第4章

’Butit’snotsoextraprecious，’saidRoberthastily。’YoucangetthemgiventoyoufornothingifyoubuyfishinFarringdonMarket。’

’Oh，’saidthePsammeadverycrosslyindeed，’soyoupresumeonmysublimeindifferencetothethingsofthisdisgustingmodernworld，tofobmeoffwithatravellingequipagethatcostsyounothing。Verywell，Ishallgotosand。Pleasedon’twakeme。’

Anditwentthenandtheretosand，which，asyouknow，meanttobed。TheboyswenttoStJames’sParktofeedtheducks，buttheywentalone。

AntheaandJanesatsewingalltheafternoon。TheycutoffhalfayardfromeachoftheirbestgreenLibertysashes。Atowelcutintwoformedalining；andtheysatandsewedandsewedandsewed。WhattheyweremakingwasabagforthePsammead。Eachworkedatahalfofthebag。jane’shalfhadfour—leavedshamrocksembroideredonit。Theyweretheonlythingsshecoulddo（becauseshehadbeentaughthowatschool，and，fortunately，someofthesilkshehadbeentaughtwithwasleftover）。Andevenso，Antheahadtodrawthepatternforher。Anthea’ssideofthebaghadlettersonit——workedhastilybutaffectionatelyinchainstitch。Theyweresomethinglikethis：

PSAMSTRAVELCAR

Shewouldhaveput’travellingcarriage’，butshemadetheletterstoobig，sotherewasnoroom。ThebagwasmadeINTOabagwitholdNurse’ssewingmachine，andthestringsofitwereAnthea’sandJane’sbestredhairribbons。Attea—time，whentheboyshadcomehomewithamostunfavourablereportoftheStjames’sParkducks，AntheaventuredtoawakenthePsammead，andtoshowititsnewtravellingbag。

’Humph，’itsaid，sniffingalittlecontemptuously，yetatthesametimeaffectionately，’it’snotsodusty。’

ThePsammeadseemedtopickupveryeasilythekindofthingsthatpeoplesaidnowadays。ForacreaturethathadinitstimeassociatedwithMegatheriumsandPterodactyls，itsquicknesswasreallywonderful。

’It’smoreworthyofme，’itsaid，’thanthekindofbagthat’sgivenawaywithapoundofplaice。Whendoyouproposetotakemeoutinit？’

’Ishouldlikearestfromtakingyouorusanywhere，’saidCyril。ButJanesaid——

’IwanttogotoEgypt。IdidlikethatEgyptianPrincessthatcametomarrytheKinginBabylon。ShetoldmeaboutthelarkstheyhaveinEgypt。Andthecats。Dolet’sgothere。AndI

toldherwhatthebirdthingsontheAmuletwerelike。AndshesaiditwasEgyptianwriting。’

TheothersexchangedlooksofsilentrejoicingatthethoughtoftheirclevernessinhavingconcealedfromJanetheterrorstheyhadsufferedinthedungeonbelowtheEuphrates。

’Egypt’ssonicetoo，’Janewenton，’becauseofDoctorBrewer’sScriptureHistory。IwouldliketogotherewhenJosephwasdreamingthosecuriousdreams，orwhenMoseswasdoingwonderfulthingswithsnakesandsticks。’

’Idon’tcareaboutsnakes，’saidAntheashuddering。

’Well，weneedn’tbeinatthatpart，butBabylonwaslovely！Wehadcreamandsweet，stickystuff。AndIexpectEgypt’sthesame。’

Therewasagooddealofdiscussion，butitallendedineverybody’sagreeingtoJane’sidea。Andnextmorningdirectlyafterbreakfast（whichwaskippersandverynice）thePsammeadwasinvitedtogetintohistravellingcarriage。

Themomentafterithaddoneso，withstiff，furryreluctance，likethatofacatwhenyouwanttonurseit，anditsideasarenotthesameasyours，oldNursecamein。

’Well，chickies，’shesaid，’areyoufeelingverydull？’

’Oh，no，Nursedear，’saidAnthea；’we’rehavingalovelytime。

We’rejustgoingofftoseesomeoldancientrelics。’

’Ah，’saidoldNurse，’theRoyalAcademy，Isuppose？Don’tgowastingyourmoneytooreckless，that’sall。’

Sheclearedawaythekipperbonesandthetea—things，andwhenshehadsweptupthecrumbsandremovedthecloth，theAmuletwasheldupandtheordergiven——justasDuchesses（andotherpeople）

giveittotheircoachmen。

’ToEgypt，please！’saidAnthea，whenCyrilhadutteredthewonderfulNameofPower。

’WhenMoseswasthere，’addedJane。

Andthere，inthedingyFitzroyStreetdining—room，theAmuletgrewbig，anditwasanarch，andthroughittheysawablue，blueskyandarunningriver。

’No，stop！’saidCyril，andpulleddownjane’shandwiththeAmuletinit。

’Whatsillycuckoosweallare，’hesaid。’Ofcoursewecan’tgo。Wedaren’tleavehomeforasingleminutenow，forfearthatminuteshouldbeTHEminute。’

’WhatminutebeWHATminute？’askedJaneimpatiently，tryingtogetherhandawayfromCyril。

’TheminutewhentheQueenofBabyloncomes，’saidCyril。Andtheneveryonesawit。

Forsomedayslifeflowedinaveryslow，dusty，uneventfulstream。

Thechildrencouldnevergooutallatonce，becausetheyneverknewwhentheKingofBabylonwouldgooutlionhuntingandleavehisQueenfreetopaythemthatsurprisevisittowhichshewas，withoutdoubt，eagerlylookingforward。

Sotheytookitinturns，twoandtwo，togooutandtostayin。

Thestay—at—homeswouldhavebeenmuchdullerthantheywerebutforthenewinteresttakeninthembythelearnedgentleman。

HecalledAntheainonedaytoshowherabeautifulnecklaceofpurpleandgoldbeads。

’Isawonelikethat，’shesaid，’in——’

’IntheBritishMuseum，perhaps？’

’IliketocalltheplacewhereIsawitBabylon，’saidAntheacautiously。

’Aprettyfancy，’saidthelearnedgentleman，’andquitecorrecttoo，because，asamatteroffact，thesebeadsdidcomefromBabylon。’Theotherthreewerealloutthatday。TheboyshadbeengoingtotheZoo，andJanehadsaidsoplaintively，’I’msureIamfonderofrhinocerosesthaneitherofyouare，’thatAntheahadtoldhertorunalongthen。Andshehadrun，catchingtheboysbeforethatpartoftheroadwhereFitzroyStreetsuddenlybecomesFitzroySquare。

’IthinkBabylonismostfrightfullyinteresting，’saidAnthea。

’Idohavesuchinterestingdreamsaboutit——atleast，notdreamsexactly，butquiteaswonderful。’

’Dositdownandtellme，’saidhe。Soshesatdownandtold。

Andheaskedheralotofquestions，andsheansweredthemaswellasshecould。

’Wonderful——wonderful！’hesaidatlast。’One’sheardofthought—transference，butIneverthought_I_hadanypowerofthatsort。Yetitmustbethat，andverybadforYOU，Ishouldthink。Doesn’tyourheadacheverymuch？’

Hesuddenlyputacold，thinhandonherforehead。

’Nothankyou，notatall，’saidshe。

’Iassureyouitisnotdoneintentionally，’hewenton。’OfcourseIknowagooddealaboutBabylon，andIunconsciouslycommunicateittoyou；you’veheardofthought—reading，butsomeofthethingsyousay，Idon’tunderstand；theyneverentermyhead，andyetthey’resoastoundinglyprobable。’

