The
Recovery of the
White
Crystal of Ishma
The stairs led Sophie, Ted, Jack and
Sam down to an underground tunnel. It was very dark and quiet and it looked
easily to get lost in.
“I don’t like the look of that
tunnel” said Ted “It’s dark and creepy”.
“Maybe so” said Sophie “but since the
crystal is in there, we will have to go through. But we need light to see where
we are going”
“I know what we can do for light”
said Sam; he took two stones out of his pockets “my father and I always carry
flint stones with us just in case”. He found a wooden torch and used his flint
stones to make a flame on the torch.
“You’re brilliant Sam” said Sophie
“Jack you carry it”.
With Jack carrying the torch, they
all set off into the tunnel. Ted didn’t like being in a dark tunnel, so he
stayed close to the light. They walked down the tunnel; further and further
away from the entrance. Then they had to stop.
In front of them was a stone wall,
blocking their way. “We need to move these rocks out the way” said Sophie
“there is no other path for us to take”. “Leave it to me” said Jack. He handed
the torch to Ted, picked up a thick plank of wood that lay by the wall and then
used it like a lever to get the heavy rocks out the way. Then finally the path
was clear of the rocks. “Wow you and your strength Jack” said Sam, giving Jack
back the torch. Jack held his head in embarrassment.
They continued down the tunnel again,
until they came to a bridge. It was a long rope bridge, with wooden planks,
leading across a gorge.
“My guess the white crystal is on the
other side of this bridge” said Sophie “but this bridge doesn’t look safe to
me”. Jack and Ted agreed with her.
“How about I cross first and see if
it’s safe” said Sam. “All right, but be careful Sam” said Sophie. Sam slowly
and carefully walked across the rope bridge. He got to the other side safely.
“It’s best that you go one at a time” he called to the others. One by one
Sophie, Ted and Jack walked across the bridge. Ted felt scared, but he too got
across the bridge safely. “When this is all over I never want to cross a rope
bridge again,” he grumbled “I’m always surprised about how much courage you have
Sam”. Sam raised his head in pride.
After walking some more they came to
a dead end. “The tunnel ends here, but I don’t see the white crystal” said
Sophie.
“Hey look at this wall” said Jack,
holding the torch up higher and pointing to the wall in front of them, “It’s a
wall painting”.
“You’re right Jack” said Ted,
observing it, “I think this maybe a clue to finding the white crystal, now let
me see. This whole painting is a picture of the war between Ishma and Irasha. I
can see the king of Ishma around that time. I wonder if touching it might
reveal something”. He touched the picture of the king of Ishma. Suddenly the
picture moved forward, then the whole wall painting moved to the right and
there behind the wall was the white crystal of Ishma standing on top of a stone
pillar.
“Wow Ted” said Jack “you and your
brain”. Ted beamed with pride.
Sophie walked over to the stone
pillar, picked up the white crystal, wrapped it in her handkerchief and placed
it in her apron pocket. “Come we must leave at once” she said. They slowly
walked over the rope bridge again and ran all the way back to the entrance of
the tunnel. Balthazar was there waiting for them. “You four did a great job” he
said “now I will take you back to Ishma myself”. He raised his staff and then
Sophie, Ted, Jack and Sam suddenly disappeared in a flash of light. “Good luck
all of you” Balthazar whispered.
