The Missing Scripture
Island School , To , Jacy - 13
Asea of low rhythmic murmurs echoed inside the temple . Hundreds of bald heads dipped in sheer respect . One figure rose and closed his eyes . “ हम प�वत बाइबल के �लए आपक� अनुम�त , बुद क� मांग करते ह� ।” He spoke in a clear baritone . All of a sudden , a brilliant white light blinded them
momentarily before fading into a faint glow . The monks simultaneously glanced at the sacred bible hovering atop the embroidered rug . With a puff of smoke , it vanished into thin air . Chaos erupted .
“ Man , this class is taking forever .” Topher groaned inwardly . The squeaking of a marker scribbling on the
whiteboard brought the whole class to attention . “ √ π 985π . Does anyone want to try figure this out ?” Ms Pent smiled , in a hopeless endeavor to encourage her students . “ RIIIING !” “ Oh well , we ’ ll get back to this tomorrow . Don ’ t forget about the homework ! Class dismissed !” the teacher yelled over the rustling of paper being stuffed into bags and the metallic screech of chairs being pushed back . Restless with excitement , Topher hurried over to the door and filed out along the current of students . Today was the day Topher will be finally allowed to buy stuff himself . Today was the day he can officially go anywhere alone . Today , in fact , was his 13th birthday .
“ MUM ! I ’ M HOME !” Topher hollered as he flung his backpack onto the floor . “ Happy birthday sweetie !” His mum ’ s voice warbled from the kitchen . Topher grinned and practically bounded up the stairs to his room . Leaping up the last four steps , he reached his head out to turn the doorknob . Only , his outstretched fingers never did make contact with the cool metal . With a mighty “ BANG ” the door blasted open , whacking Topher in the forehead .
Agog , Topher stood paralyzed as he rubbed in bruised brow . Streams of staggeringly bright , white lights shot out from his room . When the beams subsided a little , he held his arm over his eyes and with what little courage he had , Topher ventured inside his bedroom . Heart pounding like crazy , he lifted a trembling foot into the room . All at once , the blinding beams evaporated as if a light switch had been flicked off . Breathing a sigh of relief , Topher glanced around to see if anything was damaged . In his peripheral vision , he caught sight of a silvery , soft pulsing light . Instead of his battered green Maths exercise book , a heavy , black tome lay on his desk . The silvery sheen of light seemed to be coming from it . Eyes widening in wonder , reached out a finger to touch it . The very moment his fingertip grazed the cover , thousands of lilting voices rang in his head . Shocked , he hastily retracted his hand and frowned . Where on earth did this mysterious book come from ?
Meanwhile , back in the monastery in Nolanda , everyone was in a frenzy . Robes swished about as clusters of monks swept through monastery , desperate to find the missing scripture . A battered neon green book with a title printed in a foreign language was inspected carefully by a wizened old monk . Their precious Book of hours had vanished into thin air . Only to be replaced by a useless , ugly green book . “ There must be a way .” A huddle of monks spoke in hushed tones , deciding what can be done to retrieve their sacred tome . “ It is in a foreign country .” A clear voice broke the incessant murmur . “ New York . I am sure . Let us go forth and retrieve our sacred scripture .”
Once again murmurs and furious whispers could be heard . “ Hush ! I am fully aware that this might be yet another failure , but it might be the best solution we have .” A monk rose up from his kneeling position and addressed the crowd . “ It is a sin to lose our sacred scripture . There is no time for discussion on the matter . Let us unite together and search for The Book of Hours .”
And so it was decided to organize a search mission .
“ Yes , I ’ m afraid so .” The monk replied , fingers nervously twining and untwining themselves as the headmistress ’ s brows furrowed . “ An emergency . Ok . Please follow me .” The headmistress was not sure what exactly was going on , but nevertheless the monk was persistent . They trailed down several corridors before coming to an abrupt halt at a classroom door . “ Topher ? Topher Williams ? Uh ... There ’ s a visitor who