’It’sallright，’saidAntheareassuringly。’_I_understand。

Anddon’tworry。It’sallquitesimplereally。’

ItwasnotquitesosimplewhenAnthea，havingheardtheotherscomein，wentdown，andbeforeshehadhadtimetoaskhowtheyhadlikedtheZoo，heardanoiseoutside，comparedtowhichthewildbeasts’noisesweregentleassingingbirds。

’Goodgracious！’criedAnthea，’what’sthat？’

Theloudhumofmanyvoicescamethroughtheopenwindow。Wordscouldbedistinguished。

’’Ere’saguy！’

’Thisain’tNovember。Thatain’tnoguy。It’saballetlady，that’swhatitis。’

’Notit——it’sabloomin’looney，Itellyou。’

Thencameaclearvoicethattheyknew。

’Retire，slaves！’itsaid。

’What’ssheasayingof？’criedadozenvoices。’Someblamedforeignlingo，’onevoicereplied。

Thechildrenrushedtothedoor。Acrowdwasontheroadandpavement。

Inthemiddleofthecrowd，plainlytobeseenfromthetopofthesteps，werethebeautifulfaceandbrightveiloftheBabylonianQueen。

’Jimminy！’criedRobert，andrandownthesteps，’heresheis！’

’Here！’hecried，’lookout——lettheladypass。She’safriendofours，comingtoseeus。’

’Nicefriendforarespectablehouse，’snortedafatwomanwithmarrowsonahandcart。

Allthesamethecrowdmadewayalittle。TheQueenmetRobertonthepavement，andCyriljoinedthem，thePsammeadbagstillonhisarm。

’Here，’hewhispered；’here’sthePsammead；youcangetwishes。’

’_I_wishyou’dcomeinadifferentdress，ifyouHADtocome，’

saidRobert；’butit’snousemywishinganything。’

’No，’saidtheQueen。’IwishIwasdressed——no，Idon’t——IwishTHEYweredressedproperly，thentheywouldn’tbesosilly。’

ThePsammeadblewitselfouttillthebagwasaverytightfitforit；andsuddenlyeveryman，woman，andchildinthatcrowdfeltthatithadnotenoughclotheson。For，ofcourse，theQueen’sideaofproperdresswasthedressthathadbeenproperfortheworking—classes3，000yearsagoinBabylon——andtherewasnotmuchofit。

’Lawkyme！’saidthemarrow—sellingwoman，’whatevercoulda—tookmetocomeoutthisfigure？’andshewheeledhercartawayveryquicklyindeed。

’Someone’smadeaprettyguyofyou——talkofguys，’saidamanwhosoldbootlaces。

’Well，don’tyoutalk，’saidthemannexttohim。’Lookatyourownsillylegs；andwhere’syourboots？’

’Inevercomeoutlikethis，I’lltakemysacred，’saidthebootlace—seller。’Iwasn’tquitemyselflastnight，I’llown，butnottodressuplikeacircus。’

Thecrowdwasalltalkingatonce，andgettingratherangry。ButnooneseemedtothinkofblamingtheQueen。

Antheaboundeddownthestepsandpulledherup；theothersfollowed，andthedoorwasshut。’BlowedifIcanmakeitout！’

theyheard。’I’moffhome，Iam。’

Andthecrowd，comingslowlytothesamemind，dispersed，followedbyanothercrowdofpersonswhowerenotdressedinwhattheQueenthoughtwastheproperway。

’Weshallhavethepoliceheredirectly，’saidAntheainthetonesofdespair。’Oh，whydidyoucomedressedlikethat？’

TheQueenleanedagainstthearmofthehorse—hairsofa。

’HowelsecanaqueendressIshouldliketoknow？’shequestioned。

’OurQueenwearsthingslikeotherpeople，’saidCyril。

’Well，Idon’t。AndImustsay，’sheremarkedinaninjuredtone，’thatyoudon’tseemverygladtoseemenowIHAVEcome。

Butperhapsit’sthesurprisethatmakesyoubehavelikethis。

Yetyououghttobeusedtosurprises。Thewayyouvanished！I

shallneverforgetit。ThebestmagicI’veeverseen。Howdidyoudoit？’

’Oh，nevermindaboutthatnow，’saidRobert。’Youseeyou’vegoneandupsetallthosepeople，andIexpectthey’llfetchthepolice。Andwedon’twanttoseeyoucollaredandputinprison。’

’Youcan’tputqueensinprison，’shesaidloftily。’Oh，can’tyou？’saidCyril。’Wecutoffaking’sheadhereonce。’

’Inthismiserableroom？Howfrightfullyinteresting。’

’No，no，notinthisroom；inhistory。’

’Oh，inTHAT，’saidtheQueendisparagingly。’Ithoughtyou’ddoneitwithyourownhands。’

Thegirlsshuddered。

’Whatahideouscityyoursis，’theQueenwentonpleasantly，’andwhathorrid，ignorantpeople。Doyouknowtheyactuallycan’tunderstandasinglewordIsay。’

’Canyouunderstandthem？’askedJane。

’Ofcoursenot；theyspeaksomevulgar，Northerndialect。IcanunderstandYOUquitewell。’

IreallyamnotgoingtoexplainAGAINhowitwasthatthechildrencouldunderstandotherlanguagesthantheirownsothoroughly，andtalkthem，too，sothatitfeltandsounded（tothem）justasthoughtheyweretalkingEnglish。

’Well，’saidCyrilbluntly，’nowyou’veseenjusthowhorriditis，don’tyouthinkyoumightaswellgohomeagain？’’Why，I’veseensimplynothingyet，’saidtheQueen，arrangingherstarryveil。’Iwishedtobeatyourdoor，andIwas。NowImustgoandseeyourKingandQueen。’

’Nobody’sallowedto，’saidAntheainhaste；’butlookhere，we’lltakeyouandshowyouanythingyou’dliketosee——anythingyouCANsee，’sheaddedkindly，becausesherememberedhownicetheQueenhadbeentotheminBabylon，evenifshehadbeenalittledeceitfulinthematterofJaneandPsammead。

’There’stheMuseum，’saidCyrilhopefully；’therearelotsofthingsfromyourcountrythere。Ifonlywecoulddisguiseyoualittle。’

’Iknow，’saidAntheasuddenly。’Mother’soldtheatrecloak，andtherearealotofheroldhatsinthebigbox。’

Thebluesilk，lace—trimmedcloakdidindeedhidesomeoftheQueen’sstartlingsplendours，butthehatfittedverybadly。Ithadpinkrosesinit；andtherewassomethingaboutthecoatorthehatortheQueen，thatmadeherlooksomehownotveryrespectable。

’Oh，nevermind，’saidAnthea，whenCyrilwhisperedthis。’ThethingistogetheroutbeforeNursehasfinishedherfortywinks。Ishouldthinkshe’saboutgottothethirty—ninthwinkbynow。’

’Comeonthen，’saidRobert。’Youknowhowdangerousitis。

Let’smakehasteintotheMuseum。Ifanyofthosepeopleyoumadeguysofdofetchthepolice，theywon’tthinkoflookingforyouthere。’

Thebluesilkcoatandthepink—rosedhatattractedalmostasmuchattentionastheroyalcostumehaddone；andthechildrenwereuncommonlygladtogetoutofthenoisystreetsintothegreyquietoftheMuseum。

