james and the giant peach...roald dahl james and the giant peach illustrated by quentin blake puffin...
TRANSCRIPT
OtherbooksbyRoaldDahl
THEBFG
BOY:TALESOFCHILDHOOD
BOYandGOINGSOLO
CHARLIEANDTHECHOCOLATEFACTORY
CHARLIEANDTHEGREATGLASSELEVATOR
THECOMPLETEADVENTURESOFCHARLIEANDMRWILLYWONKA
DANNYTHECHAMPIONOFTHEWORLD
GEORGEâSMARVELLOUSMEDICINE
GOINGSOLO
MATILDA
THEWITCHES
Foryoungerreaders
THEENORMOUSCROCODILE
ESIOTROT
FANTASTICMRFOX
THEGIRAFFEANDTHEPELLYANDME
THEMAGICFINGER
THETWITS
Picturebooks
DIRTYBEASTS(withQuentinBlake)
THEENORMOUSCROCODILE(withQuentinBlake)
THEGIRAFFEANDTHEPELLYANDME(withQuentinBlake)
THEMINPINS(withPatrickBenson)
REVOLTINGRHYMES(withQuentinBlake)
Plays
THEBFG:PLAYSFORCHILDREN(AdaptedbyDavidWood)
CHARLIEANDTHECHOCOLATEFACTORY:APLAY(AdaptedbyRichardGeorge)
FANTASTICMRFOX:APLAY(AdaptedbySallyReid)
JAMESANDTHEGIANTPEACH:APLAY(AdaptedbyRichardGeorge)
THETWITS:PLAYSFORCHILDREN(AdaptedbyDavidWood)
THEWITCHES:PLAYSFORCHILDREN(AdaptedbyDavidWood)
Teenagefiction
THEGREATAUTOMATICGRAMMATIZATORANDOTHERSTORIES
RHYMESTEW
SKINANDOTHERSTORIES
THEVICAROFNIBBLESWICKE
THEWONDERFULSTORYOFHENRYSUGARANDSIXMORE
PUFFINBOOKS
PublishedbythePenguinGroup
PenguinBooksLtd,80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,England
PenguinGroup(USA)Inc.,375HudsonStreet,NewYork,NewYork10014,USA
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PenguinBooksLtd,RegisteredOffices:80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,England
puffinbooks.com
FirstpublishedintheUSA1961
PublishedinGreatBritainbyGeorgeAllen&Unwin1967
PublishedinPuffinBooks1973
eissuedwithnewillustrations1995
Thiseditionpublished2007
2
Textcopyright©RoaldDahlNomineeLtd,1961
Illustrationscopyright©QuentinBlake,1995
Allrightsreserved
Themoralrightoftheauthorhasbeenasserted
ExceptintheUnitedStatesofAmerica,thisbookissoldsubjecttotheconditionthatitshallnot,bywayoftradeorotherwise,belent,re-sold,hiredout,orotherwisecirculatedwithoutthepublisherâspriorconsentinanyformofbindingorcoverotherthanthatinwhichitis
publishedandwithoutasimilarconditionincludingthisconditionbeingimposedonthe
subsequentpurchaser
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
ACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
ISBN:978-0-14-192987-3
One
Untilhewasfouryearsold,JamesHenryTrotterhadahappylife.Helivedpeacefullywithhismotherandfatherinabeautifulhousebesidethesea.Therewerealwaysplentyofotherchildrenforhimtoplaywith,andtherewasthesandybeachforhimtorunabouton,andtheoceantopaddlein.Itwastheperfectlifeforasmallboy.
Then,oneday,JamesâsmotherandfatherwenttoLondontodosomeshopping,andthereaterriblethinghappened.Bothofthemsuddenlygoteatenup(infulldaylight,mindyou,andonacrowdedstreet)byanenormousangryrhinoceroswhichhadescapedfromtheLondonZoo.
Nowthis,asyoucanwellimagine,wasarathernastyexperiencefortwosuchgentleparents.ButinthelongrunitwasfarnastierforJamesthanitwasforthem.Theirtroubleswerealloverinajiffy.Theyweredeadandgoneinthirty-fivesecondsflat.PoorJames,ontheotherhand,wasstillverymuchalive,andallatoncehefoundhimselfaloneandfrightenedinavastunfriendlyworld.Thelovelyhousebytheseasidehadtobesoldimmediately,andthelittleboy,carryingnothingbutasmallsuitcasecontainingapairofpyjamasandatoothbrush,wassentawaytolivewithhistwoaunts.
TheirnameswereAuntSpongeandAuntSpiker,andIamsorrytosaythattheywerebothreallyhorriblepeople.Theywereselfishandlazyandcruel,andrightfromthebeginningtheystartedbeatingpoorJamesforalmostnoreasonatall.Theynevercalledhimbyhisrealname,butalwaysreferredtohimasâyoudisgustinglittlebeastâorâyoufilthynuisanceâorâyoumiserablecreatureâ,andtheycertainly
nevergavehimanytoystoplaywithoranypicturebookstolookat.Hisroomwasasbareasaprisoncell.
TheylivedâAuntSponge,AuntSpiker,andnowJamesaswellâinaqueerramshacklehouseonthetopofahighhillinthesouthofEngland.ThehillwassohighthatfromalmostanywhereinthegardenJamescouldlookdownandseeformilesandmilesacrossamarvellouslandscapeofwoodsandfields;andonaveryclearday,ifhelookedintherightdirection,hecouldseeatinygreydotfarawayonthehorizon,whichwasthehousethatheusedtoliveinwithhisbelovedmotherandfather.Andjustbeyondthat,hecouldseetheoceanitselfâalongthinstreakofblackish-blue,likealineofink,beneaththerimofthesky.
ButJameswasneverallowedtogodownoffthetopofthathill.NeitherAuntSpongenorAuntSpikercouldeverbebotheredtotakehimoutherself,notevenforasmallwalkorapicnic,andhecertainlywasnâtpermittedtogoalone.âThenastylittlebeastwillonlygetintomischiefifhegoesoutofthegarden,âAuntSpikerhadsaid.Andterriblepunishmentswerepromisedhim,suchasbeinglockedupin
thecellarwiththeratsforaweek,ifheevensomuchasdaredtoclimboverthefence.
Thegarden,whichcoveredthewholeofthetopofthehill,waslargeanddesolate,andtheonlytreeintheentireplace(apartfromaclumpofdirtyoldlaurelbushesatthefarend)wasanancientpeachtreethatnevergaveanypeaches.Therewasnoswing,noseesaw,nosandpit,andnootherchildrenwereeverinvitedtocomeupthehilltoplaywithpoorJames.Therewasnâtsomuchasadogoracataroundtokeephimcompany.Andastimewenton,hebecamesadderandsadder,andmoreandmorelonely,andheusedtospendhourseverydaystandingatthebottomofthegarden,gazingwistfullyatthelovelybutforbiddenworldofwoodsandfieldsandoceanthatwasspreadoutbelowhimlikeamagiccarpet.
Two
AfterJamesHenryTrotterhadbeenlivingwithhisauntsforthreewholeyearstherecameamorningwhensomethingratherpeculiarhappenedtohim.Andthisthing,whichasIsaywasonlyratherpeculiar,sooncausedasecondthingtohappenwhichwasverypeculiar.Andthentheverypeculiarthing,initsownturn,causedareallyfantasticallypeculiarthingtooccur.
