 509 00:56:19,800 --> 00:56:26,039 the path. The letters had been carved with careful, patient hands. 510 00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:33,400 Arthur leaned closer to read it. Welcome to the Island 511 00:56:33,480 --> 00:56:42,559 of Borrowed Dreams. Arthur blinked. Well, that sounds promising, he murmured. 512 00:56:44,199 --> 00:56:49,119 Just then a voice spoke behind him, You look like 513 00:56:49,320 --> 00:56:57,679 someone who could use one. Arthur turned slowly. Standing beside 514 00:56:57,760 --> 00:57:02,280 a crooked little cottage was an elderly woman wrapped in 515 00:57:02,320 --> 00:57:08,239 a long sea green coat. Her silver hair drifted softly 516 00:57:08,320 --> 00:57:12,559 in the breeze, and her eyes held the quiet sparkle 517 00:57:13,079 --> 00:57:19,000 of someone who had seen many interesting nights. She carried 518 00:57:19,159 --> 00:57:25,000 a lantern shaped like a sleeping moon. Arthur removed his 519 00:57:25,159 --> 00:57:33,760 hat politely. Good evening, he said, Arthur Bellamy. The woman 520 00:57:33,880 --> 00:57:42,199 nodded warmly. Keep her Eliza, she replied, you arrived at 521 00:57:42,199 --> 00:57:49,679 a good hour. Arthur glanced around the peaceful island. I 522 00:57:50,000 --> 00:57:55,119 must admit, he said, I did not expect to find 523 00:57:55,159 --> 00:58:03,239 an island here. That is quite normal, said Eliza. Most 524 00:58:03,239 --> 00:58:08,360 people don't find it until they need it. Arthur considered this. 525 00:58:10,360 --> 00:58:16,679 That sounds mysterious, he said. It is also quite practical, 526 00:58:16,960 --> 00:58:25,280 she replied. Arthur smiled faintly. I haven't slept properly in weeks, 527 00:58:25,760 --> 00:58:33,199 he admitted. Eliza lifted her lantern slightly. It's warm light 528 00:58:33,519 --> 00:58:41,519 flickered like a gentle heartbeat. Yes, she said softly. I 529 00:58:41,559 --> 00:58:44,480 could tell the moment you stepped on to the dock. 530 00:58:46,159 --> 00:58:56,480 Arthur looked surprised. You could, of course, said Eliza. The 531 00:58:56,559 --> 00:59:03,239 island notices things like that. She gestured toward the glowing cottages. 532 00:59:05,519 --> 00:59:10,079 Every dream you see here has been borrowed, she explained. 533 00:59:11,760 --> 00:59:17,360 People arrive when their sleep has wandered away from them. 534 00:59:17,639 --> 00:59:21,960 They borrow a dream for the night, and in the 535 00:59:22,039 --> 00:59:27,360 morning they usually remember how to sleep again. Arthur looked 536 00:59:27,440 --> 00:59:33,320 slowly across the lantern lit village. Somewhere in the distance, 537 00:59:33,800 --> 00:59:39,079 he thought he heard the soft murmur of people dreaming peacefully. 538 00:59:41,000 --> 00:59:48,000 That sounds almost too helpful, he said. Eliza smiled knowingly. 539 00:59:49,920 --> 00:59:53,880 It works better than most remedies sailors try, she said. 540 00:59:55,599 --> 01:00:04,360 Arthur laughed quietly. That maybe true. Eliza turned and began 541 01:00:04,519 --> 01:00:12,679 walking down the path. Come along, she said, gently, We 542 01:00:12,840 --> 01:00:18,199 keep the dreams in the lighthouse. Arthur followed her through 543 01:00:18,239 --> 01:00:24,039 the softly glowing lantern trees. Ahead, at the far end 544 01:00:24,119 --> 01:00:29,039 of the island, a tall, round lighthouse stood watching the sea. 545 01:00:30,760 --> 01:00:34,800 But instead of shining a bright guiding beam across the water, 546 01:00:35,639 --> 01:00:40,840 the lighthouse windows glowed with hundreds of slow, drifting lights. 