’Parcelsandumbrellastobelefthere，’saidamanatthecounter。

Thepartyhadnoumbrellas，andtheonlyparcelwasthebagcontainingthePsammead，whichtheQueenhadinsistedshouldbebrought。

’I’Mnotgoingtobeleft，’saidthePsammeadsoftly，’sodon’tyouthinkit。’

’I’llwaitoutsidewithyou，’saidAntheahastily，andwenttositontheseatnearthedrinkingfountain。

’Don’tsitsonearthatnastyfountain，’saidthecreaturecrossly；’Imightgetsplashed。’

Antheaobedientlymovedtoanotherseatandwaited。Indeedshewaited，andwaited，andwaited，andwaited，andwaited。ThePsammeaddroppedintoanuneasyslumber。Antheahadlongceasedtowatchtheswing—doorthatalwaysletoutthewrongperson，andshewasherselfalmostasleep，andstilltheothersdidnotcomeback。

ItwasquiteastartwhenAntheasuddenlyrealizedthattheyHAD

comeback，andthattheywerenotalone。Behindthemwasquiteacrowdofmeninuniform，andseveralgentlemenwerethere。

Everyoneseemedveryangry。

’Nowgo，’saidthenicestoftheangrygentlemen。’Takethepoor，dementedthinghomeandtellyourparentssheoughttobeproperlylookedafter。’

’Ifyoucan’tgethertogowemustsendforthepolice，’saidthenastiestgentleman。

’Butwedon’twishtouseharshmeasures，’addedtheniceone，whowasreallyveryniceindeed，andseemedtobeoveralltheothers。

’MayIspeaktomysisteramomentfirst？’askedRobert。

Thenicestgentlemannodded，andtheofficialsstoodroundtheQueen，theothersformingasortofguardwhileRobertcrossedovertoAnthea。

’Everythingyoucanthinkof，’herepliedtoAnthea’sglanceofinquiry。’Kickedupthemostfrightfulshineinthere。Saidthosenecklacesandearringsandthingsintheglasscaseswereallhers——wouldhavethemoutofthecases。Triedtobreaktheglass——shedidbreakonebit！Everybodyintheplacehasbeenather。Nogood。Ionlygotheroutbytellingherthatwastheplacewheretheycutqueens’headsoff。’

’Oh，Bobs，whatawhacker！’

’You’dhavetoldawhackingeronetogetherout。Besides，itwasn’t。ImeantMUMMYqueens。Howdoyouknowtheydon’tcutoffmummies’headstoseehowtheembalmingisdone？WhatIwanttosayis，can’tyougethertogowithyouquietly？’

’I’lltry，’saidAnthea，andwentuptotheQueen。

’Docomehome，’shesaid；’thelearnedgentlemaninourhousehasamuchnicernecklacethananythingthey’vegothere。Comeandseeit。’

TheQueennodded。

’Yousee，’saidthenastiestgentleman，’shedoesunderstandEnglish。’

’IwastalkingBabylonian，Ithink，’saidAntheabashfully。

’Mygoodchild，’saidthenicegentleman，’whatyou’retalkingisnotBabylonian，butnonsense。Youjustgohomeatonce，andtellyourparentsexactlywhathashappened。’

AntheatooktheQueen’shandandgentlypulledheraway。Theotherchildrenfollowed，andtheblackcrowdofangrygentlemenstoodonthestepswatchingthem。Itwaswhenthelittlepartyofdisgracedchildren，withtheQueenwhohaddisgracedthem，hadreachedthemiddleofthecourtyardthathereyesfellonthebagwherethePsammeadwas。Shestoppedshort。

’Iwish，’shesaid，veryloudandclear，’thatallthoseBabylonianthingswouldcomeouttomehere——slowly，sothatthosedogsandslavescanseetheworkingofthegreatQueen’smagic。’

’Oh，youAREatiresomewoman，’saidthePsammeadinitsbag，butitpuffeditselfout。

Nextmomenttherewasacrash。Theglassswingdoorsandalltheirframeworkweresmashedsuddenlyandcompletely。Thecrowdofangrygentlemensprangasidewhentheysawwhathaddonethis。

Butthenastiestofthemwasnotquickenough，andhewasroughlypushedoutofthewaybyanenormousstonebullthatwasfloatingsteadilythroughthedoor。ItcameandstoodbesidetheQueeninthemiddleofthecourtyard。

Itwasfollowedbymorestoneimages，bygreatslabsofcarvedstone，bricks，helmets，tools，weapons，fetters，wine—jars，bowls，bottles，vases，jugs，saucers，seals，andtheroundlongthings，somethinglikerollingpinswithmarksonthemliketheprintoflittlebird—feet，necklaces，collars，rings，armlets，earrings——heapsandheapsandheapsofthings，farmorethananyonehadtimetocount，oreventoseedistinctly。

AlltheangrygentlemenhadabruptlysatdownontheMuseumstepsexcepttheniceone。HestoodwithhishandsinhispocketsjustasthoughhewasquiteusedtoseeinggreatstonebullsandallsortsofsmallBabylonishobjectsfloatoutintotheMuseumyard。

Buthesentamantoclosethebigirongates。

Ajournalist，whowasjustleavingthemuseum，spoketoRobertashepassed。

’Theosophy，Isuppose？’hesaid。’IssheMrsBesant？’

’YES，’saidRobertrecklessly。

Thejournalistpassedthroughthegatesjustbeforetheywereshut。

HerushedofftoFleetStreet，andhispapergotoutaneweditionwithinhalfanhour。

MRSBESANTANDTHEOSOPHY

IMPERTINENTMIRACLEATTHEBRITISHMUSEUM。

Peoplesawitinfat，blacklettersontheboardscarriedbythesellersofnewspapers。SomefewpeoplewhohadnothingbettertodowentdowntotheMuseumonthetopsofomnibuses。Butbythetimetheygottheretherewasnothingtobeseen。FortheBabylonianQueenhadsuddenlyseentheclosedgates，hadfeltthethreatofthem，andhadsaid——

’Iwishwewereinyourhouse。’

And，ofcourse，instantlytheywere。

ThePsammeadwasfurious。

’Lookhere，’itsaid，’they’llcomeafteryou，andthey’llfindME。There’llbeaNationalCagebuiltformeatWestminster，andIshallhavetoworkatpolitics。Whywouldn’tyouleavethethingsintheirplaces？’

’Whatatemperyouhave，haven’tyou？’saidtheQueenserenely。

’Iwishallthethingswerebackintheirplaces。WillTHATdoforyou？’

ThePsammeadswelledandshrankandspokeveryangrily。

’Ican’trefusetogiveyourwishes，’itsaid，’butIcanBite。

AndIwillifthisgoeson。Nowthen。’

’Ah，don’t，’whisperedAntheaclosetoitsbristlingear；’it’sdreadfulforustoo。Don’tYOUdesertus。Perhapsshe’llwishherselfathomeagainsoon。’

’Notshe，’saidthePsammeadalittlelesscrossly。

’TakemetoseeyourCity，’saidtheQueen。

Thechildrenlookedateachother。

’Ifwehadsomemoneywecouldtakeheraboutinacab。Peoplewouldn’tnoticehersomuchthen。Butwehaven’t。’

’Sellthis，’saidtheQueen，takingaringfromherfinger。

’They’donlythinkwe’dstolenit，’saidCyrilbitterly，’andputusinprison。’

