Yet she had the strange feeling that the Abbot was still telling her to keep silent.
Why he should do so, she still had no idea.
Before she climbed into bed she pulled back the curtains over the window to gaze up at the stars.
“Help me! Help me!” she whispered.
She was not certain whether she was praying to the Abbot or to her mother.
She left the curtains undrawn as the moonlight was so very lovely and soothing as it illuminated the room.
Once in bed she looked up again at the stars.
As they shone like the Star of Bethlehem, she prayed for the troubles that seemed to be encroaching on her one by one.
*
Charisa had fallen asleep and was dreaming when she heard a voice say,
“Charisa!”
It was part of her dream and yet it came again.
“Charisa – wake up!”
She opened her eyes and s