Itallstartedonablazinghotdayinthemiddleofsummer.AuntSponge,AuntSpikerandJameswerealloutinthegarden.Jameshadbeenputtowork,asusual.Thistimehewaschoppingwoodforthekitchenstove.AuntSpongeandAuntSpikerweresittingcomfortablyindeck-chairsnearby,sippingtallglassesoffizzylemonadeandwatchinghimtoseethathedidnâtstopworkforonemoment.
AuntSpongewasenormouslyfatandveryshort.Shehadsmallpiggyeyes,asunkenmouth,andoneofthosewhiteflabbyfacesthatlookedexactlyasthoughithadbeenboiled.Shewaslikeagreatwhitesoggyoverboiledcabbage.AuntSpiker,ontheotherhand,wasleanandtallandbony,andsheworesteel-rimmedspectaclesthatfixedontotheendofhernosewithaclip.Shehadascreechingvoiceandlongwetnarrowlips,andwhenevershegotangryorexcited,littleflecksofspitwouldcomeshootingoutofhermouthasshetalked.Andtheretheysat,thesetwoghastlyhags,sippingtheirdrinks,andeverynowandagainscreamingatJamestochopfasterandfaster.Theyalsotalkedaboutthemselves,eachonesayinghowbeautifulshethoughtshewas.Aunt
Spongehadalong-handledmirroronherlap,andshekeptpickingitupandgazingatherownhideousface.
âIlookandsmell,âAuntSpongedeclared,âaslovelyasarose!
Justfeastyoureyesuponmyface,observemyshapelynose!
Beholdmyheavenlysilkylocks!
AndifItakeoffbothmysocks
Youâllseemydaintytoes.â
âButdonâtforget,âAuntSpikercried,âhowmuchyourtummyshows!â
AuntSpongewentred.AuntSpikersaid,âMysweet,youcannotwin,
BeholdMYgorgeouscurvyshape,myteeth,mycharminggrin!
Oh,beauteousme!HowIadore
Myradiantlooks!Andpleaseignore
Thepimpleonmychin.â
âMydearoldtrout!âAuntSpongecriedout,âYouâreonlybonesandskin!â
âSuchlovelinessasIpossesscanonlytrulyshine
InHollywood!âAuntSpongedeclared:âOh,wouldnâtthatbefine!
Iâdcaptureallthenationsâhearts!
Theyâdgivemealltheleadingparts!
Thestarswouldallresign!â
âIthinkyouâdmake,âAuntSpikersaid,âalovelyFrankenstein.â
PoorJameswasstillslavingawayatthechopping-block.Theheatwasterrible.Hewassweatingallover.Hisarmwasaching.Thechopperwasalargebluntthingfartooheavyforasmallboytouse.Andasheworked,Jamesbeganthinkingaboutalltheotherchildrenintheworldandwhattheymightbedoingatthismoment.Somewouldberidingtricyclesintheirgardens.Somewouldbewalkingincoolwoodsandpickingbunchesofwildflowers.Andallthelittlefriendswhomheusedtoknowwouldbedownbytheseaside,playinginthewetsandandsplashingaroundinthewaterâŠ
GreattearsbeganoozingoutofJamesâseyesandrollingdownhischeeks.Hestoppedworkingandleanedagainstthechopping-block,overwhelmedbyhisownunhappiness.
âWhatâsthematterwithyou?âAuntSpikerscreeched,glaringathimoverthetopofhersteelspectacles.
Jamesbegantocry.
âStopthatimmediatelyandgetonwithyourwork,younastylittlebeast!âAuntSpongeordered.
âOh,AuntieSponge!âJamescriedout.âAndAuntieSpiker!Couldnâtweallâpleaseâjustforonceâgodowntotheseasideonthebus?ItisnâtveryfarâandIfeelsohotandawfulandlonelyâŠâ
âWhy,youlazygood-for-nothingbrute!âAuntSpikershouted.
âBeathim!âcriedAuntSponge.
âIcertainlywill!âAuntSpikersnapped.SheglaredatJames,andJameslookedbackatherwithlargefrightenedeyes.âIshallbeatyoulateroninthedaywhenIdonâtfeelsohot,âshesaid.âAndnowgetoutofmysight,youdisgustinglittleworm,andgivemesomepeace!â
Jamesturnedandran.Heranoffasfastashecouldtothefarend
ofthegardenandhidhimselfbehindthatclumpofdirtyoldlaurelbushesthatwementionedearlieron.Thenhecoveredhisfacewithhishandsandbegantocryandcry.
Three
Itwasatthispointthatthefirstthingofall,theratherpeculiarthingthatledtosomanyothermuchmorepeculiarthings,happenedtohim.
Forsuddenly,justbehindhim,Jamesheardarustlingofleaves,andheturnedroundandsawanoldmaninafunnydark-greensuitemergingfromthebushes.Hewasaverysmalloldman,buthehadahugebaldheadandafacethatwascoveredalloverwithbristlyblackwhiskers.Hestoppedwhenhewasaboutthreeyardsaway,andhestoodthereleaningonhisstickandstaringhardatJames.
Whenhespoke,hisvoicewasveryslowandcreaky.âComeclosertome,littleboy,âhesaid,beckoningtoJameswithafinger.âComerightupclosetomeandIwillshowyousomethingwonderful.â
Jameswastoofrightenedtomove.
Theoldmanhobbledasteportwonearer,andthenheputahandintothepocketofhisjacketandtookoutasmallwhitepaperbag.
âYouseethis?âhewhispered,wavingthebaggentlytoandfroinfrontofJamesâsface.âYouknowwhatthisis,mydear?Youknowwhatâsinsidethislittlebag?â
Thenhecamenearerstill,leaningforwardandpushinghisfacesoclosetoJamesthatJamescouldfeelbreathblowingonhischeeks.Thebreathsmelledmustyandstaleandslightlymildewed,likeairinanoldcellar.
âTakealook,mydear,âhesaid,openingthebagandtiltingittowardsJames.Insideit,Jamescouldseeamassoftinygreenthingsthatlookedlikelittlestonesorcrystals,eachoneaboutthesizeofagrainofrice.Theywereextraordinarilybeautiful,andtherewasastrangebrightnessaboutthem,asortofluminousqualitythatmadethemglowandsparkleinthemostwonderfulway.
âListentothem!âtheoldmanwhispered.âListentothemmove!â
Jamesstaredintothebag,andsureenoughtherewasafaintrustlingsoundcomingupfrominsideit,andthenhenoticedthatallthethousandsoflittlegreenthingswereslowly,veryveryslowlystirringaboutandmovingovereachotherasthoughtheywerealive.
âThereâsmorepowerandmagicinthosethingsintherethaninalltherestoftheworldputtogether,âtheoldmansaidsoftly.
âButâbutâwhatarethey?âJamesmurmured,findinghisvoiceatlast.âWheredotheycomefrom?â
âAh-ha,âtheoldmanwhispered.âYouâdneverguessthat!âHewas
crouchingalittlenowandpushinghisfacestillcloserandclosertoJamesuntilthetipofhislongnosewasactuallytouchingtheskinonJamesâsforehead.Thensuddenlyhejumpedbackandbeganwavinghisstickmadlyintheair.âCrocodiletongues!âhecried.âOnethousandlongslimycrocodiletonguesboiledupintheskullofadeadwitchfortwentydaysandnightswiththeeyeballsofalizard!Addthefingersofayoungmonkey,thegizzardofapig,thebeakofagreenparrot,thejuiceofaporcupine,andthreespoonfulsofsugar.Stewforanotherweek,andthenletthemoondotherest!â
Allatonce,hepushedthewhitepaperbagintoJamesâshands,andsaid,âHere!Youtakeit!Itâsyours!â
Four
JamesHenryTrotterstoodthereclutchingthebagandstaringattheoldman.