’Allroadsleadtoprisonwithyou，itseems，’saidtheQueen。

’Thelearnedgentleman！’saidAnthea，andranuptohimwiththeringinherhand。

’Lookhere，’shesaid，’willyoubuythisforapound？’

’Oh！’hesaidintonesofjoyandamazement，andtooktheringintohishand。’It’smyveryown，’saidAnthea；’itwasgiventometosell。’

’I’lllendyouapound，’saidthelearnedgentleman，’withpleasure；andI’lltakecareoftheringforyou。Whodidyousaygaveittoyou？’

’Wecallher，’saidAntheacarefully，’theQueenofBabylon。’

’Isitagame？’heaskedhopefully。

’It’llbeaprettygameifIdon’tgetthemoneytopayforcabsforher，’saidAnthea。

’Isometimesthink，’hesaidslowly，’thatIambecominginsane，orthat——’

’OrthatIam；butI’mnot，andyou’renot，andshe’snot。’

’DoessheSAYthatshe’stheQueenofBabylon？’heuneasilyasked。

’Yes，’saidAnthearecklessly。

’Thisthought—transferenceismorefar—reachingthanIimagined，’

hesaid。’IsupposeIhaveunconsciouslyinfluencedHER，too。I

neverthoughtmyBabylonishstudieswouldbearfruitlikethis。

Horrible！Therearemorethingsinheavenandearth——’

’Yes，’saidAnthea，’heapsmore。Andthepoundisthething_I_

wantmorethananythingonearth。’

Heranhisfingersthroughhisthinhair。

’Thisthought—transference！’hesaid。’It’sundoubtedlyaBabylonianring——oritseemssotome。ButperhapsIhavehypnotizedmyself。IwillseeadoctorthemomentIhavecorrectedthelastproofsofmybook。’

’Yes，do！’saidAnthea，’andthankyousoverymuch。’

Shetookthesovereignandrandowntotheothers。

Andnowfromthewindowofafour—wheeledcabtheQueenofBabylonbeheldthewondersofLondon。BuckinghamPalaceshethoughtuninteresting；WestminsterAbbeyandtheHousesofParliamentlittlebetter。ButshelikedtheTower，andtheRiver，andtheshipsfilledherwithwonderanddelight。

’Buthowbadlyyoukeepyourslaves。Howwretchedandpoorandneglectedtheyseem，’shesaid，asthecabrattledalongtheMileEndRoad。

’Theyaren’tslaves；they’reworking—people，’saidJane。

’Ofcoursethey’reworking。That’swhatslavesare。Don’tyoutellme。DoyousupposeIdon’tknowaslave’sfacewhenIseeit？

Whydon’ttheirmastersseethatthey’rebetterfedandbetterclothed？Tellmeinthreewords。’

Nooneanswered。Thewage—systemofmodernEnglandisalittledifficulttoexplaininthreewordsevenifyouunderstandit——whichthechildrendidn’t。

’You’llhavearevoltofyourslavesifyou’renotcareful，’saidtheQueen。

’Oh，no，’saidCyril；’youseetheyhavevotes——thatmakesthemsafenottorevolt。Itmakesallthedifference。Fathertoldmeso。’

’Whatisthisvote？’askedtheQueen。’Isitacharm？Whatdotheydowithit？’

’Idon’tknow，’saidtheharassedCyril；’it’sjustavote，that’sall！Theydon’tdoanythingparticularwithit。’

’Isee，’saidtheQueen；’asortofplaything。Well，Iwishthatalltheseslavesmayhaveintheirhandsthismomenttheirfilloftheirfavouritemeatanddrink。’

InstantlyallthepeopleintheMileEndRoad，andinalltheotherstreetswherepoorpeoplelive，foundtheirhandsfullofthingstoeatanddrink。Fromthecabwindowcouldbeseenpersonscarryingeverykindoffood，andbottlesandcansaswell。Roastmeat，fowls，redlobsters，greatyellowycrabs，friedfish，boiledpork，beef—steakpuddings，bakedonions，muttonpies；mostoftheyoungpeoplehadorangesandsweetsandcake。ItmadeanenormouschangeinthelookoftheMileEndRoad——brighteneditup，sotospeak，andbrightenedup，morethanyoucanpossiblyimagine，thefacesofthepeople。

’Makesadifference，doesn’tit？’saidtheQueen。

’That’sthebestwishyou’vehadyet，’saidJanewithcordialapproval。

justbytheBankthecabmanstopped。

’Iain’tagoin’todriveyounofurther，’hesaid。’Outyougets。’

Theygotoutratherunwillingly。

’Iwantsmytea，’hesaid；andtheysawthatontheboxofthecabwasamoundofcabbage，withporkchopsandapplesauce，aduck，andaspottedcurrantpudding。Alsoalargecan。

’Youpaymemyfare，’hesaidthreateningly，andlookeddownatthemound，mutteringagainabouthistea。

’We’lltakeanothercab，’saidCyrilwithdignity。’Givemechangeforasovereign，ifyouplease。’

Butthecabman，asitturnedout，wasnotatallanicecharacter。Hetookthesovereign，whippeduphishorse，anddisappearedinthestreamofcabsandomnibusesandwagons，withoutgivingthemanychangeatall。

Alreadyalittlecrowdwascollectingroundtheparty。

’Comeon，’saidRobert，leadingthewrongway。

Thecrowdroundthemthickened。Theywereinanarrowstreetwheremanygentlemeninblackcoatsandwithouthatswerestandingaboutonthepavementtalkingveryloudly。

’Howuglytheirclothesare，’saidtheQueenofBabylon。’They’dberatherfinemen，someofthem，iftheyweredresseddecently，especiallytheoneswiththebeautifullong，curvednoses。I

wishtheyweredressedliketheBabyloniansofmycourt。’

Andofcourse，itwasso。

ThemomentthealmostfaintingPsammeadhadblownitselfouteverymaninThrogmortonStreetappearedabruptlyinBabylonianfulldress。

Allwerecarefullypowdered，theirhairandbeardswerescentedandcurled，theirgarmentsrichlyembroidered。Theyworeringsandarmlets，flatgoldcollarsandswords，andimpossible—lookinghead—dresses。

Astupefiedsilencefellonthem。

’Isay，’ayouthwhohadalwaysbeenfair—hairedbrokethatsilence，’it’sonlyfancyofcourse——somethingwrongwithmyeyes——butyouchapsdolooksorum。’

’Rum，’saidhisfriend。’LookatYOU。Youinasash！Myhat！

Andyourhair’sgoneblackandyou’vegotabeard。It’smybeliefwe’vebeenpoisoned。Youdolookajackape。’

’OldLevinsteindon’tlooksobad。ButhowwasitDONE——that’swhatIwanttoknow。Howwasitdone？Isitconjuring，orwhat？’

’Ithinkitischustaver’badtream，’saidoldLevinsteintohisclerk；’allalongBishopsgateIhafseenthegommonpeoplehavetheirhantsfulloffood——GOOTfood。Ohyes，withoutdoubtaverybadtream！’

’ThenI’mdreamingtoo，Sir，’saidtheclerk，lookingdownathislegswithanexpressionofloathing。’Iseemyfeetinbeastlysandalsasplainasplain。’

’Allthatgootfoodwasted，’saidoldMrLevinstein。Abadtream——abadtream。’

TheMembersoftheStockExchangearesaidtobeatalltimesanoisylot。ButthenoisetheymadenowtoexpresstheirdisgustatthecostumesofancientBabylonwasfarlouderthantheirordinaryrow。Onehadtoshoutbeforeonecouldhearoneselfspeak。

