Reverend Crane tilted the girl's face up. He recognized her now as Mr. Gooddell's servant. Yes, he remembered her now sitting in the back pew, looking away if his gaze ever met hers. But she had been a girl of twelve or thirteen years. "I'm afraid I don't quite understand what happened to you. Tell me again very slowly, my child."
She explained again about the pool of water, the reflections of her younger selves, and the glow that overcame her when she touched the water. She flapped the loose folds of her dress for emphasis. "You see what it's done to me? I don't know what else to do, Reverend. I don't want to be a little girl again. Can't God change me back?"
"Of course He can, my child, if that is His will. However, I believe this has happened to you so that you might serve a greater purpose. He has sent you to me to show me how we can save our community from the savage influence."
"He did?"
"Yes, my child. You are the savior of our people. Through you I will create His kingdom here on earth. A kingdom that will serve His will until the end of time." He patted the girl's head. "And it is all because of you."
"Oh Reverend, that is so wonderful, but if He wanted me this way to show you, can't He change me back now? It's so strange to be little on the outside and yet inside I still feel like myself. I don't like it one bit. Can't you ask God to change me back now that He's done with me?"
"Of course I will. You and I will pray together later to ask Him. In the meantime, you must show me to this pool. There is much we have to do."
He took the girl's hand and let her lead him through the dark forest. Along the way, a rudimentary plan formed in his mind. This water, if it worked as the girl said, could be used as a powerful weapon to destroy the savages and anyone else who stood in the reverend's way.
She ushered him into a cave with heathen symbols all along the walls and a great pit sunk in the middle. She stayed back a few paces of the water while he went to the edge. "You best be careful, Reverend. That water is dangerous."
Reverend Crane looked down into the glowing water and just as the girl had said, he saw reflections of himself from a grown man to an infant. "Amazing," he said. He looked up then at the ceiling to thank God for showing him the way.