The Story of the Amulet

en's time was very fully taken up by talking over all the wonderful things seen and done in the Past, where, by the power of the Amulet, th

d house; it had once been a fashionable one, and was a fine one still. The banister rails of the stairs were excellent for sliding down, and in the corn

big photograph book. But the show ended abruptly because Robert wanted to be the Venus of Milo, and for this purpose pulled at the sheet which served for drapery at the v

veryone was a good deal hurt, especially the saucer, which would never be the same aga

aid Cyril, holding his head

s thumb had caught in the banisters and b

ly. I'll get a wet rag. Bobs, go and hold your hand under the hot-water tap. It'

Robert disagreea

nd he had been brought to the state of mind where he was able relu

vity, Anthea hastened to lead

like going anywhere thro

romptly. 'I want to

-let alone Egypt.' It was indeed, hot, even on the second landing, wh

t get our fingers frost-bitten so that we could never

mmead and ask its advice. It will like

ing the door of the learned gentleman's room opened and the voice of the visitor who had been lun

ut thought-transference is just simply twaddle. You

Babylon,' said the

e're about it, so as to give me some tips for m

ce of the learned gentleman. '

ing down the stairs-a stout, prosperous, big m

the bandages on the head of Cyril and

was that Atlantic place you wanted him to

loud, you see,' sa

garden of the Hesperides. Great continent-disapp

' said Cyri

ere?' asked Anthea, made a

d think. So HE'S b

very kind to us. W

inside with knowledge about Egypt and Assyria and things that you can't hammer anything into it unless you keep hard at it all day long for d

d Jane remarked that he was a nice man, and

e them to play with,'

nes exchanged gla

T'S go to Atla

with us,' said Anthea; 'he'll think it's a dream, a

im to nice Egyp

said Cyri

, where he

don't know why,' he added, forestalling the question on Jane's lips, 'but somehow we have. Squ

's got to go some time; and he migh

chair, after the fatigue of listening to opinions (about Atlantis and many other things) with which he

said Anthea, 'to

himself; 'or perhaps it's only a game, like "How many miles to Babylon?".' So he

is only a mode of thought, you know, and you

ned gentleman, now quite c

He took it. She pulled him gently t

s,' said Cyril, and Jane

'it's an island. Outside

id the Psammead, kicking

ut on to a wooden floor, out of doors. The others followed. The Amulet grew smaller again, and there they all were, standing on the deck of a ship whos

e the group of newcomers from Fitzroy Street. Those wh

that rose beyond it. What they saw was the most beaut

ing with a veining bright as gold. The city was of marble, red and white. The greater buildings that seemed to be temples and palaces were roofed with what looked like gold and silver, but most of the roofs were of copper that glowed gold

rom the quay to a sort of terrace that seemed to run al

w a long breath. 'Wonderf

' said Anthea, with gentle politeness, 'that we never

'Would you mind? I should feel more at home in a dream like

cheek to be saying Jimmy to a grown-up man. 'Jimmy, DEAR,' she

notice other things. He came towards them, and he was dresse

asked rather fiercely. 'Do y

annoys you, but we're here by magic. We come from th

notice at first, but of course I hope you're a good omen. It's needed.

we want to see all your beautiful city, and your temples and things, and then we sh

aptain, fingering a

she added hastily, remembering the

ence made Jane pluck the Amul

his,' s

e relieved to notice, without any of that overwhelming inter

which is engraved on it, it is like our writing, b

said Anthea

. Will you land?' he added. 'An

obert, 'does your K

unbroken from Poseidon, the father of us all, has the nobl

hough I SHOULD like to see all over you

ain; 'just now we're afraid of a sto

old sailor who stood near; 'it's t

,' said t

then the Captain stepped on to the

s they went; 'you can find out all so

. 'If I talk I shall wake up; and bes

lence that they followed the Captain up the marble steps and through the

hispered Jane, 'only everyt

e been properly brought up-to be kind t

, 'no deepest

rters carrying packets on their heads, and a good many of the people were riding on what looked like elephants, only the grea

learned gentleman, and st

they went along, but the Captain always dispersed th

d and their High Priest

back with a low murmur that s

on the bigger buildings was of a different colour, and they

houses real gol

,' answered the Captain, 'but the houses are

very pale, stumbled along

hum-oric

minute, just by holding up the charm. Would you rather go

fervently; 'let the dream

tain, noticing the blundering walk of the learned gentleman; 'and we are

ure. It seemed to be a sort of park, for

he Captain came back with one of the h

the

s back again, which is always dull. But this great hairy beast went on and on and on along streets and through squares and gardens.