’Ionlywish，’saidtheclerkwhothoughtitwasconjuring——hewasquiteclosetothechildrenandtheytrembled，becausetheyknewthatwhateverhewishedwouldcometrue。’Ionlywishweknewwho’ddoneit。’

And，ofcourse，instantlytheydidknow，andtheypressedroundtheQueen。

’Scandalous！Shameful！Oughttobeputdownbylaw。Giveherincharge。Fetchthepolice，’twoorthreevoicesshoutedatonce。

TheQueenrecoiled。

’Whatisit？’sheasked。’Theysoundlikecagedlions——lionsbythethousand。Whatisitthattheysay？’

’Theysay"Police！"，’saidCyrilbriefly。’Iknewtheywouldsoonerorlater。AndIdon’tblamethem，mindyou。’

’Iwishmyguardswerehere！’criedtheQueen。TheexhaustedPsammeadwaspantingandtrembling，buttheQueen’sguardsinredandgreengarments，andbrassandirongear，chokedThrogmortonStreet，andbaredweaponsflashedroundtheQueen。

’I’mmad，’saidaMrRosenbaum；’dat’swhatitis——mad！’

’It’sajudgementonyou，Rosy，’saidhispartner。’IalwayssaidyouweretoohardinthatmatterofFlowerdew。It’sajudgement，andI’minittoo。’

ThemembersoftheStockExchangehadedgedcarefullyawayfromthegleamingblades，themailedfigures，thehard，cruelEasternfaces。

ButThrogmortonStreetisnarrow，andthecrowdwastoothickforthemtogetawayasquicklyastheywished。

’Killthem，’criedtheQueen。’Killthedogs！’

Theguardsobeyed。

’ItISalladream，’criedMrLevinstein，coweringinadoorwaybehindhisclerk。

’Itisn’t，’saidtheclerk。’Itisn’t。Oh，mygoodgracious！

thoseforeignbrutesarekillingeverybody。HenryHirshisdownnow，andPrenticeiscutintwo——oh，Lord！andHuth，andtheregoesLionelCohenwithhisheadoff，andGuyNickallshaslosthisheadnow。Adream？Iwishtogoodnessitwasalladream。’

And，ofcourse，instantlyitwas！TheentireStockExchangerubbeditseyesandwentbacktoclose，toover，andeithersideofseven—eights，andTrunks，andKaffirs，andSteelCommon，andContangoes，andBackwardations，DoubleOptions，andalltheinterestingsubjectsconcerningwhichtheytalkintheStreetwithoutceasing。

Noonesaidawordaboutittoanyoneelse。IthinkIhaveexplainedbeforethatbusinessmendonotlikeittobeknownthattheyhavebeendreaminginbusinesshours。Especiallymaddreamsincludingsuchdreadfulthingsashungrypeoplegettingdinners，andthedestructionoftheStockExchange。

Thechildrenwereinthedining—roomat300，FitzroyStreet，paleandtrembling。ThePsammeadcrawledoutoftheembroideredbag，andlayflatonthetable，itslegstretchedout，lookingmorelikeadeadharethananythingelse。

’ThankGoodnessthat’sover，’saidAnthea，drawingadeepbreath。

’Shewon’tcomeback，willshe？’askedJanetremulously。

’No，’saidCyril。’She’sthousandsofyearsago。Butwespentawholepreciouspoundonher。It’lltakeallourpocket—moneyforagestopaythatback。’

’NotifitwasALLadream，’saidRobert。

’ThewishsaidALLadream，youknow，Panther；youcutupandaskifhelentyouanything。’

’Ibegyourpardon，’saidAntheapolitely，followingthesoundofherknockintothepresenceofthelearnedgentleman，’I’msosorrytotroubleyou，butDIDyoulendmeapoundtoday？’

’No，’saidhe，lookingkindlyatherthroughhisspectacles。

’Butit’sextraordinarythatyoushouldaskme，forIdozedforafewmomentsthisafternoon，athingIveryrarelydo，andI

dreamedquitedistinctlythatyoubroughtmearingthatyousaidbelongedtotheQueenofBabylon，andthatIlentyouasovereignandthatyouleftoneoftheQueen’sringshere。Theringwasamagnificentspecimen。’Hesighed。’Iwishithadn’tbeenadream，’hesaidsmiling。Hewasreallylearningtosmilequitenicely。

AntheacouldnotbetoothankfulthatthePsammeadwasnottheretogranthiswish。

CHAPTER9

ATLANTIS

YouwillunderstandthattheadventureoftheBabylonianqueeninLondonwastheonlyonethathadoccupiedanytimeatall。Butthechildren’stimewasveryfullytakenupbytalkingoverallthewonderfulthingsseenanddoneinthePast，where，bythepoweroftheAmulet，theyseemedtospendhoursandhours，onlytofindwhentheygotbacktoLondonthatthewholethinghadbeenbrieferthanalightningflash。

TheytalkedofthePastattheirmeals，intheirwalks，inthedining—room，inthefirst—floordrawing—room，butmostofallonthestairs。Itwasanoldhouse；ithadoncebeenafashionableone，andwasafineonestill。Thebanisterrailsofthestairswereexcellentforslidingdown，andinthecornersofthelandingswerebigalcovesthathadonceheldgracefulstatues，andnowquiteoftenheldthegracefulformsofCyril，Robert，Anthea，andJane。

OnedayCyrilandRobertintightwhiteunderclothinghadspentapleasanthourinreproducingtheattitudesofstatuesseeneitherintheBritishMuseum，orinFather’sbigphotographbook。ButtheshowendedabruptlybecauseRobertwantedtobetheVenusofMilo，andforthispurposepulledatthesheetwhichservedfordraperyattheverymomentwhenCyril，lookingreallyquiteliketheDiscobolos——withagoldandwhitesaucerforthedisc——wasstandingononefoot，andunderthatonefootwasthesheet。

OfcoursetheDiscobolosandhisdiscandthewould—beVenuscamedowntogether，andeveryonewasagooddealhurt，especiallythesaucer，whichwouldneverbethesameagain，howeverneatlyonemightjoinitsunevenbitswithSeccotineorthewhiteofanegg。

’Ihopeyou’resatisfied，’saidCyril，holdinghisheadwherealargelumpwasrising。

’Quite，thanks，’saidRobertbitterly。Histhumbhadcaughtinthebanistersandbentitselfbackalmosttobreakingpoint。

’IAMsosorry，poor，dearSquirrel，’saidAnthea；’andyouwerelookingsolovely。I’llgetawetrag。Bobs，goandholdyourhandunderthehot—watertap。It’swhatballetgirlsdowiththeirlegswhentheyhurtthem。Isawitinabook。’

’Whatbook？’saidRobertdisagreeably。Buthewent。

WhenhecamebackCyril’sheadhadbeenbandagedbyhissisters，andhehadbeenbroughttothestateofmindwherehewasablereluctantlytoadmitthathesupposedRoberthadn’tdoneitonpurpose。

Robertreplyingwithequalsuavity，Antheahastenedtoleadthetalkawayfromtheaccident。

’Isupposeyoudon’tfeellikegoinganywherethroughtheAmulet，’shesaid。

’Egypt！’saidJanepromptly。’Iwanttoseethepussycats。’

’Notme——toohot，’saidCyril。’It’saboutasmuchasIcanstandhere——letaloneEgypt。’Itwasindeed，hot，evenonthesecondlanding，whichwasthecoolestplaceinthehouse。’Let’sgototheNorthPole。’

