Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis by Paula Berinstein

Author:Paula Berinstein [Berinstein, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: boarding schools, mystery detective, sherlock holmes, mystery adventure action fantasy
ISBN: 9781942361008
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

21

An Unexpected Party

After the kids had concluded that the crystals were alive, their experiments proceeded quickly. They discovered that the little cuties liked cool temperatures, which was very much not like babies. They also learned that they preferred a bit of humidity, which seemed consistent with where they had been found. Simon wondered what would happen if they put the crystals in a cave and suggested that the tunnels would be the ideal place. Amanda thought they should experiment with light sensitivity first to see if that kind of darkness would be harmful to them. They did, and learned that they were extremely sensitive to light. It seemed that they got stronger as the light intensity increased, as long as it wasn’t too strong.

None of this information was surprising, but something they observed while testing the crystals’ light sensitivity was: the light source they were using dimmed ever so slightly when the crystals were exposed to it. In addition, as they took in light they would turn deep, deep orange and not blink at all. After much testing and questioning the reliability of their instruments, they concluded that the crystals were absorbing light!

Simon put forth the theory that this deep apricot color must be a good thing—more of what they liked. Light was their food, and the more of it they “ate,” the healthier they were. If that was the case, then putting the crystals in a cave would harm them. Perhaps the environment in which they’d found them was making them ill.

The idea that whatever light they were eating would diminish as it was consumed gave them pause. Would it be possible for the crystals to absorb so much light that they would visibly dim a bulb? As it turned out, this was exactly what happened, but it wasn’t until Ivy connected the dots that they realized the implications. The crystals could be used as weapons to steal light, leaving the victim in the dark! This horrifying thought led to the subject of the Moriartys again, as so many things did, and they resolved even more strongly to guard the crystals carefully.

At one point during the testing, Ivy said that she was hearing an unpleasant noise coming from the crystals. Nigel had pricked up his ears and was looking distressed. Simon said that the crystals were purring, but when he gave them so much light that one of them turned red and blinked out, they realized that too much light could kill them.

That meant several things. First, a certain amount of light made the crystals happy, but above that, it hurt them. Second, their ability to store light was limited. They could hold so much and no more. Third, you had to get the amount of light just right, and what was the optimum amount?

What they had was a living species that could store light and potentially be used as an energy source, but could steal light and possibly be used as a weapon. In addition, the crystals were

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