Free The Secret of the Desert Stone by Frank Peretti

you have come to learn of the Stone,” he answered through Bengati. “The Stone is a work of our god, but it is a great mystery. We do not know what our god intends by placing it there. We do not yet know its meaning. That is why we asked you.”
    Dr. Henderson got bold. “Well, if you don’t know the meaning of the Stone, then how can you be sure your god put it there?”
    The Coopers tensed a bit at that question, afraid it would cause offense, but the chief only nodded in approval and gave his answer.
    â€œThat is a fair question,” Bengati translated.
    The chief reached over and took his long, ornately carved staff from its place in the corner. He held it up for all to see, and ran his fingers over the carvings of animals, birds, and trees. Bengati relayed his words, “If you were to happen upon this staff in the middle of the desert, you would think another man left it there. You would not think it suddenly appeared for no reason. And why is that? Because anyone can see it is created. It is carved by a maker’s hand. So the Stone is the same way. It is no ordinary stone. It is created by the hand of a craftsman, the hand of our god.”
    Dr. Cooper could feel Lila’s smile before he even looked to see it. He smiled back and threw her a wink.
    The chief was continuing. “Our god does nothing without a reason, and soon we will know what the reason is. But this we do know: The Stone will bring us water for our crops, just as it has brought us you. This was all meant to be.”
    â€œWater for their crops?” Dr. Henderson wondered out loud.
    Dr. Cooper caught her eye, and her meaning.“Sounds geological, doesn’t it?”
    Dr. Henderson turned to the chief. “You say the Stone will bring you water? How?”
    The chief was delighted by the question. “The day is coming to an end. Tomorrow morning, you will see.”
    After dinner, the Coopers and Dr. Henderson were taken to a large home facing the village square. Like most homes in this village, it was a well-built, sod and grass, post and beam structure that rested on stone footings with a covered porch. The owner was an older woman with a round, jolly face.
    â€œThis is Jo-Jota,” said Bengati, “a widow of three years and mother of five who are now grown. She has room inside for strangers, and you can all stay here.”
    â€œWow,” said Dr. Henderson, “Jo-Jota’s boarding house.”
    â€œYou may stay here in our village while you try to learn the secret of the Stone,” the chief said as Bengati interpreted. Then he looked at Dr. Henderson. “And we will care for you until your leg has healed.”
    She shook the chief’s hand and replied, “Thank you, sir. We are indebted to you.”
    Dr. Cooper took Jo-Jota’s offered hand in greeting. “We deeply appreciate your hospitality.”
    â€œTomorrow,” said the chief, “we will see the Stone together, and you will learn how the Stone will bring us water.”
    When morning came to the Motosa village, there was a strange, overcast dimness about it, as if the sun had come up, but not really. When Lila stepped onto Jo-Jota’s porch to stretch and breathe the cool, morning air, she found her brother and father already observing how the Stone had affected the morning light.
    â€œWe’re still in the Stone’s shadow,” said Jay.
    â€œThe desert, the grasslands, the village,” Dr. Cooper observed, looking east, then west, “a lot of the forest, too, is all in the shadow. The sunlight won’t break over the top edge of the Stone until midmorning.”
    Jo-Jota brought them a breakfast of wheat kernels mixed with raisins, which reminded them of granola, and goat’s milk. They had just finished their meal when Chief Gotono, Bengati, and four warriors arrived, all smiles. The chief had appointed himself their official guide and had come to take them on a tour