’Idon’tsupposetheAmuletwaseverthere——andwemightgetourfingersfrost—bittensothatwecouldneverholdituptogethomeagain。Nothanks，’saidRobert。

’Isay，’saidJane，’let’sgetthePsammeadandaskitsadvice。

Itwilllikeusasking，evenifwedon’ttakeit。’

ThePsammeadwasbroughtupinitsgreensilkembroideredbag，butbeforeitcouldbeaskedanythingthedoorofthelearnedgentleman’sroomopenedandthevoiceofthevisitorwhohadbeenlunchingwithhimwasheardonthestairs。Heseemedtobespeakingwiththedoorhandleinhishand。

’Youseeadoctor，oldboy，’hesaid；’allthataboutthought—transferenceisjustsimplytwaddle。You’vebeenover—working。Takeaholiday。GotoDieppe。’

’I’drathergotoBabylon，’saidthelearnedgentleman。

’Iwishyou’dgotoAtlantissometime，whilewe’reaboutit，soastogivemesometipsformyNineteenthCenturyarticlewhenyoucomehome。’

’IwishIcould，’saidthevoiceofthelearnedgentleman。

’Goodbye。Takecareofyourself。’

Thedoorwasbanged，andthevisitorcamesmilingdownthestairs——astout，prosperous，bigman。Thechildrenhadtogetuptolethimpass。

’Hullo，Kiddies，’hesaid，glancingatthebandagesontheheadofCyrilandthehandofRobert，’beeninthewars？’

’It’sallright，’saidCyril。’Isay，whatwasthatAtlanticplaceyouwantedhimtogoto？Wecouldn’thelphearingyoutalk。’

’YoutalksoVERYloud，yousee，’saidJanesoothingly。

’Atlantis，’saidthevisitor，’thelostAtlantis，gardenoftheHesperides。Greatcontinent——disappearedinthesea。YoucanreadaboutitinPlato。’

’Thankyou，’saidCyrildoubtfully。

’WerethereanyAmuletsthere？’askedAnthea，madeanxiousbyasuddenthought。

’Hundreds，Ishouldthink。SoHE’Sbeentalkingtoyou？’

’Yes，often。He’sverykindtous。Welikehimawfully。’

’Well，whathewantsisaholiday；youpersuadehimtotakeone。

Whathewantsisachangeofscene。Yousee，hisheadiscrustedsothicklyinsidewithknowledgeaboutEgyptandAssyriaandthingsthatyoucan’thammeranythingintoitunlessyoukeephardatitalldaylongfordaysanddays。AndIhaven’ttime。

Butyouliveinthehouse。Youcanhammeralmostincessantly。

Justtryyourhands，willyou？Right。Solong！’

Hewentdownthestairsthreeatatime，andJaneremarkedthathewasaniceman，andshethoughthehadlittlegirlsofhisown。

’Ishouldliketohavethemtoplaywith，’sheaddedpensively。

Thethreeelderonesexchangedglances。Cyrilnodded。

’Allright。LET’SgotoAtlantis，’hesaid。

’Let’sgotoAtlantisandtakethelearnedgentlemanwithus，’

saidAnthea；’he’llthinkit’sadream，afterwards，butit’llcertainlybeachangeofscene。’

’WhynottakehimtoniceEgypt？’askedJane。

’Toohot，’saidCyrilshortly。

’OrBabylon，wherehewantstogo？’

’I’vehadenoughofBabylon，’saidRobert，’atleastforthepresent。Andsohavetheothers。Idon’tknowwhy，’headded，forestallingthequestiononJane’slips，’butsomehowwehave。

Squirrel，let’stakeoffthesebeastlybandagesandgetintoflannels。Wecan’tgoinourunders。’

’HeWISHEDtogotoAtlantis，sohe’sgottogosometime；andhemightaswellgowithus，’saidAnthea。

Thiswashowitwasthatthelearnedgentleman，permittinghimselfafewmomentsofrelaxationinhischair，afterthefatigueoflisteningtoopinions（aboutAtlantisandmanyotherthings）withwhichhedidnotatallagree，openedhiseyestofindhisfouryoungfriendsstandinginfrontofhiminarow。

’Willyoucome，’saidAnthea，’toAtlantiswithus？’

’Toknowthatyouaredreamingshowsthatthedreamisnearlyatanend，’hetoldhimself；’orperhapsit’sonlyagame，like"HowmanymilestoBabylon？"。’Sohesaidaloud：’Thankyouverymuch，butIhaveonlyaquarterofanhourtospare。’

’Itdoesn’ttakeanytime，’saidCyril；’timeisonlyamodeofthought，youknow，andyou’vegottogosometime，sowhynotwithus？’

’Verywell，’saidthelearnedgentleman，nowquitecertainthathewasdreaming。

Antheaheldouthersoft，pinkhand。Hetookit。Shepulledhimgentlytohisfeet。JanehelduptheAmulet。

’TojustoutsideAtlantis，’saidCyril，andJanesaidtheNameofPower。

’Youowl！’saidRobert，’it’sanisland。Outsideanisland’sallwater。’

’Iwon’tgo。IWON’T，’saidthePsammead，kickingandstrugglinginitsbag。

ButalreadytheAmulethadgrowntoagreatarch。Cyrilpushedthelearnedgentleman，asundoubtedlythefirst—born，throughthearch——notintowater，butontoawoodenfloor，outofdoors。

Theothersfollowed。TheAmuletgrewsmalleragain，andtheretheyallwere，standingonthedeckofashipwhosesailorswerebusymakingherfastwithchainstoringsonawhitequay—side。

Theringsandthechainswereofametalthatshonered—yellowlikegold。

EveryoneontheshipseemedtoobusyatfirsttonoticethegroupofnewcomersfromFitzroyStreet。Thosewhoseemedtobeofficerswereshoutingorderstothemen。

Theystoodandlookedacrossthewidequaytothetownthatrosebeyondit。Whattheysawwasthemostbeautifulsightanyofthemhadeverseen——oreverdreamedof。

Theblueseasparkledinsoftsunlight；littlewhite—cappedwavesbrokesoftlyagainstthemarblebreakwatersthatguardedtheshippingofagreatcityfromthewildernessofwinterwindsandseas。Thequaywasofmarble，whiteandsparklingwithaveiningbrightasgold。Thecitywasofmarble，redandwhite。Thegreaterbuildingsthatseemedtobetemplesandpalaceswereroofedwithwhatlookedlikegoldandsilver，butmostoftheroofswereofcopperthatglowedgolden—redonthehousesonthehillsamongwhichthecitystood，andshadedintomarvelloustintsofgreenandblueandpurplewheretheyhadbeentouchedbythesaltseasprayandthefumesofthedyeingandsmeltingworksofthelowertown。

Broadandmagnificentflightsofmarblestairsledupfromthequaytoasortofterracethatseemedtorunalongformiles，andbeyondrosethetownbuiltonahill。

Thelearnedgentlemandrewalongbreath。’Wonderful！’hesaid，’wonderful！’

’Isay，Mr——what’syourname，’saidRobert。’Hemeans，’saidAnthea，withgentlepoliteness，’thatwenevercanrememberyourname。Iknowit’sMrDeSomething。’

’WhenIwasyourageIwascalledJimmy，’hesaidtimidly。

’Wouldyoumind？IshouldfeelmoreathomeinadreamlikethisifI——Anythingthatmademeseemmorelikeoneofyou。’

