“I do not agree!” Father Benedict’s voice was sharp. “The ball accurately foretells the future. Shall we test and prove its powers?”
“Let me try it!” pleaded Penny again.
Smiling a bit grimly, the monk extinguished an overhead light and touched a match to the wick of two tall white candles.
Placing the crystal ball in front of a black screen, he set the burning tapers at either side. Penny suddenly began to lose zest for the adventure.
But before she could think of a graceful way to announce that she had changed her mind, the monk took her firmly by the arm.
“Place your hands on either side of the crystal ball,” he directed. “[Gaze deep into the glass. Deep—deep.] And now my little one, what do you see?”
CHAPTER
6
CREAKING WOOD
As Penny peered down into the highly polished surface of the crystal clear glass, a multitude of dancing points of light drew and held her attention.
“Gaze deep—deeper,” intoned the monk. “Do you not see a picture forming?”
“The glass has become cloudy.”