# Excerpt from the Wisp ...*  Amy was at the back of the checkout line when Bara reached the foyer. At the desk, Ms. Korey had her head down, busily signing out books. The streak of silver in her otherwise black hair swayed back and forth in the dim light. She paused and tucked it neatly behind one ear. Bara tried to put Amy off. “Ms. Korey looks busy. Let’s show it to her tomorrow.” “We can wait,” Amy returned. She maintained her focus on the checkout. Bara held back. She looked through the glass doors and to the square. An exiting patron in a black hood came through the revolving entrance doors and outside came in. A gust of wind, along with a few leaves, blew across the marble floor. Gone was the sunny fall day. The sky was now grey and it was raining. The door opened and closed again, more wind, more leaves. Looking back at Ms. Korey and then down at the diary, Bara felt an increased unwillingness to give it up. She actually thought about making a run for it, but it was too late. The last remaining patron was served. Amy took hold of her shoulder and gestured Bara toward the counter. Ms. Korey put out her hand. Bara placed the diary cover down in her open palm. Ms. Korey took the book automatically and scanned the spine. There was no telltale beep. She turned it over and looked at the cover. Her grey eyes widened and then narrowed. “Where did you find this?” she asked. Amy went to speak but Bara broke in. Her glance had stolen to the portrait of Nelson Sedgewick and inspiration hit. “Oops! That’s my Dad’s. Here, I meant to take out this.” She placed the Hideous Strength on the counter and then a little too eagerly took the diary from Ms. Korey’s loose grip. She slipped it into her bag. Amy made to protest. The weight of Bara’s foot landing on her own stopped her. Ms. Korey stared at her empty hand. Bara waited for her to challenge the lie. She didn’t. Instead she reached for the Hideous Strength. “Your father’s book is very special,” she said. “Take very good care of it. It would be a tragedy if it were lost.” Ms. Korey finished signing out the Hideous Strength and placed it on the counter. Bara put it in her bag alongside the diary. She mumbled a thank you and motioned to Amy that they should go. They almost reached the glass doors. “Oh, Bara,” Ms. Korey called. “What’s the book about?” There was a long pause as Bara thought up another lie. “Gemstones,” she finally said. “That makes sense with the stones on the cover. They must be Topaz?” Eager to just get away, Bara agreed, “Yeah, topaz.” Her hand was on the door. Ms. Korey stopped her with yet another question. “You’re sure they aren’t amber?” Bara said nothing. “But no,” Ms. Korey answered her own question. “That can’t be. Amber isn’t really a gemstone. It’s sap. The petrified blood of trees … so to speak.” “Blood …” Bara echoed ... *The Wisp is available in its entirety from Amazon in paperback or #kindle.  # ***