I know, said Cyril, it always was, if you remember.
Well, said the Psammead, then thats settled. Were to be treated as we deserve. I with respect, and all of you withbut I dont wish to be offensive. Do you want me to tell you how I got into that horrible den you bought me out of? Oh, Im not ungrateful! I havent forgotten it and I shant forget it.
Do tell us, said Anthea. I know youre awfully clever, but even with all your cleverness, I dont believe you can possibly know howhow respectfully we do respect you. Dont we?
The others all said yesand fidgeted in their chairs. Robert spoke the wishes of all when he said
I do wish youd go on. So it sat up on the green-covered table and went on.
When youd gone away, it said, I went to sand for a bit, and slept. I was tired out with all your silly wishes, and I felt as though I hadnt really been to sand for a year.
To sand? Jane repeated.
Where I sleep. You go to bed. I go to sand.
Jane yawned; the mention of bed made her feel sleepy.
All right, said the Psammead, in offended tones. Im sure I dont want to tell you a long tale. A man caught me, and I bit him. And he put me in a bag with a dead hare and a dead rabbit. And he took me to his house and put me out of the bag into a basket with holes that I could see through. And I bit him again. And then he brought me to this city, which I am told is called the Modern Babylonthough its not a bit like the old Babylonand he sold me to the man you bought me from, and then I bit them both. Now, whats your news?
Theres not quite so much biting in our story, said Cyril regretfully; in fact, there isnt any. Fathers gone to Manchuria, and Mother and The Lamb have gone to Madeira because Mother was ill, and dont I just wish that they were both safe home again.
Merely from habit, the Sand-fairy began to blow itself out, but it stopped short suddenly.
I forgot, it said; I cant give you any more wishes.
Nobut look here, said Cyril, couldnt we call in old Nurse and get her to say SHE wishes they were safe home. Im sure she does.
No go, said the Psammead. Its just the same as your wishing yourself if you get some one else to wish for you. It wont act.
But it did yesterdaywith the man in the shop, said Robert.
Ah yes, said the creature, but you didnt ASK him to wish, and you didnt know what would happen if he did. That cant be done again. Its played out.
Then you cant help us at all, said Jane; ohI did think you could do something; Ive been thinking about it ever since we saved your life yesterday. I thought youd be certain to be able to fetch back Father, even if you couldnt manage Mother.
And Jane began to cry.
Now DONT, said the Psammead hastily; you know how it always upsets me if you cry. I cant feel safe a moment. Look here; you must have some new kind of charm.
Thats easier said than done.
Not a bit of it, said the creature; theres one of the strongest charms in the world not a stones throw from where you bought me yesterday. The man that I bit sothe first one, I meanwent into a shop to ask how much something costI think he said it was a concertinaand while he was telling the man in the shop how much too much he wanted for it, I saw the charm in a sort of tray, with a lot of other things. If you can only buy THAT, you will be able to have your hearts desire.
The children looked at each other and then at the Psammead. Then Cyril coughed awkwardly and took sudden courage to say what everyone was thinking.
I do hope you wont be waxy, he said; but its like this: when you used to give us our wishes they almost always got us into some row or other, and we used to think you wouldnt have been pleased if they hadnt. Now, about this charmwe havent got over and above too much tin, and if we blue it all on this charm and it turns out to be not up to muchwellyou see what Im driving at, dont you?
I see that YOU dont see more than the length of your nose, and THATS not far, said the Psammead crossly. Look here, I HAD to give you the wishes, and of course they turned out badly, in a sort of way, because you hadnt the sense to wish for what was good for you. But this charms quite different. I havent GOT to do this for you, its just my own generous kindness that makes me tell you about it. So its bound to be all right. See?
Dont be cross, said Anthea, Please, PLEASE dont. You see, its all weve got; we shant have any more pocket-money till Daddy comes homeunless he sends us some in a letter. But we DO trust you. And I say all of you, she went on, dont you think its worth spending ALL the money, if theres even the chanciest chance of getting Father and Mother back safe NOW? Just think of it! Oh, do lets!
I dont care what you do, said the Psammead; Ill go back to sand again till youve made up your minds.
