That morning, Moko tells himself that it is time to leave Mei-Li’s land and he gets his raft ready. A man tells him that he must take the route of the great plains to continue his journey. Moko goes to the village to bid farewell to Mei-Li who has made rice cakes for him. One morning a few days after his departure he reaches the famous route where the horizon seems never-ending. As he walks a great gust of wind makes him fall and drop his precious stone. Seeing it on the ground, Moko thinks of Mei-Li and tells himself he must go on for those he has left behind. He goes on while clutching his stone in his hand. Moko’s heart lightens as he thinks that one day his travels will bring him back to those he loves.

Moko sees the ocean for the first time. He thinks it is a huge river or lake, but when he tastes the water, he notices that it is salty. He wonders what sorcerer would have played such a trick. Back in his village, he asks an old wise man to cast a spell on the village’s river so that the drinking water never becomes salty. The wise man reassures him that this is not necessary, the water will never be salty and Moko is grateful that someone has already thought of protecting the village’s river.

On this night, Moko is meditating, contemplating the horizon. Mei-Li comes to keep him company. All of a sudden, they hear a hollow and continuous sound coming from beyond the beach. Mei-Li is frightened but Moko is curious and wants to know what is making this sound. As they approach the hills, the sound gets louder and louder and Mei-Li is more and more frightened, so Moko decides to go around the dune on his own. As he does so, the sound changes and becomes more of a song. Moko returns and tells Mei-Li that it is the sand and the ground singing together. She decides to sing as well. Moko thinks to himself that the magical dune is urging him to go on with his travels and he knows that this is likely his last day in the village. With a heavy heart, Moko decides that at dawn he will need to pack his bags.

Le soir, Moko médite en regardant l’horizon, Meï-Li s’approche pour lui tenir compagnie. Tout d’un coup, un bruit sourd et continu derrière la plage, se fait entendre. Meï-Li a peur, mais Moko veut en savoir davantage. En s’approchant des collines, le bruit est de plus en plus fort et Meï-Li a de plus en plus peur. Moko décide donc de faire le tour de la dune seul. C’est alors que ce grondement s’atténue et se transforme en chant. Moko revient et explique à Meï-Li que c’est le sable et la terre qui chantent ensemble. Elle décide de chanter elle aussi. Moko se dit que la dune enchantée appelle au voyage et que c’est sans doute son dernier jour au village…

Moko et Alarick ont repris le chemin du village, leur bateau rempli de poissons. Ils accostent et commencent à marcher. Au détour de la montagne blanche, ils aperçoivent enfin le village. Moko se met à crier de joie, rompant le silence de la montagne. C’est alors qu’un nuage de neige apparaît, descendant le flanc à la vitesse d’un cheval. Alarick et Moko se réfugient sous un gros rocher. L’avalanche fait trembler sa colère. Alarick implore à la montagne de pardonner Moko… puis le calme revient. Moko promet de garder le silence et remercie son ami d’avoir su parler à la montagne.

Les étoiles scintillent et Moko pense à son village. Totémi lui propose de le suivre et découvrir où se cache le bout du monde. Ils partent au petit matin... En chemin, le désert apparaît et se dressent bientôt devant eux de curieuses montagnes... puis une vallée étroite et profonde, sillonnant à perte de vue. Un homme leur dit que seul les cœurs purs et courageux parviennent à en connaître le bout. Ils s’y engagent, pleins de confiance... Moko joue de la flûte et l’écho des montagnes le guide...

Ce livre est disponible en anglais : Les drôles de montagne

Le soir tombe et Moko, guidé par les traces de pas dans la neige, atteint un village qui semble inhabité... Mais il rencontre, à l’orée d’un bosquet, un jeune garçon du nom d’Alarick qui coupe du bois pour se chauffer. Celui-ci l’invite à venir chez lui. En chemin, un bruit étrange, comme le souffle d’un monstre, les fait sursauter. Moko veut aller voir, pensant que c’est à cause de cela que les habitants ne sortent pas. Alarick lui fait alors découvrir, derrière le village, un geyser et une mare d’eau chaude. Moko se dit qu’Alarick doit en savoir tant sur les secrets de cet étrange pays qu’il doit accepter de rester un temps… le bout du monde attendra encore un peu !

Alarick’s country is very strange. It has been many days now that night has not falen, and no one seems to be worried. Moko decides to head towards the horizon to see what is keeping the sun from setting and Alarick goes with him. Along the way, Moko tries to lull the sun to sleep with a lullaby from his country. The sun looks like it will set, but stops short and rises again. Perhaps the ocean is frozen at the horizon and is keeping the sun from setting. He decides to ask the fishermen and one of them responds that the world is filled with such mysteries and that it is more precious for him to learn the secrets of his friend than that of the sun.