Beth hurried down the beach away from the fire. She caught up to Paul.
“Can I help you gather brushwood?” she asked him.
Paul smiled. “That would be nice,” he said. “We can protect each other from vipers.”
Beth looked around. “Brushwood is small branches from trees and bushes, right?” she asked. She had camped last summer in the woods near her home. She thought they had used brushwood to build a fire then.
“You are right,” Paul said. “Here, let’s go this way.”
The two went into a thicket that was off the beach.
“Have you ever seen a viper?” Beth asked. She didn’t know how to tell a stick from a viper.
She kicked a branch on the ground.
The stick didn’t move.
Beth picked it up.
“Not the vipers on this island,” Paul said.
Beth kicked another stick. Then she bent down to pick it up.
“Wait!” Paul cried.
The stick moved. It quickly slid away.
Beth gasped. “That was a viper,” she said.
“It’s hard to spot them,” Paul said. “Jesus once called the teachers of the law and Pharisees vipers.” He smiled. “Their words were as dangerous as a viper’s venom. They stopped people from coming to God.”
Beth continued kicking each stick. But then she waited a moment. Only then did she pick it up.
Paul asked, “Does anything keep you from God?”
“Sometimes I forget about God,” Beth said. “I only think about me and what I want. But then I ask Jesus to forgive me. I know He does.” She smiled at Paul.
“You’re a believer!” Paul said. He beamed at her.
“I am,” she said. “So is Patrick.”
“That’s very good,” Paul said. He picked up another stick. His arms were nearly full. “The most important thing in life is to know Jesus. Nothing matters as much as that.”
“I know that’s true. But finding aloe also matters to me,” Beth said.
“There’s quite a bit of aloe here,” he said. “This island seems to have aloe everywhere.” He laughed.
Paul reached down and picked a plant. “Here you go,” he said. He handed it to her.
Beth smiled and said, “Thank you.” She put it in her empty pouch.
The two continued to pick up sticks.
“We have as much brushwood as we can carry,” Paul said.
Beth nodded.
The two started back toward the beach.
Beth couldn’t wait to show Patrick the aloe plant.
The crowd on the beach had grown.
“Brushwood coming through,” Paul said.
Beth saw Julius by the fire.
“Let them pass,” Julius said.
Red, yellow, and orange flames leaped into the air. They rose as high as Paul was tall.
Paul and Beth moved next to Julius.
“Would you like me to throw your bundle in with mine?” Paul asked.
“Yes,” Beth said. She handed her bundle to Paul.
Paul started to toss the brushwood into the flames.
A stick was wiggling out of the pile. “Viper!” Beth yelled.
Paul quickly tossed the sticks.
The snake slithered away from the heat. Its fangs caught Paul’s hand. The viper dangled in the air.
People around the fire gasped. They backed away from Paul.
“That viper is deadly,” a teen yelled.
Paul shook his hand. The viper fell into the fire.
“You know he’s a prisoner,” a man’s voice whispered.
“He must be a murderer,” another said. “The viper bite is the judgment of the gods.”
Oh no! Beth thought. Paul can’t die now!
The Courtyard
Patrick felt the rain stop. He was grateful and leaned toward the fire. The storm was ending, and Marcus was going to be fine. The islanders had helped him find his grandmother. She’d taken him back to her home.
The crowd started backing away from the fire. It was warmer without the rain. But it wasn’t that warm.
Patrick looked around. He noticed Beth and Paul on the other side of the bonfire.
A villager pointed to Paul. She said, “That man was bitten by a viper.”
“Oh no!” Patrick said. He hurried toward Paul and Beth. “What can I do to help?”
Paul smiled. “God said I would stand trial before Caesar,” he said. “I won’t die here today.”
“I’ll find Luke,” Patrick said. “He’ll know what to do.”
“No one can help him now,” an islander said. “He’ll swell up, and then he’ll fall down dead. It’s a pain-filled death.”
“Go get Luke if you must,” Paul said. He smiled as if amused.
Patrick ran through the crowd. “Luke,” he yelled. “Luke!”
“Over here,” Luke said. He was tying a cloth around someone’s leg.
Patrick said, “Paul’s been bitten by a viper. Come quickly!”
“No one can cure a viper bite,” a nearby person said. He waved Luke on. “Go say goodbye to your friend.”
Luke stuffed his supplies into his pouch and stood. “Where is he?” he asked.
“This way,” Patrick said. He took off running.
Luke followed.
They quickly reached Paul.
Everyone but Beth and Julius had moved away from Paul.
“Bring water!” Julius said. “Perhaps water will dilute the venom.”
But no one moved. The crowd looked on sadly as if Paul were already dead.
“The villagers say he only has minutes to live,” Julius said. Sadness clouded his features.
Paul said, “I won’t die today. The puncture wound hurts. But other than that, I’m well.”
Luke said, “I can help with the pain. Let me see.”
Paul let Luke take a look at his hand.
Patrick studied Paul. He looked weary and worn. But so did everyone else from the ship. Patrick believed Paul. He wouldn’t die today.
Luke poured honey on Paul’s wound.