âAndnow,âtheoldmansaid,âallyouâvegottodoisthis.Takealargejugofwater,andpourallthelittlegreenthingsintoit.Then,veryslowly,onebyone,addtenhairsfromyourownhead.Thatsetsthemoff!Itgetsthemgoing!Inacoupleofminutesthewaterwillbegintofrothandbubblefuriously,andassoonasthathappensyoumustquicklydrinkitalldown,thewholejugful,inonegulp.Andthen,mydear,youwillfeelitchurningandboilinginyourstomach,andsteamwillstartcomingoutofyourmouth,andimmediatelyafterthat,marvellousthingswillstarthappeningtoyou,fabulous,unbelievablethingsâandyouwillneverbemiserableagaininyourlife.Becauseyouaremiserable,arenâtyou?Youneednâttellme!Iknowallaboutit!Now,offyougoanddoexactlyasIsay.Anddonâtwhisperawordofthistothosetwohorribleauntsofyours!Notaword!Anddonâtletthosegreenthingsintheregetawayfromyoueither!Becauseiftheydoescape,thentheywillbeworkingtheirmagicuponsomebodyelseinsteadofuponyou!Andthatisnâtwhatyouwantatall,isit,mydear?Whoevertheymeetfirst,beitbug,insect,animal,ortree,thatwillbetheonewhogetsthefullpoweroftheirmagic!Soholdthebagtight!Donâttearthepaper!Offyougo!Hurryup!Donâtwait!Nowâsthetime!Hurry!â
Withthat,theoldmanturnedawayanddisappearedintothebushes.
Five
Thenextmoment,Jameswasrunningbacktowardsthehouseasfastashecouldgo.Hewoulddoitallinthekitchen,hetoldhimselfâifonlyhecouldgetintherewithoutAuntSpongeandAuntSpikerseeinghim.Hewasterriblyexcited.Heflewthroughthelonggrassandthestinging-nettles,notcaringwhetherhegotstungornotonhisbareknees,andinthedistancehecouldseeAuntSpongeandAuntSpikersittingintheirchairswiththeirbackstowardshim.Heswervedawayfromthemsoastogoroundtheothersideofthehouse,butthensuddenly,justashewaspassingunderneaththeoldpeachtreethatstoodinthemiddleofthegarden,hisfootslippedandhefellflatonhisfaceinthegrass.Thepaperbagburstopenasithitthegroundandthethousandsoftinygreenthingswerescatteredinalldirections.
Jamesimmediatelypickedhimselfupontohishandsandkneesandstartedsearchingaroundforhisprecioustreasures.Butwhatwasthis?Theywereallsinkingintothesoil!Hecouldactuallyseethemwrigglingandtwistingastheyburrowedtheirwaydownwardintothehardearth,andatoncehereachedoutahandtopicksomeofthemupbeforeitwastoolate,buttheydisappearedrightunderhisfingers.Hewentaftersomeothers,andthesamethinghappened!Hebeganscrabblingaroundfranticallyinanefforttocatchholdofthosethatwereleft,buttheyweretooquickforhim.Eachtimethetipsofhisfingerswerejustabouttotouchthem,theyvanishedintotheearth!Andsoon,inthespaceofonlyafewseconds,everysingleoneofthemhadgone!
Jamesfeltlikecrying.Hewouldnevergetthembacknowâthey
werelost,lost,lostforever.
Butwherehadtheygoneto?Andwhyintheworldhadtheybeensoeagertopushdownintotheearthlikethat?Whatweretheyafter?Therewasnothingdownthere.NothingexcepttherootsoftheoldpeachtreeâŠandawholelotofearthwormsandcentipedesandinsectslivinginthesoil.
Butwhatwasitthattheoldmanhadsaid?Whoevertheymeetfirst,beitbug,insect,animal,ortree,thatwillbetheonewhogetsthefullpoweroftheirmagic!
Goodheavens,thoughtJames.Whatisgoingtohappeninthatcaseiftheydomeetanearthworm?Oracentipede?Oraspider?Andwhatiftheydogointotherootsofthepeachtree?
âGetupatonce,youlazylittlebeast!âavoicewassuddenlyshoutinginJamesâsear.JamesglancedupandsawAuntSpikerstandingoverhim,grimandtallandbony,glaringathimthroughhersteel-rimmedspectacles.âGetbackoverthereimmediatelyandfinishchoppingupthoselogs!âsheordered.
AuntSponge,fatandpulpyasajellyfish,camewaddlingupbehindhersistertoseewhatwasgoingon.âWhydonâtwejustlowertheboydownthewellinabucketandleavehimthereforthenight?âshesuggested.âThatoughttoteachhimnottolazearoundlikethisthewholedaylong.â
âThatâsaverygoodwheeze,mydearSponge.Butletâsmakehimfinishchoppingupthewoodfirst.Beoffwithyouatonce,youhideousbrat,anddosomework!â
Slowly,sadly,poorJamesgotupoffthegroundandwentbacktothewoodpile.Oh,ifonlyhehadnâtslippedandfallenanddropped
thatpreciousbag.Allhopeofahappierlifehadgonecompletelynow.Todayandtomorrowandthenextdayandalltheotherdaysaswellwouldbenothingbutpunishmentandpain,unhappinessanddespair.
Hepickedupthechopperandwasjustabouttostartchoppingawayagainwhenheheardashoutbehindhimthatmadehimstopandturn.
Six
âSponge!Sponge!Comehereatonceandlookatthis!â
âAtwhat?â
âItâsapeach!âAuntSpikerwasshouting.
âAwhat?â
âApeach!Rightupthereonthehighestbranch!Canâtyouseeit?â
âIthinkyoumustbemistaken,mydearSpiker.Thatmiserabletreeneverhasanypeachesonit.â
âThereâsoneonitnow,Sponge!Youlookforyourself!â
âYouâreteasingme,Spiker.Youâremakingmymouthwateronpurposewhenthereâsnothingtoputintoit.Why,thattreeâsnever
evenhadablossomonit,letaloneapeach.Rightuponthehighestbranch,yousay?Icanâtseeathing.VeryfunnyâŠHa,haâŠGoodgraciousme!Well,Iâllbeblowed!Therereallyisapeachupthere!â
âAnicebigone,too!âAuntSpikersaid.
âAbeauty,abeauty!âAuntSpongecriedout.
Atthispoint,Jamesslowlyputdownhischopperandturnedandlookedacrossatthetwowomenwhowerestandingunderneaththepeachtree.
Somethingisabouttohappen,hetoldhimself.Somethingpeculiarisabouttohappenanymoment.Hehadnâtthefaintestideawhatitmightbe,buthecouldfeelitinhisbonesthatsomethingwasgoingtohappensoon.HecouldfeelitintheairaroundhimâŠinthesuddenstillnessthathadfallenuponthegardenâŠ
Jamestiptoedalittleclosertothetree.Theauntswerenottalkingnow.Theywerejuststandingthere,staringatthepeach.Therewasnotasoundanywhere,notevenabreathofwind,andoverheadthesunblazeddownuponthemoutofadeepbluesky.
