As casually as you please, Gideon took the pouch and without even opening it said, “Oh, the Ambrose Stone. Don’t tell me the Boatman of Pondicherry was here.” His voice was so matter-of-fact, as if this sort of thing happened everyday. I glanced at Marla hoping she would say something to sustain my enthusiasm, but she seemed even less amused by my news.
“That’s right, Gideon,” she said, “don’t you remember Boatman saying something about giving the Ambrose Stone to John? But that was quite a while back.”
“Ah, now I remember,” replied Gideon, turning to me,”of course, John, the Ambrose Stone. You’ve wanted to have it since you were a little boy. How could I have forgotten? You thought it would perform miracles for you. You know, John,” he said wistfully, “I think you might still believe the Ambrose Stone is a magic genie.”
“Well, isn’t it? Isn’t that why this stone is legendary?” I asked some what disappointed by their lack of appreciation.
“Oh John,” Marla replied,”don’t you know by now that the magic is not in the stone? It’s not in the sky,the water or the trees. The magic is in you.It’s been there all along. This stone or crystals,icons, crosses, beads,rabbits’foot and all other symbols are just that