they saw that the whole city was divided into twenty circles, alternately land and

gold, and had a dome of silver. The rest of the buildings round the square were of oricalchum. And

's customary, you know, before entering the Presence. We have baths for men, women, horses, and cattl

ever before bathed

plendid,' said C

ld; it's or-what's its name,' sai

pools sunk below the level of the f

t in the flowery courtyard of the Public, 'don't you think all this seems much

A most discerning remark-my dear,' he added awkwardly; 'this city certainly seems t

the way.' He pushed through a little crowd of boys who

y're playing conkers, just like

The outermost wall was of brass, the Captain told them; the next, which look

was a wall of gold, with

the Captain. 'It is not lawful for me t

five people from Fitzroy Street took hands an

at least that's what the Captain calls him. We have a different name for him at home.' 'W

e taking a great liberty with so learned a gentleman. 'And we have come to speak with y

's very odd I can understand what you sa

nd that too,' said Cyril;

am!' said the l

ad been joined by others

, Children of the Sun, w

acles and doors, and twenty enormous statues in bright gold of men a

ed them up a stair into a gallery from which

ful for me to behold,' said the priest, and fell face downwa

three precious metals, and the walls we

s a statue group, the like of w

e was Poseidon, the Father of the City. He stood in a great chariot drawn by six

e fifteen bulls who ran this way and that about the floor of the Temple. The children held their br

noticed that another staircase led up from it to a still higher storey; al

iven out of the Temple by whips, and the ten Kings following, one of them spurring with his stick a black bull that

there's an ou

y crow

on the girl

ed to the priest, who was no longer lying on his face, but sitting on

bull's blood in it, and swear to judge truly. And they wear the sacred blue robe, and put out all the Temple fires. But this today is because the City's so upset by the odd noise

it be?' aske

be the L

e they-

d then swim away. This year they haven't come. You know rats won't stay on a ship that's going to be wrecked. If anything h

' asked the Psammead, suddenly

,' said t

a flood here. Look here, you'-it turned to Anthea; 'let's get home. The prospect's too wet for my wh

arned gentleman

est, who had come with them. 'You

with them on the steps of an altar, on which lay the dead body of the black bull. All the rest of th

e who had lassoed the bull. 'Our town is strong

home,' whine

thout HIM,' sai

towards her through the crowd. They could see from the balcony the sea-captain e

e voice. And above his voice came another voic

s looked

ve, but a wave a hundred feet in height, a wave that looked like a mountain-a wave rising higher an

hea, 'the town-

weeping over the quays and docks, overwhelming the great storehouses and factories, tearing gigantic stones from forts and bridges, and using them as battering rams against the temples. Great ships

swept back t

me,' cried the P

the boys were ready-but the l

rd him dash up to the

the dream.' He rushed

themselves in a sort of turret-roofe

nd as they rejoined him the vast wave rushed back o

e LAST, I know it is! That's the last-over

ed Jane, holdin

f the dream,' cried t

do,' said Cyril. 'Oh, JIMMY!' appealed

chance if you don't go

he dream,' said the lear

terious fiery inside parts. The earth trembled; ashes and sulphur showered down; a rain of fine pumice-stone fell like snow on all the dry land. The elephants from the forest rushed up towards the peaks; great lizards thirty

e!' cried Anthea. 'C

ream,' gasped the

as now crowded with men and women, and the children were strained tight against

d up the

he Psammead, '

d leaped from its bag and bit t

ys pushed him through the

nothing but a waste of waters, with above it the pea

ed back to

ed. 'Oh, you're here, my-er-dea

d,' said Anthea gentl

ndeed bleeding

ack to its bag. All the

l I go into the Past with a grown-up person! I

d the Amulet,' said

s made of was there. It fell on to a ship miles away that ma

a, and her voice was still r

ry sulkily. 'I'm not the sort of chap to g

ng worth having to put in his article n

my will think it's a dream, and it's ten to one he

oth points. The learned gen