The Wishing Stone by Christopher Pike Page B

hand,” Sally said. “I’m only interested in the crystal.” Again she reached out to take it. “Don’t stop me, Adam.”
    None of them stopped her this time, and a second later she was holding the clear cube, rubbing it with her fingers, savoring it as if it were a diamond.
    â€œMaybe it’s a diamond,” Sally said. “Maybe I can sell it for ten million dollars.”
    â€œNaturally you would share the profits with us, your best friends,” Cindy said.
    Sally snorted. “You guys wanted to leave it here. And now that I’m holding it and you can see it’s safe, you want to make money from it.”
    â€œWe reserve judgment as to how safe it is,” Watch said.
    â€œI’m more concerned with who it belongs to,” Adam said. “I really wish you wouldn’t take it, Sally.”
    She remained stubborn. “If anyone reports it missing I’ll return it immediately.” She held it up to the sunlight and the crystal sparkled, sending out tiny shafts of light through all the trees. “Until then it is mine.”
    â€œLook!” Cindy cried. “The black hand closed!”
    Cindy was right. The hand that had once held the crystal was now entirely shut. Apparently the fingers had closed while they were talking.
    â€œIt is alive,” Cindy gasped. “Quick, Sally, put the crystal back.”
    Sally hesitated. “Just because it moved doesn’t mean it’s alive.”
    â€œI don’t see many of these rocks getting up and doing a dance,” Watch said.
    Adam spoke seriously. “It doesn’t belong to you, Sally. Taking it is stealing.”
    Sally considered. “All right, I’ll put it back.” She held it close to the black hand, thinking the hand would grab it. When that didn’t happen Sally tried to push it in between the bent fingers.But the hand was clenched tight. Finally she gave up. “It doesn’t want it.”
    â€œThen just leave it beside the hand,” Adam suggested. “It can reach over and grab the stone later, if it wants.”
    â€œNo,” Sally said. “I don’t think that’s fair. If the hand wants it, it should take it now.”
    â€œI doubt that a disembodied black hand understands our concept of fairness,” Watch said.
    â€œI’m not just going to leave it here,” Sally said.
    â€œThief,” Cindy muttered.
    â€œCoward!” Sally snapped at her.
    Adam held up his hands. “Hold on, let’s not have another fight. Maybe we can work out a compromise.”
    â€œThere’s no compromise,” Sally said. “I either take it or I don’t.”
    â€œYou could leave a note with your home address on it,” Cindy said. “That way if the black hand wants the stone back it can crawl to your house in the middle of the night, choke you to death, and take it home.”
    â€œA novel suggestion,” Watch said.
    â€œWe can argue about this all day,” Adam said, resigned to Sally’s ways. “If you’re going to take it, then take it, and let’s get out of here.”
    â€œBut please walk at least fifty feet behind us,” Cindy said.
    â€œI always walk a hundred feet in front of you.” Sally clasped the crystal to her chest. “I’m not afraid to go where no woman has gone before.”
    They hiked back toward the path. Along the way Sally stubbed her toe and let out a groan. “I wish I had a new pair of shoes,” she said, letting them pass her on the path. “These are getting so short and worn out—they hurt my feet.”
    Without warning, Sally let out a scream.
    They turned anxiously. Sally was so stunned she couldn’t speak. She could only point. It took them a moment to register what her scream was all about. Then it struck them and they let out their own individual sounds of amazement.
    There were brand-new shoes on Sally’s feet.

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