No, dont! said everybody; and Jane added, We are quite mind made-updont you see we are? Lets get our hats. Will you come with us?
Of course, said the Psammead; how else would you find the shop?
So everybody got its hat. The Psammead was put into a flat bass-bag that had come from Farringdon Market with two pounds of filleted plaice in it. Now it contained about three pounds and a quarter of solid Psammead, and the children took it in turns to carry it.
Its not half the weight of The Lamb, Robert said, and the girls sighed.
The Psammead poked a wary eye out of the top of the basket every now and then, and told the children which turnings to take.
How on earth do you know? asked Robert. I cant think how you do it.
And the Psammead said sharply, NoI dont suppose you can.
At last they came to THE shop. It had all sorts and kinds of things in the windowconcertinas, and silk handkerchiefs, china vases and tea-cups, blue Japanese jars, pipes, swords, pistols, lace collars, silver spoons tied up in half-dozens, and wedding-rings in a red lacquered basin. There were officers epaulets and doctors lancets. There were tea-caddies inlaid with red turtle-shell and brass curly-wurlies, plates of different kinds of money, and stacks of different kinds of plates. There was a beautiful picture of a little girl washing a dog, which Jane liked very much. And in the middle of the window there was a dirty silver tray full of mother-of-pearl card counters, old seals, paste buckles, snuff-boxes, and all sorts of little dingy odds and ends.
The Psammead put its head quite out of the fish-basket to look in the window, when Cyril said
Theres a tray there with rubbish in it.
And then its long snails eyes saw something that made them stretch out so much that they were as long and thin as new slate-pencils. Its fur bristled thickly, and its voice was quite hoarse with excitement as it whispered
Thats it! Thats it! There, under that blue and yellow buckle, you can see a bit sticking out. Its red. Do you see?
Is it that thing something like a horse-shoe? asked Cyril. And red, like the common sealing-wax you do up parcels with? Yes, thats it, said the Psammead. Now, you do just as you did before. Ask the price of other things. That blue buckle would do. Then the man will get the tray out of the window. I think youd better be the one, it said to Anthea. Well wait out here.
So the others flattened their noses against the shop window, and presently a large, dirty, short-fingered hand with a very big diamond ring came stretching through the green half-curtains at the back of the shop window and took away the tray.
They could not see what was happening in the interview between Anthea and the Diamond Ring, and it seemed to them that she had had timeif she had had moneyto buy everything in the shop before the moment came when she stood before them, her face wreathed in grins, as Cyril said later, and in her hand the charm.
It was something like this: [Drawing omitted.] and it was made of a red, smooth, softly shiny stone.
Ive got it, Anthea whispered, just opening her hand to give the others a glimpse of it. Do lets get home. We cant stand here like stuck-pigs looking at it in the street.
So home they went. The parlour in Fitzroy Street was a very flat background to magic happenings. Down in the country among the flowers and green fields anything had seemedand indeed had beenpossible. But it was hard to believe that anything really wonderful could happen so near the Tottenham Court Road. But the Psammead was thereand it in itself was wonderful. And it could talkand it had shown them where a charm could be bought that would make the owner of it perfectly happy. So the four children hurried home, taking very long steps, with their chins stuck out, and their mouths shut very tight indeed. They went so fast that the Psammead was quite shaken about in its fish-bag, but it did not say anythingperhaps for fear of attracting public notice.
They got home at last, very hot indeed, and set the Psammead on the green tablecloth.
Now then! said Cyril.
But the Psammead had to have a plate of sand fetched for it, for it was quite faint. When it had refreshed itself a little it said
Now then! Let me see the charm, and Anthea laid it on the green table-cover. The Psammead shot out his long eyes to look at it, then it turned them reproachfully on Anthea and said
But theres only half of it here!
This was indeed a blow.
It was all there was, said Anthea, with timid firmness. She knew it was not her fault. There should be another piece, said the Psammead, and a sort of pin to fasten the two together.
Isnt half any good?Wont it work without the other bit?It cost seven-and-six.Oh, bother, bother, bother!Dont be silly little idiots! said everyone and the Psammead altogether.
Then there was a wretched silence. Cyril broke it
What shall we do?