547 01:00:42,679 --> 01:00:48,719 They moved gently inside the tower, like fireflies made of moonlight. 548 01:00:51,119 --> 01:00:59,599 Arthur stopped in amazement. What are those, he whispered. Eliza 549 01:00:59,679 --> 01:01:06,320 lifted her lantern toward the tower. Dreams, she said, softly, 550 01:01:08,199 --> 01:01:13,760 borrowed ones, waiting for sailors who had forgotten how to rest. 551 01:01:14,960 --> 01:01:19,719 Arthur stared at the glowing tower for the first time, 552 01:01:19,840 --> 01:01:25,280 and many nights he felt the quiet beginning of sleep 553 01:01:25,480 --> 01:01:30,679 gently knocking at the door of his mind, and somewhere 554 01:01:30,880 --> 01:01:36,840 high inside the lighthouse one particular dream flickered a little brighter, 555 01:01:37,599 --> 01:01:40,760 as though it had been waiting patiently for a sailor 556 01:01:41,199 --> 01:01:47,079 named Arthur Bellamy to arrive. Arthur stood quietly for a 557 01:01:47,159 --> 01:01:51,320 moment at the base of the lighthouse, while the soft, 558 01:01:51,559 --> 01:01:56,960 drifting lights moved behind the tall round windows above him, 559 01:01:57,639 --> 01:02:04,760 like slow, thoughtful firefly. The tower hummed very faintly, not 560 01:02:04,960 --> 01:02:08,599 loudly enough to hear exactly, but just enough that the 561 01:02:08,639 --> 01:02:15,119 air seemed full of patient breathing. Keeper Eliza opened the 562 01:02:15,159 --> 01:02:20,360 wooden lighthouse door with the calm familiarity of someone who 563 01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:27,159 had done so for many quiet years. Inside a spiral 564 01:02:27,280 --> 01:02:32,480 staircase curved upward through the tower walls like a path 565 01:02:32,719 --> 01:02:39,559 winding through a tall seashell. The glowing lights drifted lazily 566 01:02:40,000 --> 01:02:44,559 through the open center of the staircase, rising and falling 567 01:02:44,679 --> 01:02:52,920 in gentle circles. Arthur removed his hat and stepped inside. 568 01:02:52,960 --> 01:02:57,719 The air smelled faintly of salt, warm lantern oil, and 569 01:02:57,800 --> 01:03:02,960 something else that was harder to describe. It smelled like 570 01:03:03,039 --> 01:03:09,079 the moment just before sleep arrives. Eliza began climbing the 571 01:03:09,159 --> 01:03:17,199 steps slowly. Arthur followed behind her. As they climbed the 572 01:03:17,280 --> 01:03:23,880 drifting lights moved around them. Some floated past Arthur's shoulder, 573 01:03:25,639 --> 01:03:30,960 others hovered near the staircase railing, as if curiously observing 574 01:03:31,199 --> 01:03:38,559 the new arrival. Arthur noticed that each light glowed slightly differently. 575 01:03:40,519 --> 01:03:48,079 Some shone pale blue like moonlit waves. Others glimmered warm gold, 576 01:03:48,679 --> 01:03:54,760 like distant windows on a winter evening. One flickered softly 577 01:03:54,960 --> 01:03:59,599 in shades of lavender and silver, like fog illuminated by 578 01:03:59,639 --> 01:04:07,599 star light. Arthur paused half way up the stairs. Each 579 01:04:07,719 --> 01:04:15,119 one is a dream, he said, quietly. Yes, said Eliza, 580 01:04:16,280 --> 01:04:22,280 borrowed from travelers, sailors, wanderers, and the occasional insomniac baker. 581 01:04:24,000 --> 01:04:31,679 Arthur nodded thoughtfully. I imagine bakers have very complicated dreams, 582 01:04:32,119 --> 01:04:39,079 he said, mostly about bread that refuses to behave. Eliza replied. 