âItlooksripetome,âAuntSpikersaid,breakingthesilence.
âThenwhydonâtweeatit?âAuntSpongesuggested,lickingherthicklips.âWecanhavehalfeach.Hey,you!James!Comeoverhereatonceandclimbthistree!â
Jamescamerunningover.
âIwantyoutopickthatpeachupthereonthehighestbranch,âAuntSpongewenton.âCanyouseeit?â
âYes,AuntieSponge,Icanseeit!â
âAnddonâtyoudareeatanyofityourself.YourAuntSpikerandI
aregoingtohaveitbetweenusrighthereandnow,halfeach.Getonwithyou!Upyougo!â
Jamescrossedovertothetreetrunk.
âStop!âAuntSpikersaidquickly.âHoldeverything!âShewasstaringupintothebrancheswithhermouthwideopenandhereyesbulgingasthoughshehadseenaghost.âLook!âshesaid.âLook,Sponge,look!â
âWhatâsthematterwithyou?âAuntSpongedemanded.
âItâsgrowing!âAuntSpikercried.âItâsgettingbiggerandbigger!â
âWhatis?â
âThepeach,ofcourse!â
âYouârejoking!â
âWell,lookforyourself!â
âButmydearSpiker,thatâsperfectlyridiculous.Thatâsimpossible.ThatâsâthatâsâthatâsâNow,waitjustaminuteâNoâNothatcanâtberightâNoâYesâGreatScott!Thethingreallyisgrowing!â
âItâsnearlytwiceasbigalready!âAuntSpikershouted.
âItcanâtbetrue!â
âItistrue!â
âItmustbeamiracle!â
âWatchit!Watchit!â
âIamwatchingit!â
âGreatheavensalive!âAuntSpikeryelled.âIcanactuallyseethethingbulgingandswellingbeforemyveryeyes!â
Seven
Thetwowomenandthesmallboystoodabsolutelystillonthegrassunderneaththetree,gazingupatthisextraordinaryfruit.Jamesâslittlefacewasglowingwithexcitement,hiseyeswereasbigandbrightastwostars.Hecouldseethepeachswellinglargerandlargerasclearlyasifitwereaballoonbeingblownup.
Inhalfaminute,itwasthesizeofamelon!
Inanotherhalf-minute,itwastwiceasbigagain!
âJustlookatitgrowing!âAuntSpikercried.
âWilliteverstop!âAuntSpongeshouted,wavingherfatarmsandstartingtodancearoundincircles.
Andnowitwassobigitlookedlikeanenormousbutter-colouredpumpkindanglingfromthetopofthetree.
âGetawayfromthattreetrunk,youstupidboy!âAuntSpikeryelled.âTheslightestshakeandIâmsureitâllfalloff!Itmustweightwentyorthirtypoundsatleast!â
Thebranchthatthepeachwasgrowinguponwasbeginningtobendoverfurtherandfurtherbecauseoftheweight.
âStandback!âAuntSpongeshouted.âItâscomingdown!Thebranchisgoingtobreak!â
Butthebranchdidnâtbreak.Itsimplybentovermoreandmoreasthepeachgotheavierandheavier.
Andstillitwentongrowing.
Inanotherminute,thismammothfruitwasaslargeandroundandfatasAuntSpongeherself,andprobablyjustasheavy.
âIthastostopnow!âAuntSpikeryelled.âItcanâtgoonforever!â
Butitdidnâtstop.
Soonitwasthesizeofasmallcar,andreachedhalfwaytotheground.
Bothauntswerenowhoppingroundandroundthetree,clappingtheirhandsandshoutingallsortsofsillythingsintheirexcitement.
âHallelujah!âAuntSpikershouted.âWhatapeach!Whatapeach!â
âTerrifico!âAuntSpongecriedout,âMagnifico!Splendifico!Andwhatameal!â
âItâsstillgrowing.â
âIknow!Iknow!â
AsforJames,hewassospellboundbythewholethingthathecouldonlystandandstareandmurmurquietlytohimself,âOh,isnâtitbeautiful.ItâsthemostbeautifulthingIâveeverseen.â
âShutup,youlittletwerp!âAuntSpikersnapped,happeningtooverhearhim.âItâsnoneofyourbusiness!â
âThatâsright,âAuntSpongedeclared.âItâsgotnothingtodowithyouwhatsoever!Keepoutofit.â
âLook!âAuntSpikershouted.âItâsgrowingfasterthanevernow!Itâsspeedingup!â
âIseeit,Spiker!Ido!Ido!â
Biggerandbiggergrewthepeach,biggerandbiggerandbigger.
Thenatlast,whenithadbecomenearlyastallasthetreethatitwasgrowingon,astallandwide,infact,asasmallhouse,thebottompartofitgentlytouchedthegroundâandthereitrested.
âItcanâtfalloffnow!âAuntSpongeshouted.
âItâsstoppedgrowing!âAuntSpikercried.
âNo,ithasnât!â
âYes,ithas!â
âItâsslowingdown,Spiker,itâsslowingdown!Butithasnâtstoppedyet!Youwatchit!â
Therewasapause.
âIthasnow!â
âIbelieveyouâreright.â
âDoyouthinkitâssafetotouchit?â
âIdonâtknow.Weâdbetterbecareful.â
AuntSpongeandAuntSpikerbeganwalkingslowlyroundthepeach,inspectingitverycautiouslyfromallsides.Theywerelikeacoupleofhunterswhohadjustshotanelephantandwerenotquitesurewhetheritwasdeadoralive.Andthemassiveroundfruittoweredoverthemsohighthattheylookedlikemidgetsfromanotherworldbesideit.
Theskinofthepeachwasverybeautifulâarichbutteryyellowwithpatchesofbrilliantpinkandred.AuntSpongeadvancedcautiouslyandtoucheditwiththetipofonefinger.âItâsripe!âshecried.âItâsjustperfect!Now,lookhere,Spiker.Whydonâtwegoandgetashovelrightawayanddigoutagreatbigchunkofitforyouand
metoeat?â
âNo,âAuntSpikersaid.âNotyet.â
âWhyevernot?â
âBecauseIsayso.â
âButIcanâtwaittoeatsome!âAuntSpongecriedout.Shewaswateringatthemouthnowandathintrickleofspitwasrunningdownonesideofherchin.
âMydearSponge,âAuntSpikersaidslowly,winkingathersisterandsmilingasly,thin-lippedsmile.âThereâsapileofmoneytobemadeoutofthisifonlywecanhandleitright.Youwaitandsee.â
Eight
Thenewsthatapeachalmostasbigasahousehadsuddenlyappearedinsomeoneâsgardenspreadlikewildfireacrossthecountryside,andthenextdayastreamofpeoplecamescramblingupthesteephilltogazeuponthismarvel.
Quickly,AuntSpongeandAuntSpikercalledincarpentersandhadthembuildastrongfenceroundthepeachtosaveitfromthecrowd;andatthesametime,thesetwocraftywomenstationedthemselvesatthefrontgatewithalargebunchofticketsandstartedchargingeveryoneforcomingin.
âRollup!Rollup!âAuntSpikeryelled.âOnlyoneshillingtoseethegiantpeach!â
âHalfpriceforchildrenundersixweeksold!âAuntSpongeshouted.
