Why do the village people keep their distance from the black box

Free points cus im rlly bored (might get reported but ya kno idc oh n i made a backup for whenever i get banned its ilovetacobell24 *which is tru me n taco bell are in a long term relationship*)

[he] let his gaze wander to the swirling water of the stream racing madly beneath his feet. a piece of dancing driftwood caught his attention and his eyes followed it down the current. how slowly it appeared to move! what a sluggish stream! what contrasting words are used to describe the stream in this passage?

What is implied in the narrator's discussion of prayer? a) that usen is not concerned about trivial matters b) that prayer is ultimately useless when it comes to a person's well-being. c) that prayer is often used for evil purposes as well as good. d) that usen is the ultimate authority over the petty arguments of men.