583 01:04:40,760 --> 01:04:47,840 They continued climbing. The staircase eventually opened into a wide, 584 01:04:48,079 --> 01:04:53,679 circular room near the top of the lighthouse. Here the 585 01:04:53,800 --> 01:04:59,199 lights floated more freely, drifting through the air like slow 586 01:04:59,360 --> 01:05:06,000 glowing landns carried by an invisible tide. Arthur stepped carefully 587 01:05:06,039 --> 01:05:13,280 into the room. The dreams moved gently around him. One 588 01:05:13,360 --> 01:05:17,599 drifted close enough that Arthur felt a faint warmth against 589 01:05:17,639 --> 01:05:25,000 his cheek. What happens now, he asked. Eliza set her 590 01:05:25,079 --> 01:05:30,159 lantern on a small wooden table. Now you choose one, 591 01:05:30,639 --> 01:05:37,360 she said. Arthur studied the floating lights. There were dozens 592 01:05:37,400 --> 01:05:45,199 of them, perhaps hundreds. Each one pulsed softly, as if 593 01:05:45,280 --> 01:05:50,320 breathing in its own quiet rhythm. How do I know 594 01:05:50,480 --> 01:05:58,880 which one to borrow? He asked. Eliza smiled, You usually don't, 595 01:05:59,280 --> 01:06:05,719 She said. That part rarely works the way people expect. 596 01:06:07,119 --> 01:06:13,440 Arthur folded his arms thoughtfully. Just then, a soft golden 597 01:06:13,559 --> 01:06:19,440 dream floated slowly past his shoulder. Inside the glow, he 598 01:06:19,599 --> 01:06:22,800 thought he could see the faint shape of a quiet 599 01:06:22,840 --> 01:06:29,960 beach beneath the sunset sky waves rolled gently onto the sand. 600 01:06:31,880 --> 01:06:38,079 A hammock swayed between two palm trees. Arthur watched it 601 01:06:38,199 --> 01:06:45,800 drift by. That one looks pleasant, he murmured. Before he 602 01:06:45,840 --> 01:06:49,800 could reach for it, the golden light drifted lazily away 603 01:06:49,960 --> 01:06:56,480 toward the far side of the room. Arthur shrugged. I 604 01:06:56,760 --> 01:07:05,880 suppose dreams have preferences, he said. Eliza nodded calmly. Some do. 605 01:07:07,639 --> 01:07:13,960 Another dream drifted past. This one glowed a cool, deep 606 01:07:14,199 --> 01:07:21,360 blue inside it. Arthur glimpsed the slow, drifting shapes of 607 01:07:21,639 --> 01:07:28,519 enormous whales swimming through a star filled ocean. He leaned closer. 608 01:07:30,480 --> 01:07:35,639 That one seems peaceful, too, he said. But the blue 609 01:07:35,760 --> 01:07:40,679 dream floated upward out of reach, like a curious bubble, 610 01:07:40,880 --> 01:07:49,239 rising toward the ceiling. Arthur scratched his beard thoughtfully. I'm 611 01:07:49,239 --> 01:07:54,760 beginning to suspect they are avoiding me, he said. That 612 01:07:54,920 --> 01:08:03,679 happens sometimes, said Eliza, They're simply deciding. Arthur looked around 613 01:08:03,679 --> 01:08:09,880 the room again. The dreams circled slowly through the lighthouse, 614 01:08:10,840 --> 01:08:16,800 like quiet thoughts moving through a sleepy mind. Then one 615 01:08:16,960 --> 01:08:21,399 light near the center of the room flickered slightly brighter. 