âOneatatime,please!Donâtpush!Donâtpush!Youâreallgoingtogetin!â
âHey,you!Comeback,there!Youhavenâtpaid!â
Bylunchtime,thewholeplacewasaseethingmassofmen,women,andchildrenallpushingandshovingtogetaglimpseofthismiraculousfruit.Helicopterswerelandinglikewaspsalloverthehill,andoutofthempouredswarmsofnewspaperreporters,cameramen,andmenfromthetelevisioncompanies.
âItâllcostyoudoubletobringinacamera!âAuntSpikershouted.
âAllright!Allright!âtheyanswered.âWedonâtcare!âAndthemoneycamerollingintothepocketsofthetwogreedyaunts.
Butwhileallthisexcitementwasgoingonoutside,poorJameswasforcedtostaylockedinhisbedroom,peepingthroughthebarsofhiswindowatthecrowdsbelow.
âThedisgustinglittlebrutewillonlygetineveryoneâswayifwelethimwanderabout,âAuntSpikerhadsaidearlythatmorning.
âOh,please!âhehadbegged.âIhavenâtmetanyotherchildrenforyearsandyearsandtherearegoingtobelotsofthemdownthereformetoplaywith.AndperhapsIcouldhelpyouwiththetickets.â
âShutup!âAuntSpongehadsnapped.âYourAuntSpikerandIareabouttobecomemillionaires,andthelastthingwewantisthelikesofyoumessingthingsupandgettingintheway.â
Later,whentheeveningofthefirstdaycameandthepeoplehadallgonehome,theauntsunlockedJamesâsdoorandorderedhimtogooutsideandpickupallthebananaskinsandorangepeelandbitsofpaperthatthecrowdhadleftbehind.
âCouldIpleasehavesomethingtoeatfirst?âheasked.âIhavenâthadathingallday.â
âNo!âtheyshouted,kickinghimoutofthedoor.âWeâretoobusytomakefood!Wearecountingourmoney!â
âButitâsdark!âcriedJames.
âGetout!âtheyyelled.âAndstayoutuntilyouâvecleanedupallthemess!âThedoorslammed.Thekeyturnedinthelock.
Nine
Hungryandtrembling,Jamesstoodaloneoutintheopen,wonderingwhattodo.Thenightwasallaroundhimnow,andhighoverheadawildwhitemoonwasridinginthesky.Therewasnotasound,notamovementanywhere.
Mostpeopleâandespeciallysmallchildrenâareoftenquitescaredofbeingoutofdoorsaloneinthemoonlight.Everythingissodeadlyquiet,andtheshadowsaresolongandblack,andtheykeepturningintostrangeshapesthatseemtomoveasyoulookatthem,andtheslightestlittlesnapofatwigmakesyoujump.
Jamesfeltexactlylikethatnow.Hestaredstraightaheadwithlargefrightenedeyes,hardlydaringtobreathe.Notfaraway,inthemiddleofthegarden,hecouldseethegiantpeachtoweringovereverythingelse.Surelyitwasevenbiggertonightthaneverbefore?Andwhatadazzlingsightitwas!Themoonlightwasshiningandglintingonitsgreatcurvingsides,turningthemtocrystalandsilver.Itlookedlikeatremendoussilverballlyingthereinthegrass,silent,mysterious,andwonderful.
Andthenallatonce,littleshiversofexcitementstartedrunningovertheskinonJamesâsback.
Somethingelse,hetoldhimself,somethingstrangerthaneverthistime,isabouttohappentomeagainsoon.Hewassureofit.Hecouldfeelitcoming.
Helookedaroundhim,wonderingwhatonearthitwasgoingtobe.Thegardenlaysoftandsilverinthemoonlight.Thegrasswaswet
withdewandamilliondewdropsweresparklingandtwinklinglikediamondsaroundhisfeet.Andnowsuddenly,thewholeplace,thewholegardenseemedtobealivewithmagic.
Almostwithoutknowingwhathewasdoing,asthoughdrawnbysomepowerfulmagnet,JamesHenryTrotterstartedwalkingslowlytowardsthegiantpeach.Heclimbedoverthefencethatsurroundedit,andstooddirectlybeneathit,staringupatitsgreatbulgingsides.Heputoutahandandtoucheditgentlywiththetipofonefinger.Itfeltsoftandwarmandslightlyfurry,liketheskinofababymouse.Hemovedastepcloserandrubbedhischeeklightlyagainstthesoftskin.Andthensuddenly,whilehewasdoingthis,hehappenedtonoticethatrightbesidehimandbelowhim,closetotheground,therewasaholeinthesideofthepeach.
Ten
Itwasquitealargehole,thesortofthingananimalaboutthesizeofafoxmighthavemade.
Jameskneltdowninfrontofit,andpokedhisheadandshouldersinside.
Hecrawledin.
Hekeptoncrawling.
Thisisnâtahole,hethoughtexcitedly.Itâsatunnel!
Thetunnelwasdampandmurky,andallaroundhimtherewasthecuriousbittersweetsmelloffreshpeach.Thefloorwassoggyunderhisknees,thewallswerewetandsticky,andpeachjuicewasdrippingfromtheceiling.Jamesopenedhismouthandcaughtsomeofitonhistongue.Ittasteddelicious.
Hewascrawlinguphillnow,asthoughthetunnelwereleadingstraighttowardstheverycentreofthegiganticfruit.Everyfewsecondshepausedandtookabiteoutofthewall.Thepeachfleshwassweetandjuicy,andmarvellouslyrefreshing.
Hecrawledonforseveralmoreyards,andthensuddenlyâbangâthetopofhisheadbumpedintosomethingextremelyhardblockinghisway.Heglancedup.Infrontofhimtherewasasolidwallthatseemedatfirstasthoughitweremadeofwood.Hetoucheditwithhisfingers.Itcertainlyfeltlikewood,exceptthatitwasveryjaggedandfullofdeepgrooves.
âGoodheavens!âhesaid.âIknowwhatthisis!Iâvecometothestone
inthemiddleofthepeach!â
Thenhenoticedthattherewasasmalldoorcutintothefaceofthepeachstone.Hegaveapush.Itswungopen.Hecrawledthroughit,andbeforehehadtimetoglanceupandseewherehewas,heheardavoicesaying,âLookwhoâshere!âAndanotheronesaid,âWeâvebeenwaitingforyou!â
Jamesstoppedandstaredatthespeakers,hisfacewhitewithhorror.
Hestartedtostandup,buthiskneeswereshakingsomuchhehadtositdownagainonthefloor.Heglancedbehindhim,thinkinghecouldboltbackintothetunnelthewayhehadcome,butthedoorwayhaddisappeared.Therewasnowonlyasolidbrownwallbehindhim.
Eleven
Jamesâslargefrightenedeyestravelledslowlyroundtheroom.
Thecreatures,somesittingonchairs,othersrecliningonasofa,wereallwatchinghimintently.
Creatures?
Orweretheyinsects?
Aninsectisusuallysomethingrathersmall,isitnot?Agrasshopper,forexample,isaninsect.
Sowhatwouldyoucallitifyousawagrasshopperaslargeasadog?Aslargeasalargedog.Youcouldhardlycallthataninsect,couldyou?
TherewasanOld-Green-GrasshopperaslargeasalargedogsittingdirectlyacrosstheroomfromJamesnow.
AndnexttotheOld-Green-Grasshopper,therewasanenormousSpider.