Patrick wondered if honey would keep germs away. The crowd kept watching. But nothing happened.
Patrick heard a voice behind the crowd ask, “Where is your leader?”
The crowd opened.
A man dressed like a Roman messenger hurried forward.
“He’s over here,” Patrick said. He pointed to Julius. The centurion was still standing next to Paul and Luke.
“I am he,” Julius said. His voice was loud and commanding.
The messenger said, “The governor of the island invites you to his home. Everyone from the shipwreck may stay the night in his courtyard.”
Patrick smiled. Everyone would be taken care of now.
“I thank you on behalf of Rome and myself,” Julius said. The two men started speaking to each other.
Patrick looked at Beth. Their help was no longer needed.
Beth motioned for him to follow her.
They moved away from the group.
Beth pulled a plant out of her pouch. “It’s an aloe plant,” she said. “Maybe it’s time for us to go home.”
“I’m ready,” Patrick said. “Where’d you find the plant?”
“Paul found it for me,” she said. “See if it will turn Whit’s gadget green.”
Patrick took the gadget out of his pouch. He touched the wand to the plant.
The light didn’t turn green.
“Maybe you need the juice on the inside of it,” Beth said. She broke one of its long leaves in half. Goo dripped out of it.
Patrick touched the wand to it. The green light didn’t light up. It didn’t even flicker.
“The Imagination Station doesn’t need the aloe plant,” Beth said.
What liquid did it need? Patrick wondered.
The next morning, Beth saw Marcus in the governor’s courtyard. He held a small wooden box in his hands.
“I heard Paul was bitten by a viper, but he didn�
��t die,” he said. “I had to see it for myself. People are saying he’s a god. I’ve never met a god before.”
“Paul is not a god,” Beth said. “But he serves a powerful God. Paul’s God is the only true God!”
Patrick hurried over to them. “Hi, Marcus,” he said.
“Hi, Patrick,” Marcus said. “Paul’s God must be very strong.”
“He is,” Patrick said. “His son, Jesus, died to pay the price for our sins. Then Jesus rose from the dead. Those who believe what He did for them are saved from their sins. They are given eternal life.”
“He’s our God. He can be your God too,” Beth said. “All you have to do is believe on the name of Jesus.”
Paul and Luke walked over to them.
Paul said, “Good morning.”
Marcus smiled at him. “Good morning,” he said.
Aris joined them.
“I heard there’s a ship on the other side of the island,” Marcus said. “It’s wintering there. We might sail on it in the spring. Until then, I’ll be staying with my grandmother.”
“Good. Will you join us for a meal now?” Aris asked.
“I can’t. I have to bring the oil in this box to the governor,” Marcus said. “It’s important. My grandmother sent it to him.”
“Come back when you’re done,” Luke said. “I smell food cooking.”
“The women from the village are making flat cakes for you,” Marcus said. He waved and left them.
The smell made Beth’s stomach grumble.
Others started to sniff the air. No one was queasy now. They could finally eat and enjoy it.
People from the village started passing out the flat cakes.
“Thank you,” Beth said. She bit into one. It tasted like sweet pancakes.
Patrick ate one too. “Mmm!” he said.
Julius entered the courtyard near them. A man walked beside him. The man was almost bald. He wore a white toga that went to his knees.
Julius said, “That’s him.” He pointed to Paul.
Roman guards hurried to Paul’s side. They grabbed him.
What did Paul do? Beth wondered.
Bambinella
The Roman soldiers held Paul’s arms.
“What are you doing?” Beth asked.
Luke and Aris stepped closer to Paul.
“Leave him alone,” Patrick said. He reached out a hand toward the soldiers.
“Halt!” Julius said.
Everyone stopped.
“Treat Paul well,” Julius said. “We need his services.”
The Roman soldiers let go of Paul.
The man next to Julius looked upset. His forehead was creased with worry lines.
Beth moved toward Luke and Aris. “Who is that man?” she asked.
“His name is Publius,” Luke whispered. “He’s the governor. This is his home.”
“Publius’s father is dying,” Julius said to Paul. “Your God can heal him.”
Paul looked concerned.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Paul said. “I would be honored to pray for your father. But that doesn’t mean he will be healed.”
Beth saw a sad look cross Publius’s face.
“It’s up to God,” Paul said. “God may save your father. And He may not.”
Publius looked thoughtful.
“Of course,” Publius said. “I am a governor. People ask me for many things. Some I give. Others I do not. Your God is the one in power now. I will abide by His choice.”
“Good,” Paul said. “Show me to your father.”
Beth and Patrick followed Paul to a small room off the courtyard.
Marcus was there with his box.
“Publius,” he said. “I have brought oil from my grandmother to anoint your father.”
“Thank you,” Publius said. He took the box from Marcus. “But first Paul will pray for him.”
Everyone turned toward Paul.
Will there be another miracle? Beth wondered.
Patrick looked at Publius’s father. The man lay on a bed with beautiful carvings. His face was pale. He was groaning and writhing.
An older woman sat next to him. Tears fell down her cheeks.