’Thankyou——Jimmy，’saidAntheawithaneffort。ItseemedsuchacheektobesayingJimmytoagrown—upman。’Jimmy，DEAR，’sheadded，withnoeffortatall。Jimmysmiledandlookedpleased。

Butnowtheshipwasmadefast，andtheCaptainhadtimetonoticeotherthings。Hecametowardsthem，andhewasdressedinthebestofallpossibledressesfortheseafaringlife。

’Whatareyoudoinghere？’heaskedratherfiercely。’Doyoucometoblessortocurse？’

’Tobless，ofcourse，’saidCyril。’I’msorryifitannoysyou，butwe’reherebymagic。Wecomefromthelandofthesun—rising，’hewentonexplanatorily。

’Isee，’saidtheCaptain；noonehadexpectedthathewould。’I

didn’tnoticeatfirst，butofcourseIhopeyou’reagoodomen。

It’sneeded。Andthis，’hepointedtothelearnedgentleman，’yourslave，Ipresume？’

’Notatall，’saidAnthea；’he’saverygreatman。Asage，don’ttheycallit？Andwewanttoseeallyourbeautifulcity，andyourtemplesandthings，andthenweshallgoback，andhewilltellhisfriend，andhisfriendwillwriteabookaboutit。’

’What，’askedtheCaptain，fingeringarope，’isabook？’

’Arecord——somethingwritten，or，’sheaddedhastily，rememberingtheBabylonianwriting，’orengraved。’

SomesuddenimpulseofconfidencemadeJaneplucktheAmuletfromtheneckofherfrock。

’Likethis，’shesaid。

TheCaptainlookedatitcuriously，but，theotherthreewererelievedtonotice，withoutanyofthatoverwhelminginterestwhichthemerenameofithadrousedinEgyptandBabylon。

’Thestoneisofourcountry，’hesaid；’andthatwhichisengravedonit，itislikeourwriting，butIcannotreadit。

Whatisthenameofyoursage？’

’Ji—jimmy，’saidAntheahesitatingly。

TheCaptainrepeated，’Ji—jimmy。Willyouland？’headded。’AndshallIleadyoutotheKings？’

’Lookhere，’saidRobert，’doesyourKinghatestrangers？’

’OurKingsareten，’saidtheCaptain，’andtheRoyalline，unbrokenfromPoseidon，thefatherofusall，hasthenobletraditiontodohonourtostrangersiftheycomeinpeace。’

’Thenleadon，please，’saidRobert，’thoughISHOULDliketoseealloveryourbeautifulship，andsailaboutinher。’

’Thatshallbelater，’saidtheCaptain；’justnowwe’reafraidofastorm——doyounoticethatoddrumbling？’

’That’snothing，master，’saidanoldsailorwhostoodnear；

’it’sthepilchardscomingin，that’sall。’

’Tooloud，’saidtheCaptain。

Therewasaratheranxiouspause；thentheCaptainsteppedontothequay，andtheothersfollowedhim。

’Dotalktohim——Jimmy，’saidAntheaastheywent；’youcanfindoutallsortsofthingsforyourfriend’sbook。’

’Pleaseexcuseme，’hesaidearnestly。’IfItalkIshallwakeup；andbesides，Ican’tunderstandwhathesays。’

Nooneelsecouldthinkofanythingtosay，sothatitwasincompletesilencethattheyfollowedtheCaptainupthemarblestepsandthroughthestreetsofthetown。Therewerestreetsandshopsandhousesandmarkets。

’It’sjustlikeBabylon，’whisperedJane，’onlyeverything’sperfectlydifferent。’

’It’sagreatcomfortthetenKingshavebeenproperlybroughtup——tobekindtostrangers，’AntheawhisperedtoCyril。

’Yes，’hesaid，’nodeepestdungeonshere。’

Therewerenohorsesorchariotsinthestreet，buttherewerehandcartsandlowtrolleysrunningonthicklog—wheels，andporterscarryingpacketsontheirheads，andagoodmanyofthepeoplewereridingonwhatlookedlikeelephants，onlythegreatbeastswerehairy，andtheyhadnotthatmildexpressionweareaccustomedtomeetonthefacesoftheelephantsattheZoo。

’Mammoths！’murmuredthelearnedgentleman，andstumbledoveraloosestone。

Thepeopleinthestreetskeptcrowdingroundthemastheywentalong，buttheCaptainalwaysdispersedthecrowdbeforeitgrewuncomfortablythickbysaying——

’ChildrenoftheSunGodandtheirHighPriest——cometoblesstheCity。’

Andthenthepeoplewoulddrawbackwithalowmurmurthatsoundedlikeasuppressedcheer。

Manyofthebuildingswerecoveredwithgold，butthegoldonthebiggerbuildingswasofadifferentcolour，andtheyhadsortsofsteeplesofburnishedsilverrisingabovethem。

’Areallthesehousesrealgold？’askedJane。

’Thetemplesarecoveredwithgold，ofcourse，’answeredtheCaptain，’butthehousesareonlyoricalchum。It’snotquitesoexpensive。’

Thelearnedgentleman，nowverypale，stumbledalonginadazedway，repeating：

’Oricalchum——oricalchum。’

’Don’tbefrightened，’saidAnthea；’wecangethomeinaminute，justbyholdingupthecharm。Wouldyourathergobacknow？Wecouldeasilycomesomeotherdaywithoutyou。’

’Oh，no，no，’hepleadedfervently；’letthedreamgoon。

Please，pleasedo。’

’TheHighJi—jimmyisperhapswearywithhismagicjourney，’saidtheCaptain，noticingtheblunderingwalkofthelearnedgentleman；’andweareyetveryfarfromtheGreatTemple，wheretodaytheKingsmakesacrifice。’

Hestoppedatthegateofagreatenclosure。Itseemedtobeasortofpark，fortreesshowedhighaboveitsbrazenwall。

Thepartywaited，andalmostatoncetheCaptaincamebackwithoneofthehairyelephantsandbeggedthemtomount。

Thistheydid。

Itwasagloriousride。TheelephantattheZoo——torideonhimisalsoglorious，buthegoessuchaverylittleway，andthenhegoesbackagain，whichisalwaysdull。Butthisgreathairybeastwentonandonandonalongstreetsandthroughsquaresandgardens。Itwasagloriouscity；almosteverythingwasbuiltofmarble，red，orwhite，orblack。Everynowandthenthepartycrossedabridge。

Itwasnottilltheyhadclimbedtothehillwhichisthecentreofthetownthattheysawthatthewholecitywasdividedintotwentycircles，alternatelylandandwater，andovereachofthewatercircleswerethebridgesbywhichtheyhadcome。

Andnowtheywereinagreatsquare。Avastbuildingfilleduponesideofit；itwasoverlaidwithgold，andhadadomeofsilver。Therestofthebuildingsroundthesquarewereoforicalchum。Anditlookedmoresplendidthanyoucanpossiblyimagine，standingupboldandshininginthesunlight。

’Youwouldlikeabath，’saidtheCaptain，asthehairyelephantwentclumsilydownonhisknees。’It’scustomary，youknow，beforeenteringthePresence。Wehavebathsformen，women，horses，andcattle。TheHighClassBathsarehere。OurFatherPoseidongaveusaspringofhotwaterandoneofcold。’

Thechildrenhadneverbeforebathedinbathsofgold。

’Itfeelsverysplendid，’saidCyril，splashing。

’Atleast，ofcourse，it’snotgold；it’sor——what’sitsname，’

saidRobert。’Handoverthattowel。’

