Chapter 8

Returned to his room, Andy sat on the bed and repeated again already learnt phrase. He wanted to be absolutely sure he was quite ready for upcoming trial or, that was more probably, for unfruitful ending.

His plan, based on the book’s prescriptions, had a chance to come true only late at night, at exactly one o’clock, not a minute earlier or later. Thus, he still had a lot of free hours he could dedicate nothing except himself. And for lack of other things to do, he decided to learn first chapters of the books about Stone of Life despite he still considered them useless and created only to mislead those who needed help.

In fact, there were not so many chapters of that kind in the books as he thought at first. In every volume, dedicated to the Stone, in the beginning were considering seven or eight big parts narrating about the soul condition necessary for a person who decided to call the Stone of Truth as Stones of Life were named in some books. Soon Andy discovered that this emotional preparation included seven basic traits such as love, peace, kindness, humility, freedom of spirit and self-control. In the ending of each chapter, to his big amazement, were given a warning that not each person could achieve this condition, but only that one that knows the necessary measure of pain, doubts and loneliness and has at the same time the aspiration and love for life.

Andy was outraged by these words. «All this is intended to break my resolve and convince me that I will not be able to achieve anything, - he thought gloomily, throwing away the book. – How can I know what measure of pain I need? Maybe, the pain I’ve already passed through is too much? What nonsense! Only a meek-minded person can deserve Stone’s help! The main thing is to follow all the instructions and call him, and then it will not matter whether you have a meek spirit or not. Of course, if all of this is not a silly legend. And I am not just a fool who was played a dirty trick».

He did not read anymore; just lay on the bed till night watching long shadows slowly covered everything around with impenetrable blueness.

He was not pressed by the wait but he did not feel calm either. He suspected that was pursuing wind, empty illusion there could be no truth, but was not able to stop. He saw joyful Sarah’s face before his eyes, heard her kind cheerful laugh in his ears. «She is afraid of forgetting how I am looking». This thought was enough for him to wake again his resolution. «This is the only thing I can do, - he said to himself grimly, sat on the bed. – Fail will change nothing, but if I get the Stone, I will immediately make it to heal Sarah».

Very soon the Academy immersed into the silence, and its students – into the sleep, but Andy had no time to rest. Close to twelve he worried whether someone infringes his plan, and, besides, he did not know yet where he should fulfill his intention. Of course, he had some plan, but he was not sure it was the best choice. However, it was too late to hesitate. He was so excited that the time seemed jumped past him and when he came to his senses, wall clock, illumined with dim light of the chandelier, had already shown half past twelve.

In one hand Andy took the bundle with candles, in other – scones that he has stolen from the dinner, and after that he left the room. For a moment he was blinded by impenetrable dark of the corridor, but he concluded at once that thanks to that he will not be noticed by anyone for sure. Although it was quite unlikely he would meet someone at such an unscheduled hour.

Still Andy had to admit that to wander among the sleeping labyrinths of the Academy was not as pleasant as to have a walk at daytime along some fruit garden.

Dead silence was squeezing his head as in a vice and was almost pouring out from his ears. Although his eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, he did not feel himself quite confident and did not see anything three to five meters before him. That was very oppressive feeling, but he did not give in to fear and moved noiselessly towards the Central gallery, which he had noticed earlier in the morning, hoping that no one would disturb him there. The gallery matched the book’s instructions, but not fully. However, he did not want to search more suitable place, because it would take too much time. A desperate impatience seized Andy so completely that he forgot all prudence.

He saw a turn ahead which he wanted to see quite long ago, but when he passed it, he had almost screamed in horror. At the very edge of the wall, to his immense stunning, was standing someone. Andy’s heart had fallen straight into his heels.

- Don’t be frightened, my friend, - pronounced someone’s smiling voice, - it’s only me.