AndnexttotheSpider,therewasagiantLadybirdwithnineblackspotsonherscarletshell.
Eachofthesethreewassquattinguponamagnificentchair.
Onasofanearby,recliningcomfortablyincurled-uppositions,therewereaCentipedeandanEarthworm.
Ontheflooroverinthefarcorner,therewassomethingthickandwhitethatlookedasthoughitmightbeaSilkworm.Butitwassleepingsoundlyandnobodywaspayinganyattentiontoit.
EveryoneoftheseâcreaturesâwasatleastasbigasJameshimself,andinthestrangegreenishlightthatshonedownfromsomewhereintheceiling,theywereabsolutelyterrifyingtobehold.
âIâmhungry!âtheSpiderannouncedsuddenly,staringhardatJames.
âIâmfamished!âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.
âSoamI!âtheLadybirdcried.
TheCentipedesatupalittlestraighteronthesofa.âEveryoneâsfamished!âhesaid.âWeneedfood!â
FourpairsofroundblackglassyeyeswereallfixeduponJames.
TheCentipedemadeawrigglingmovementwithhisbodyasthoughhewereabouttoglideoffthesofaâbuthedidnât.
Therewasalongpauseâandalongsilence.
TheSpider(whohappenedtobeafemalespider)openedhermouthandranalongblacktonguedelicatelyoverherlips.âArenâtyouhungry?âsheaskedsuddenly,leaningforwardandaddressingherselftoJames.
PoorJameswasbackedupagainstthefarwall,shiveringwithfrightandmuchtooterrifiedtoanswer.
âWhatâsthematterwithyou?âtheOld-Green-Grasshopperasked.âYoulookpositivelyill!â
âHelooksasthoughheâsgoingtofaintanysecond,âtheCentipedesaid.
âOh,mygoodness,thepoorthing!âtheLadybirdcried.âIdobelievehethinksitâshimthatwearewantingtoeat!â
Therewasaroaroflaughterfromallsides.
âOhdear,ohdear!âtheysaid.âWhatanawfulthought!â
âYoumustnâtbefrightened,âtheLadybirdsaidkindly.âWewouldnâtdreamofhurtingyou.Youareoneofusnow,didnâtyouknowthat?Youareoneofthecrew.Weâreallinthesameboat.â
âWeâvebeenwaitingforyoualldaylong,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.âWethoughtyouwerenevergoingtoturnup.Iâmgladyoumadeit.â
âSocheerup,myboy,cheerup!âtheCentipedesaid.âAndmeanwhileIwishyouâdcomeoverhereandgivemeahandwiththeseboots.Ittakesmehourstogetthemalloffbymyself.â
Twelve
Jamesdecidedthatthiswasmostcertainlynotatimetobedisagreeable,sohecrossedtheroomtowheretheCentipedewassittingandkneltdownbesidehim.
âThankyousomuch,âtheCentipedesaid.âYouareverykind.â
âYouhavealotofboots,âJamesmurmured.
âIhavealotoflegs,âtheCentipedeansweredproudly.âAndalotoffeet.Onehundred,tobeexact.â
âTherehegoesagain!âtheEarthwormcried,speakingforthefirsttime.âHesimplycannotstoptellingliesabouthislegs!Hedoesnâthaveanythinglikeahundredofthem!Heâsonlygotforty-two!Thetroubleisthatmostpeopledonâtbothertocountthem.Theyjusttakehisword.Andanyway,thereisnothingmarvellous,youknow,Centipede,abouthavingalotoflegs.â
âPoorfellow,âtheCentipedesaid,whisperinginJamesâsear.âHeâsblind.HecanâtseehowsplendidIlook.â
âInmyopinion,âtheEarthwormsaid,âthereallymarvellousthingistohavenolegsatallandtobeabletowalkjustthesame.â
âYoucallthatwalking!âcriedtheCentipede.âYouâreaslitherer,thatâsallyouare!Youjustslitheralong!â
âIglide,âsaidtheEarthwormprimly.
âYouareaslimybeast,âansweredtheCentipede.
âIamnotaslimybeast,âtheEarthwormsaid.âIamausefulandmuchlovedcreature.Askanygardeneryoulike.AndasforyouâŠâ
âIamapest!âtheCentipedeannounced,grinningbroadlyandlookingroundtheroomforapproval.
âHeissoproudofthat,âtheLadybirdsaid,smilingatJames.âThoughforthelifeofmeIcannotunderstandwhy.â
âIamtheonlypestinthisroom!âcriedtheCentipede,stillgrinningaway.âUnlessyoucountOld-Green-Grasshopperoverthere.Butheislongpastitnow.Heistoooldtobeapestanymore.â
TheOld-Green-Grasshopperturnedhishugeblackeyesuponthe
Centipedeandgavehimawitheringlook.âYoungfellow,âhesaid,speakinginadeep,slow,scornfulvoice,âIhaveneverbeenapestinmylife.Iamamusician.â
âHear,hear!âsaidtheLadybird.
âJames,âtheCentipedesaid.âYournameisJames,isnâtit?â
âYes.â
âWell,James,haveyoueverinyourlifeseensuchamarvellouscolossalCentipedeasme?â
âIcertainlyhavenât,âJamesanswered.âHowonearthdidyougettobelikethat?â
âVerypeculiar,âtheCentipedesaid.âVery,verypeculiarindeed.Letmetellyouwhathappened.Iwasmessingaboutinthegardenundertheoldpeachtreeandsuddenlyafunnylittlegreenthingcamewrigglingpastmynose.Brightgreenitwas,andextraordinarilybeautiful,anditlookedlikesomekindofatinystoneorcrystalâŠâ
âOh,butIknowwhatthatwas!âcriedJames.
âIthappenedtome,too!âsaidtheLadybird.
âAndme!âMissSpidersaid.âSuddenlytherewerelittlegreenthingseverywhere!Thesoilwasfullofthem!â
âIactuallyswallowedone!âtheEarthwormdeclaredproudly.
âSodidI!âtheLadybirdsaid.
âIswallowedthree!âtheCentipedecried.âButwhoâstellingthisstoryanyway?Donâtinterrupt!â
âItâstoolatetotellstoriesnow,âtheOld-Green-Grasshopperannounced.âItâstimetogotosleep.â
âIrefusetosleepinmyboots!âtheCentipedecried.âHowmanymorearetheretocomeoff,James?â
âIthinkIâvedoneabouttwentysofar,âJamestoldhim.
âThenthatleaveseightytogo,âtheCentipedesaid.
âTwenty-two,noteighty!âshriekedtheEarthworm.âHeâslyingagain.â
TheCentipederoaredwithlaughter.
âStoppullingtheEarthwormâsleg,âtheLadybirdsaid.
ThissenttheCentipedeintohysterics.âPullinghisleg!âhecried,wrigglingwithgleeandpointingattheEarthworm.âWhichlegamIpulling?Youtellmethat!â
JamesdecidedthatheratherlikedtheCentipede.Hewasobviouslyarascal,butwhatachangeitwastohearsomebodylaughingonceinawhile.HehadneverheardAuntSpongeorAuntSpikerlaughingaloudinallthetimehehadbeenwiththem.
