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possibly the only combination in all Creation that works!”
    He reached the door and held it open for them. The workroom was full of fumes, which billowed out and ran along both the floor and ceiling of the hallway.
    Ramiro waved his free arm ahead of them, parting the fumes as they reached the threshold. Tomás squinted through haze to see an odd structure sitting in the middle of the floor. It appeared to be a wooden cabinet but a deep glass bowl took up most of its upper surface. Through the smoke rising from the bowl Tomás spied what appeared to be a rectangular block of metal, immersed in a bubbling, fuming orange solution.
    â€œWhat is happening here?” Tomás said.
    â€œThe Compendium ! It is dissolving!”
    Tomás prayed he wasn’t dreaming. The letters and designs had been eaten off the cover, and the whole book appeared to be melting.
    â€œBut how—?”
    â€œThrough trial and error, Prior! I kept adding different compounds and solutions to the aqua regia until… until this ! Isn’t it wonderful?”
    Yes. It was indeed wonderful.
    â€œPraise God. He has worked a miracle.” Tomás looked at Ramiro. “Don’t you agree?”
    Ramiro’s expression was troubled, then it cleared and he offered a weak smile. “Yes, Prior. A miracle.”
    Tomás wondered what was distressing him. Jealous of Adelard’s success? Or disappointed that he would not be going on the ocean voyage?
    They watched for nearly an hour, with Adelard periodically adding fresh solution, until the Compendium was reduced to a mass of semi-molten metal. Adelard used tongs to remove it from the solution and lay it on the floor.
    â€œAs you can see,” he said, his voice full of pride, “the Compendium of Srem is no more. The solution has fused it into a solid mass. It is not even recognizable as a book.”
    â€œI’ll dispose of the remains,” Ramiro said.
    Adelard stepped forward. “Not necessary, Brother Ramiro. I—”
    â€œYou’ve done quite enough, Brother Adelard,” Tomás said. “Go rest. You have earned it.”
    â€œBut Prior—”
    Tomás lifted his hand, halting discussion.
    He did not understand Adelard’s uneasy expression.

10
    Tomás awoke to soft knocking on his door. It reminded him of that night not too long ago when Adelard had shown up with that accursed tome.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œIt is Brother Ramiro, Prior. I must speak to you on an urgent matter.”
    â€œCome, then.”
    He remained supine in his bed as Ramiro entered with a candle. “Good Prior, I must show you something.”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œIt would be better to see with your own eyes.”
    Tomás looked up at him. “Tell me.”
    Ramiro took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “I wish to show you the Compendium .”
    â€œIt was not destroyed?” Tomás closed his eyes and groaned. “How is this possible? I thought you buried what was left of it.”
    â€œI regret to inform you that what you saw dissolving was not the Compendium , Prior. That was a sheaf of tin sheets.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œIn addition to gold and silver and platinum, aqua regia dissolves tin.”
    The meaning was suddenly all too clear.
    â€œYou are accusing Brother Adelard of deceiving us!”
    â€œYes, Prior. Much as it pains me to say it, I fear it is so.”
    â€œThis is a terribly serious charge.”
    Ramiro bowed his head. “That was why I wanted to show you.”
    â€œShow me what?”
    â€œWhere he has hidden the Compendium .”
    Tomás realized he would have to see for himself.
    â€œLight my candle and wait for me in the hall.”
    Ramiro pressed the flame of his candle against the cold wick of the one on the desk and left. Tomás struggled from his cot and slipped on his black robe. He grabbed his cane and joined Ramiro in the hallway, then followed him