Go back to the shop and see if they havent got the other half, said the Psammead. Ill go to sand till you come back. Cheer up! Even the bit youve got is SOME good, but itll be no end of a bother if you cant find the other.
So Cyril went to the shop. And the Psammead to sand. And the other three went to dinner, which was now ready. And old Nurse was very cross that Cyril was not ready too.
The three were watching at the windows when Cyril returned, and even before he was near enough for them to see his face there was something about the slouch of his shoulders and set of his knickerbockers and the way he dragged his boots along that showed but too plainly that his errand had been in vain.
Well? they all said, hoping against hope on the front-door step.
No go, Cyril answered; the man said the thing was perfect. He said it was a Roman ladys locket, and people shouldnt buy curios if they didnt know anything about arkysomething or other, and that he never went back on a bargain, because it wasnt business, and he expected his customers to act the same. He was simply nastythats what he was, and I want my dinner.
It was plain that Cyril was not pleased.
The unlikeliness of anything really interesting happening in that parlour lay like a weight of lead on everyones spirits. Cyril had his dinner, and just as he was swallowing the last mouthful of apple-pudding there was a scratch at the door. Anthea opened it and in walked the Psammead.
Well, it said, when it had heard the news, things might be worse. Only you wont be surprised if you have a few adventures before you get the other half. You want to get it, of course.
Rather, was the general reply. And we dont mind adventures.
No, said the Psammead, I seem to remember that about you. Well, sit down and listen with all your ears. Eight, are there? RightI am glad you know arithmetic. Now pay attention, because I dont intend to tell you everything twice over.
As the children settled themselves on the floorit was far more comfortable than the chairs, as well as more polite to the Psammead, who was stroking its whiskers on the hearth-ruga sudden cold pain caught at Antheas heart. FatherMotherthe darling Lamball far away. Then a warm, comfortable feeling flowed through her. The Psammead was here, and at least half a charm, and there were to be adventures. (If you dont know what a cold pain is, I am glad for your sakes, and I hope you never may.)
Now, said the Psammead cheerily, you are not particularly nice, nor particularly clever, and youre not at all good-looking. Still, youve saved my lifeoh, when I think of that man and his pail of water!so Ill tell you all I know. At least, of course I cant do that, because I know far too much. But Ill tell you all I know about this red thing.
Do! Do! Do! Do! said everyone.
Well, then, said the Psammead. This thing is half of an Amulet that can do all sorts of things; it can make the corn grow, and the waters flow, and the trees bear fruit, and the little new beautiful babies come. (Not that babies ARE beautiful, of course, it broke off to say, but their mothers think they areand as long as you think a things true it IS true as far as youre concerned.)
Robert yawned.
The Psammead went on.
The complete Amulet can keep off all the things that make people unhappyjealousy, bad temper, pride, disagreeableness, greediness, selfishness, laziness. Evil spirits, people called them when the Amulet was made. Dont you think it would be nice to have it?
Very, said the children, quite without enthusiasm.
And it can give you strength and courage.
Thats better, said Cyril.
And virtue.
I suppose its nice to have that, said Jane, but not with much interest.
And it can give you your hearts desire.
Now youre talking, said Robert.
Of course I am, retorted the Psammead tartly, so theres no need for you to.
Hearts desire is good enough for me, said Cyril.
Yes, but, Anthea ventured, all thats what the WHOLE charm can do. Theres something that the half weve got can win off its own batisnt there? She appealed to the Psammead. It nodded.
Yes, it said; the half has the power to take you anywhere you like to look for the other half.
This seemed a brilliant prospect till Robert asked
Does it know where to look?
The Psammead shook its head and answered, I dont think its likely.
Do you?
No.
Then, said Robert, we might as well look for a needle in a bottle of hay. Yesit IS bottle, and not bundle, Father said so.
Not at all, said the Psammead briskly-, you think you know everything, but you are quite mistaken. The first thing is to get the thing to talk.
Can it? Jane questioned. Janes question did not mean that she thought it couldnt, for in spite of the parlour furniture the feeling of magic was growing deeper and thicker, and seemed to fill the room like a dream of a scented fog.