âWereallymustgetsomesleep,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.âWeâvegotatoughdayaheadofustomorrow.Sowouldyoubekindenough,MissSpider,tomakethebeds?â
Thirteen
Afew-minuteslater,MissSpiderhadmadethefirstbed.Itwashangingfromtheceiling,suspendedbyaropeofthreadsateitherendsothatactuallyitlookedmorelikeahammockthanabed.Butitwasamagnificentaffair,andthestuffthatitwasmadeofshimmeredlikesilkinthepalelight.
âIdohopeyouâllfinditcomfortable,âMissSpidersaidtotheOld-Green-Grasshopper.âImadeitassoftandsilkyasIpossiblycould.Ispunitwithgossamer.ThatâsamuchbetterqualitythreadthantheoneIuseformyownweb.â
âThankyousomuch,mydearlady,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid,climbingintothehammock.âAh,thisisjustwhatIneeded.Goodnight,everybody.Goodnight.â
ThenMissSpiderspunthenexthammock,andtheLadybirdgotin.
Afterthat,shespunalongonefortheCentipede,andanevenlongeronefortheEarthworm.
âAndhowdoyoulikeyourbed?âshesaidtoJameswhenitcametohisturn.âHardorsoft?â
âIlikeitsoft,thankyouverymuch,âJamesanswered.
âForgoodnessâsakestopstaringroundtheroomandgetonwithmyboots!âtheCentipedesaid.âYouandIarenevergoingtogetanysleepatthisrate!Andkindlylinethemupneatlyinpairsasyoutakethemoff.Donâtjustthrowthemoveryourshoulder.â
JamesworkedawayfranticallyontheCentipedeâsboots.Eachone
hadlacesthathadtobeuntiedandloosenedbeforeitcouldbepulledoff,andtomakemattersworse,allthelacesweretiedupinthemostterriblecomplicatedknotsthathadtobeunpickedwithfingernails.Itwasjustawful.Ittookabouttwohours.AndbythetimeJameshadpulledoffthelastbootofallandhadlinedthemupinarowonthefloorâtwenty-onepairsaltogetherâtheCentipedewasfastasleep.
âWakeup,Centipede,âwhisperedJames,givinghimagentlediginthestomach.âItâstimeforbed.â
âThankyou,mydearchild,âtheCentipedesaid,openinghiseyes.Thenhegotdownoffthesofaandambledacrosstheroomandcrawledintohishammock.Jamesgotintohisownhammockâandoh,howsoftandcomfortableitwascomparedwiththehardbareboardsthathisauntshadalwaysmadehimsleepuponathome.
âLightsout,âsaidtheCentipededrowsily.
Nothinghappened.
âTurnoutthelight!âhecalled,raisinghisvoice.
Jamesglancedroundtheroom,wonderingwhichoftheothershemightbetalkingto,buttheywereallasleep.TheOld-Green-Grasshopperwassnoringloudlythroughhisnose.TheLadybirdwasmakingwhistlingnoisesasshebreathed,andtheEarthwormwascoileduplikeaspringatoneendofhishammock,wheezingandblowingthroughhisopenmouth.AsforMissSpider,shehadmadealovelywebforherselfacrossonecorneroftheroom,andJamescouldseehercrouchingrightintheverycentreofit,mumblingsoftlyinherdreams.
âIsaidturnoutthelight!âshoutedtheCentipedeangrily.
âAreyoutalkingtome?âJamesaskedhim.
âOfcourseIâmnottalkingtoyou,youass!âtheCentipedeanswered.âThatcrazyGlow-wormhasgonetosleepwithherlighton!â
Forthefirsttimesinceenteringtheroom,Jamesglancedupattheceilingâandtherehesawamostextraordinarysight.Somethingthatlookedlikeagiganticflywithoutwings(itwasatleastthreefeetlong)wasstandingupsidedownuponitssixlegsinthemiddleoftheceiling,andthetailendofthiscreatureseemedtobeliterallyonfire.Abrilliantgreenishlightasbrightasthebrightestelectricbulbwasshiningoutofitstailandlightingupthewholeroom.
âIsthataGlow-worm?âaskedJames,staringatthelight.âItdoesnâtlooklikeawormofanysorttome.â
âOfcourseitâsaGlow-worm,âtheCentipedeanswered.âAtleastthatâswhatshecallsherself.Althoughactuallyyouarequiteright.Sheisnâtreallyawormatall.Glow-wormsareneverworms.Theyaresimplyladyfireflieswithoutwings.Wakeup,youlazybeast!â
ButtheGlow-wormdidnâtstir,sotheCentipedereachedoutofhishammockandpickeduponeofhisbootsfromthefloor.âPutoutthatwretchedlight!âheshouted,hurlingthebootupattheceiling.
TheGlow-wormslowlyopenedoneeyeandstaredattheCentipede.âThereisnoneedtoberude,âshesaidcoldly.âAllingoodtime.â
âComeon,comeon,comeon!âshoutedtheCentipede.âOrIâllputitoutforyou!â
âOh,hello,James!âtheGlow-wormsaid,lookingdownandgivingJamesalittlewaveandasmile.âIdidnâtseeyoucomein.Welcome,mydearboy,welcomeâandgoodnight!â
Thenclickâandoutwentthelight.
JamesHenryTrotterlaythereinthedarknesswithhiseyeswideopen,listeningtothestrangesleepingnoisesthattheâcreaturesâweremakingallaroundhim,andwonderingwhatonearthwasgoingtohappentohiminthemorning.Already,hewasbeginningtolikehisnewfriendsverymuch.Theywerenotnearlyasterribleastheylooked.Infacttheywerenâtreallyterribleatall.Theyseemedextremelykindandhelpfulinspiteofalltheshoutingandarguingthatwentonbetweenthem.
âGoodnight,Old-Green-Grasshopper,âhewhispered.âGoodnight,LadybirdâGoodnight,MissSpiderââButbeforehecouldgothroughthemall,hehadfallenfastasleep.
Fourteen
âWeâreoff!âsomeonewasshouting.âWeâreoffatlast!â
Jameswokeupwithajumpandlookedabouthim.Thecreatureswerealloutoftheirhammocksandmovingexcitedlyaroundtheroom.Suddenly,thefloorgaveagreatheave,asthoughanearthquakeweretakingplace.
âHerewego!âshoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,hoppingupanddownwithexcitement.âHoldontight!â
âWhatâshappening?âcriedJames,leapingoutofhishammock.âWhatâsgoingon?â
TheLadybird,whowasobviouslyakindandgentlecreature,cameoverandstoodbesidehim.âIncaseyoudonâtknowit,âshesaid,âweareabouttodepartforeverfromthetopofthisghastlyhillthatweâveallbeenlivingonforsolong.WeareabouttorollawayinsidethisgreatbigbeautifulpeachtoalandofâŠofâŠofâŠtoalandofââ
âOfwhat?âaskedJames.