Publius stood in the corner. He held Marcus’s box of oil. He looked sad.
Marcus stood near him.
Paul knelt before the bed. He put his hands on the man. He prayed for him silently.
Patrick wasn’t sure what to do.
But then Paul stopped praying.
“It is up to your God now,” Publius said.
The room grew quiet. They all waited to see what would happen.
Patrick watched Publius’s father.
Suddenly the sick man sat up. “Why are you all so sad?” he asked. He smiled.
Patrick couldn’t believe it. A sick man was healed!
The woman next to Publius’s father laughed.
Publius handed the box back to Marcus. “Thank your grandmother,” he said. “But we no longer have any need of your family’s special oils.” Then Publius hurried to his father and helped him stand up.
“Who is your God?” Publius asked Paul.
“He is the Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,” Paul said. “His Son’s name is Jesus.” Paul smiled.
Beth smiled too.
“We must know more about your God,” Publius said.
“I can tell you all about Him,” Paul said with a smile. “I have nowhere to go until spring.”
Marcus brought the box of oil to Patrick. “My grandmother makes this from Bambinella pears, apricots, lemons, and oranges. All these fruits grow on this island,” he said.
“The seed oil is a family recipe that only she knows. Please take it. I want to thank you for saving me,” Marcus said.
“You don’t have to thank me,” Patrick said.
“I know,” Marcus said. “But I want to.” Marcus took a vial out of the box. He handed the vial to Patrick.
“Thank you,” Patrick said.
“I’d better go now,” Marcus said. “I have to tell my grandmother what happened. Then I need to learn more about your powerful God.”
Beth waved goodbye to Marcus.
Patrick turned to Beth. “Could this be the liquid we need?” he asked.
They hurried out of the room and into the courtyard.
Patrick took Whit’s gadget out of his pouch. He opened the vial. Then he stuck the wand of his gadget into the liquid. The light on the box turned green.
Patrick heard the hum of the Imagination Station.
“There it is,” Beth said.
It appeared in front of them.
Beth jumped into the driver’s seat.
Patrick hopped into the passenger side.
A small key was in the lock next to an open compartment. Patrick put the vial with the seed oil into it. He turned the key in the lock.
A sliding panel covered the compartment. Then the panel opened. The container full of oil was no longer there. The oil was now inside the Imagination Station.
Patrick left the key in the lock. They had found two of the liquids the Imagination Station needed. Patrick couldn’t wait to tell Whit about this adventure.
“Let’s see if we can make it home this time,” Beth said. She hit the red button in the middle of the steering wheel. Nothing happened.
Then slowly the sunlight dimmed around them.
Has the Imagination Station finally broken? Patrick wondered. It felt like they were stuck in an empty tunnel.
Suddenly the Imagination Station took off at top speed. Lights flashed all around them. A long and slow whistle blew.
The flashing lights began to swirl. Patrick saw an image of Mr. Whittaker tinkering in his workshop.
“We’re almost home!” Patrick cried.
The image grew blurry. Colorful dots swirled around them.
“No!” Beth yelled.
Patrick smelled apricots, lemons, oranges, and Bambinella pears.
Then everything went bla
ck.
Secret Word Puzzle
God saved all 276 people on a shipwrecked boat. He saved Paul from a viper’s poison. And He healed Publius’s father.
Cross out all the letters X, B, and J in the puzzle. Follow the gray line. Write the remaining letters on the lines below the puzzle. That will reveal your eight-letter, secret word![1]
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.
Go to TheImaginationStation.com.
Find the cover of this book.
Click on “Secret Word.”
Type in the answer,
and you’ll receive a prize.
[1] If you can’t see the image, here’s how the puzzle looks: It’s a grid of capital letters. A gray line runs through the letters in the grid in a spiral pattern. Starting from the beginning of the line, the letters along its path are G, X, O, J, X, D, B, X, X, D, O, B, E, S, X, N, O, T, D, X, O, T, H, I, J, N, G, S, L, I, K, E, P, E, X, O, J, P, B, X, L, E, J, H, J, B, X, B, J, E, X, B, D, J, O, X, B, E, B, S, B, M, J, I, R, X, A, B, C, L, J, E, B, S, X, H, I, S, W, A, J, Y. Beneath the puzzle is a series of blanks for writing the letters. The blanks are grouped to form words. The first word has three blanks, the second word four blanks, the third word three blanks, the fourth word two blanks, the fifth word six blanks, the sixth word four blanks, the seventh word six blanks. Then there’s a period. The eighth word has two blanks, the ninth word four blanks. The tenth word has eight boxes instead of blanks. It’s the secret word. The eleventh word has three blanks, and the twelfth word three blanks.
About the Authors
AUTHOR CHRIS BRACK
loves to read all kinds of books, especially kids’ books. She, her husband, and her sons share their house with Copper, a basset hound, and Ollie, a huge tomcat.
AUTHOR SHEILA SEIFERT
is an award-winning coauthor of many books, such as Bible Kidventures: Stories of Danger and Courage. She likes to find good books for kids to read. Parents can find her bimonthly book flyer at http://simpleliterature.com/bookclub/.
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