I have managed to find my way to the Secret Library and have collected the 2 glass balls necessary to enter the room containing the 3rd glass ball - this one is red. Unfortunately, I cannot take it.
Have I done something wrong?
Left undone something which I should have done, or done something which I should not have done? So that there is no health in me?

petert

If I remember correctly, there are some rooms that have more than one ball. Please look around and check if there is one you can get.

Nope, that didn't work.
Trouble is, with the strange Save system, I can't go back and retrace a few steps.

petert

Hi petert,

You may already have checked both GB walkthroughs for this puzzle, but have you taken a look at UHS Hints? That might help:

UHS Hints

It's been too long since I played this game for me to remember this part in any detail, unfortunately.

Keep us posted.

Looked at UHS hints, as suggested, but it did not add to the sum total of my (inadequate) understanding.
Not to worry - I will continue to try and work through the problem, and then perhaps come cap in hand to GB asking for a saved game.

petert

This game is difficult to get saved game from.
The only way is be on a puzzle and get the game solve it.

It might be best to replay from a saved game that you can access OR go through even without accessing a saved game and try to retrace your steps.

You are right, MaG, it is highly unlikely that a saved game could be obtained, due to the way that the save system functions.

Thinking about it overnight, it seems that the fact that the glass ball that I cannot pick up is red, unlike the others, is possibly significant?
Perhaps the colour (English spelling!) is telling me it is unpickupable until I do something else?

petert

The red colouring was indeed significant.
The hint system - which is invaluable - told me I had to activate the rune in the Observatory classroom, and I had only fiddled about with the constellation-showing rune.
I found and activated the required right real rune, returned to the library, and found that the red ball was now but a pale imitation of its former self.
Off I go.

Glad you found what was holding you back.