616 01:08:23,239 --> 01:08:28,119 It was smaller than the others, a soft silver glow 617 01:08:28,479 --> 01:08:34,239 with hints of pale green drifting through it like morning mist. 618 01:08:35,439 --> 01:08:43,680 The little dream floated toward Arthur, slowly, not quickly, not dramatically, 619 01:08:45,560 --> 01:08:52,399 just calmly, drifting closer until it hovered in front of him. 620 01:08:52,680 --> 01:08:59,319 Arthur leaned forward. Inside the light, he could see something unexpected, 621 01:09:01,199 --> 01:09:06,600 a small wooden boat rocking gently on calm water beneath 622 01:09:06,600 --> 01:09:13,560 a sky full of slow, steady stars. The boat looked familiar, 623 01:09:15,560 --> 01:09:24,680 very familiar. Arthur tilted his head slightly. That looks like 624 01:09:24,840 --> 01:09:31,199 the patient tide, he said softly. Eliza glanced at the 625 01:09:31,319 --> 01:09:38,880 dream and smiled. Ah. She said that one has been 626 01:09:38,920 --> 01:09:46,760 waiting here for quite a while. Arthur looked surprised waiting, 627 01:09:47,359 --> 01:09:55,079 he asked, Yes, said Eliza, some dreams belong to people 628 01:09:55,199 --> 01:10:00,920 who haven't arrived yet. Arthur watched the sma more glowing 629 01:10:01,039 --> 01:10:07,920 light carefully. Inside the dream, the little boat drifted peacefully 630 01:10:08,000 --> 01:10:17,800 across silver water. Lanterns swayed gently, The sky was calm, 631 01:10:18,119 --> 01:10:25,079 the sea breathed slowly. Arthur suddenly felt a deep quiet 632 01:10:25,520 --> 01:10:32,039 settling over him, like a warm blanket. That one feels right, 633 01:10:32,600 --> 01:10:39,199 he murmured. The dream flickered once, as if nodding politely. 634 01:10:40,960 --> 01:10:46,760 Arthur reached out the moment his fingers touched the silver glow, 635 01:10:47,439 --> 01:10:52,560 The dream dissolved softly into the air, like mist touched 636 01:10:52,640 --> 01:11:00,159 by sunlight. The lighthouse room grew very quiet. Arthur her 637 01:11:00,279 --> 01:11:09,720 blinked once, then twice. A slow, comfortable sleepiness rolled through him, 638 01:11:10,319 --> 01:11:13,760 like a calm tide returning to shore. 639 01:11:14,439 --> 01:11:14,800 Speaker 1: Oh. 640 01:11:15,520 --> 01:11:25,239 Speaker 2: Arthur said softly, that works quickly. Eliza chuckled quietly. They 641 01:11:25,479 --> 01:11:33,640 usually do, she said. Arthur's eyelids began growing heavy. The 642 01:11:33,720 --> 01:11:41,399 warm lantern light, the drifting dreams, the soft hum of 643 01:11:41,439 --> 01:11:46,800 the lighthouse, all of it wrapped around him like the 644 01:11:46,960 --> 01:11:56,840 gentlest lullaby. Eliza lifted her lantern again. Come along, she said, softly, 645 01:11:58,680 --> 01:12:04,960 there's a small room downstairs where travelers rest. Arthur nodded 646 01:12:05,000 --> 01:12:11,479 sleepily and followed her down the spiral staircase. The drifting 647 01:12:11,600 --> 01:12:17,520 dreams above continued their slow, peaceful dance inside the lighthouse. 648 01:12:19,520 --> 01:12:24,119 Soon Arthur lay in a small wooden bed beside a 649 01:12:24,199 --> 01:12:31,319 round window overlooking the calm ocean. The silver dream had 650 01:12:31,359 --> 01:12:36,279 settled gently in his mind. He could already feel the 651 01:12:36,399 --> 01:12:42,640 quiet boat drifting across calm water beneath patient stars. For 652 01:12:42,680 --> 01:12:47,319 the first time in many long nights, Arthur Bellamy closed 653 01:12:47,319 --> 01:12:51,239 his eyes and allowed the tide of sleep to carry 654 01:12:51,319 --> 01:12:56,840 him away and far above in the lighthouse tower, the 655 01:12:56,920 --> 01:13:02,479 remaining dreams floated quietly onward, waiting patiently for the next 656 01:13:02,600 --> 01:13:07,880 weary traveler, who might someday wander ashore in need of 657 01:13:07,920 --> 01:14:46,760 a borrowed night of rest.