Thebathinghallhadseveralgreatpoolssunkbelowthelevelofthefloor；onewentdowntothembysteps。

’Jimmy，’saidAntheatimidly，when，verycleanandboiled—looking，theyallmetintheflowerycourtyardofthePublic，’don’tyouthinkallthisseemsmuchmorelikeNOWthanBabylonorEgypt——？Oh，Iforgot，you’veneverbeenthere。’

’Iknowalittleofthosenations，however，’saidhe，’andI

quiteagreewithyou。Amostdiscerningremark——mydear，’headdedawkwardly；’thiscitycertainlyseemstoindicateafarhigherlevelofcivilizationthantheEgyptianorBabylonish，and——’

’Followme，’saidtheCaptain。’Now，boys，getoutoftheway。’

Hepushedthroughalittlecrowdofboyswhowereplayingwithdriedchestnutsfastenedtoastring。

’Ginger！’remarkedRobert，’they’replayingconkers，justlikethekidsinKentishTownRoad！’

Theycouldseenowthatthreewallssurroundedtheislandonwhichtheywere。Theoutermostwallwasofbrass，theCaptaintoldthem；thenext，whichlookedlikesilver，wascoveredwithtin；andtheinnermostonewasoforicalchum。

Andrightinthemiddlewasawallofgold，withgoldentowersandgates。

’BeholdtheTemplesofPoseidon，’saidtheCaptain。’Itisnotlawfulformetoenter。Iwillawaityourreturnhere。’

Hetoldthemwhattheyoughttosay，andthefivepeoplefromFitzroyStreettookhandsandwentforward。Thegoldengatesslowlyopened。

’WearethechildrenoftheSun，’saidCyril，ashehadbeentold，’andourHighPriest，atleastthat’swhattheCaptaincallshim。Wehaveadifferentnameforhimathome。’’Whatishisname？’askedawhite—robedmanwhostoodinthedoorwaywithhisarmsextended。

’Ji—jimmy，’repliedCyril，andhehesitatedasAntheahaddone。

Itreallydidseemtobetakingagreatlibertywithsolearnedagentleman。’AndwehavecometospeakwithyourKingsintheTempleofPoseidon——doesthatwordsoundright？’hewhisperedanxiously。

’Quite，’saidthelearnedgentleman。’It’sveryoddIcanunderstandwhatyousaytothem，butnotwhattheysaytoyou。’

’TheQueenofBabylonfoundthattoo，’saidCyril；’it’spartofthemagic。’

’Oh，whatadream！’saidthelearnedgentleman。

Thewhite—robedpriesthadbeenjoinedbyothers，andallwerebowinglow。

’Enter，’hesaid，’enter，ChildrenoftheSun，withyourHighJi—jimmy。’

InaninnercourtyardstoodtheTemple——allofsilver，withgoldpinnaclesanddoors，andtwentyenormousstatuesinbrightgoldofmenandwomen。Alsoanimmensepillaroftheotherpreciousyellowmetal。

Theywentthroughthedoors，andthepriestledthemupastairintoagalleryfromwhichtheycouldlookdownontothegloriousplace。

’ThetenKingsareevennowchoosingthebull。Itisnotlawfulformetobehold，’saidthepriest，andfellfacedownwardontheflooroutsidethegallery。Thechildrenlookeddown。

Theroofwasofivoryadornedwiththethreepreciousmetals，andthewallswerelinedwiththefavouriteoricalchum。

AtthefarendoftheTemplewasastatuegroup，thelikeofwhichnoonelivinghaseverseen。

Itwasofgold，andtheheadofthechieffigurereachedtotheroof。ThatfigurewasPoseidon，theFatheroftheCity。Hestoodinagreatchariotdrawnbysixenormoushorses，androundaboutitwereahundredmermaidsridingondolphins。

Tenmen，splendidlydressedandarmedonlywithsticksandropes，weretryingtocaptureoneofsomefifteenbullswhoranthiswayandthatabouttheflooroftheTemple。Thechildrenheldtheirbreath，forthebullslookeddangerous，andthegreathornedheadswereswingingmoreandmorewildly。

Antheadidnotlikelookingatthebulls。Shelookedaboutthegallery，andnoticedthatanotherstaircaseledupfromittoastillhigherstorey；alsothatadoorledoutintotheopenair，wherethereseemedtobeabalcony。

SothatwhenashoutwentupandRobertwhispered，’Gothim，’andshelookeddownandsawtheherdofbullsbeingdrivenoutoftheTemplebywhips，andthetenKingsfollowing，oneofthemspurringwithhisstickablackbullthatwrithedandfoughtinthegripofalasso，sheansweredtheboy’sagitated，’Nowweshan’tseeanythingmore，’with——

’Yeswecan，there’sanoutsidebalcony。’

Sotheycrowdedout。

Butverysoonthegirlscreptback。

’Idon’tlikesacrifices，’Janesaid。SosheandAntheawentandtalkedtothepriest，whowasnolongerlyingonhisface，butsittingonthetopstepmoppinghisforeheadwithhisrobe，foritwasahotday。

’It’saspecialsacrifice，’hesaid；’usuallyit’sonlydoneonthejusticedayseveryfiveyearsandsixyearsalternately。Andthentheydrinkthecupofwinewithsomeofthebull’sbloodinit，andsweartojudgetruly。Andtheywearthesacredbluerobe，andputoutalltheTemplefires。ButthistodayisbecausetheCity’ssoupsetbytheoddnoisesfromthesea，andthegodinsidethebigmountainspeakingwithhisthunder—voice。

Butallthat’shappenedsooftenbefore。IfanythingcouldmakeMEuneasyitwouldn’tbeTHAT。’

’Whatwoulditbe？’askedJanekindly。

’ItwouldbetheLemmings。’

’Whoarethey——enemies？’

’They’reasortofrat；andeveryyeartheycomeswimmingoverfromthecountrythatnomanknows，andstayhereawhile，andthenswimaway。Thisyeartheyhaven’tcome。Youknowratswon’tstayonashipthat’sgoingtobewrecked。Ifanythinghorribleweregoingtohappentous，it’smybeliefthoseLemmingswouldknow；andthatmaybewhythey’vefoughtshyofus。’

’Whatdoyoucallthiscountry？’askedthePsammead，suddenlyputtingitsheadoutofitsbag。

’Atlantis，’saidthepriest。

’ThenIadviseyoutogetontothehighestgroundyoucanfind。

Irememberhearingsomethingaboutafloodhere。Lookhere，you’——itturnedtoAnthea；’let’sgethome。Theprospect’stoowetformywhiskers。’Thegirlsobedientlywenttofindtheirbrothers，whowereleaningonthebalconyrailings。

’Where’sthelearnedgentleman？’askedAnthea。

’Thereheis——below，’saidthepriest，whohadcomewiththem。

’YourHighJi—jimmyiswiththeKings。’

ThetenKingswerenolongeralone。Thelearnedgentleman——noonehadnoticedhowhegotthere——stoodwiththemonthestepsofanaltar，onwhichlaythedeadbodyoftheblackbull。Alltherestofthecourtyardwasthickwithpeople，seeminglyofallclasses，andallwereshouting，’Thesea——thesea！’

’Becalm，’saidthemostkinglyoftheKings，hewhohadlassoedthebull。’Ourtownisstrongagainstthethundersoftheseaandofthesky！’

’Iwanttogohome，’whinedthePsammead。

’Wecan’tgowithoutHIM，’saidAntheafirmly。