âNeveryoumind,âsaidtheLadybird.âButnothingcouldbeworsethanthisdesolatehilltopandthosetworepulsiveauntsofyoursââ
âHear,hear!âtheyallshouted.âHear,hear!â
âYoumaynothavenoticedit,âtheLadybirdwenton,âbutthewholegarden,evenbeforeitreachesthesteepedgeofthehill,happenstobeonasteepslope.Andthereforetheonlythingthathasbeenstoppingthispeachfromrollingawayrightfromthebeginningisthethickstemattachingittothetree.Breakthestem,andoffwego.â
âWatchit!âcriedMissSpider,astheroomgaveanotherviolentlurch.âHerewego!â
âNotquite!Notquite!â
âAtthismoment,âcontinuedtheLadybird,âourCentipede,whohasapairofjawsassharpasrazors,isupthereontopofthepeachnibblingawayatthatstem.Infact,hemustbenearlythroughit,asyoucantellfromthewayweârelurchingabout.Wouldyoulikemetotakeyouundermywingsothatyouwonâtfalloverwhenwestartrolling?â
âThatâsverykindofyou,âsaidJames,âbutIthinkIâllbeallright.â
Justthen,theCentipedestuckhisgrinningfacethroughaholeintheceilingandshouted,âIâvedoneit!Weâreoff!â
âWeâreoff!âtheotherscried.âWeâreoff!â
âThejourneybegins!âshoutedtheCentipede.
âAndwhoknowswhereitwillend,âmutteredtheEarthworm,âifyouhaveanythingtodowithit.Itcanonlymeantrouble.â
âNonsense,âsaidtheLadybird.âWearenowabouttovisitthemostmarvellousplacesandseethemostwonderfulthings!Isnâtthatso,Centipede?â
âThereisnoknowingwhatweshallsee!âcriedtheCentipede.
âWemayseeaCreaturewithforty-nineheads
Wholivesinthedesolatesnow,
Andwheneverhecatchesacold(whichhedreads)
Hehasforty-ninenosestoblow.
âWemayseethevenomousPink-SpottedScrunch
Whocanchewupamanwithonebite.
Itlikestoeatfiveofthemroastedforlunch
Andeighteenforitssupperatnight.
âWemayseeaDragon,andnobodyknows
ThatwewonâtseeaUnicornthere.
WemayseeaterribleMonsterwithtoes
Growingoutofthetuftsofhishair.
âWemayseethesweetlittleBiddy-BrightHen
Soplayful,sokindandwell-bred;
Andsuchbeautifuleggs!Youjustboilthemandthen
Theyexplodeandtheyblowoffyourhead.
âAGnuandaGnoceroussurelyyouâllsee
AndthatgnormousandgnorribleGnat
Whosestingwhenitstingsyougoesinattheknee
Andcomesoutthroughthetopofyourhat.
âWemayevengetlostandbefrozenbyfrost.
Wemaydieinanearthquakeortremor.
Ornastierstill,wemayevenbetossed
OnthehornsofafuriousDilemma.
âButwhocares!Letusgofromthishorriblehill!
Letusroll!Letusbowl!Letusplunge!
Letâsgorollingandbowlingandspinninguntil
WeâreawayfromoldSpikerandSponge!â
OnesecondlaterâŠslowly,insidiously,ohmostgently,thegreatpeachstartedtoleanforwardandstealintomotion.Thewholeroombegantotiltoverandallthefurniturewentslidingacrossthefloor,andcrashedagainstthefarwall.SodidJamesandtheLadybirdandtheOld-Green-GrasshopperandMissSpiderandtheEarthworm,andalsotheCentipede,whohadjustcomeslitheringquicklydownthewall.
Fifteen
Outsideinthegarden,atthatverymoment,AuntSpongeandAuntSpikerhadjusttakentheirplacesatthefrontgate,eachwithabunchofticketsinherhand,andthefirststreamofearlymorningsightseerswasvisibleinthedistanceclimbingupthehilltoviewthepeach.
âWeshallmakeafortunetoday,âAuntSpikerwassaying.âJustlookatallthosepeople!â
âIwonderwhatbecameofthathorridlittleboyofourslastnight,âAuntSpongesaid.âHeneverdidcomebackin,didhe?â
âHeprobablyfelldowninthedarkandbrokehisleg,âAuntSpikersaid.
âOrhisneck,maybe,âAuntSpongesaidhopefully.
âJustwaittillIgetmyhandsonhim,âAuntSpikersaid,wavinghercane.âHeâllneverwanttostayoutallnightagainbythetimeIâvefinishedwithhim.Goodgraciousme!Whatâsthatawfulnoise?â
Bothwomenswungroundtolook.
Thenoise,ofcourse,hadbeencausedbythegiantpeachcrashingthroughthefencethatsurroundedit,andnow,gatheringspeedeverysecond,itcamerollingacrossthegardentowardstheplacewhereAuntSpongeandAuntSpikerwerestanding.
Theygaped.Theyscreamed.Theystartedtorun.Theypanicked.Theybothgotineachotherâsway.Theybeganpushingandjostling,andeachoneofthemwasthinkingonlyaboutsavingherself.AuntSponge,thefatone,trippedoveraboxthatsheâdbroughtalongto
keepthemoneyin,andfellflatonherface.AuntSpikerimmediatelytrippedoverAuntSpongeandcamedownontopofher.Theybothlayontheground,fightingandclawingandyellingandstrugglingfranticallytogetupagain,butbeforetheycoulddothis,themightypeachwasuponthem.
Therewasacrunch.
Andthentherewassilence.
Thepeachrolledon.Andbehindit,AuntSpongeandAuntSpikerlayironedoutuponthegrassasflatandthinandlifelessasacoupleofpaperdollscutoutofapicturebook.
Sixteen
Andnowthepeachhadbrokenoutofthegardenandwasovertheedgeofthehill,rollingandbouncingdownthesteepslopeataterrificpace.Fasterandfasterandfasteritwent,andthecrowdsofpeoplewhowereclimbingupthehillsuddenlycaughtsightofthisterriblemonsterplungingdownuponthemandtheyscreamedandscatteredtorightandleftasitwenthurtlingby.
Atthebottomofthehillitchargedacrosstheroad,knockingoveratelegraphpoleandflatteningtwoparkedcarsasitwentby.
Thenitrushedmadlyacrossabouttwentyfields,breakingdownallthefencesandhedgesinitspath.ItwentrightthroughthemiddleofaherdoffineJerseycows,andthenthroughaflockofsheep,andthenthroughapaddockfullofhorses,andthenthroughayardfullofpigs,andsoonthewholecountrysidewasaseethingmassofpanic-strickenanimalsstampedinginalldirections.
Thepeachwasstillgoingatatremendousspeedwithnosignofslowingdown,andaboutamilefartheronitcametoavillage.
Downthemainstreetofthevillageitrolled,withpeopleleapingfranticallyoutofitspathrightandleft,andattheendofthestreetitwentcrashingrightthroughthewallofanenormousbuildingandouttheotherside,leavingtwogapingroundholesinthebrickwork.
Thisbuildinghappenedtobeafamousfactorywheretheymadechocolate,andalmostatonceagreatriverofwarmmeltedchocolatecamepouringoutoftheholesinthefactorywall.Aminutelater,thisbrownstickymesswasflowingthrougheverystreetinthevillage,
oozingunderthedoorsofhousesandintopeopleâsshopsandgardens.Childrenwerewadinginituptotheirknees,andsomewereeventryingtoswiminitandallofthemweresuckingitintotheirmouthsingreatgreedygulpsandshriekingwithjoy.
Butthepeachrushedonacrossthecountrysideâonandonandon,leavingatrailofdestructioninitswake.Cowsheds,stables,pigsties,barns,bungalows,hayricks,anythingthatgotinitswaywenttopplingoverlikeaninepin.Anoldmansittingquietlybesideastreamhadhisfishingrodwhiskedoutofhishandsasitwentdashingby,andawomancalledDaisyEntwistlewasstandingsoclosetoitasitpassedthatshehadtheskintakenoffthetipofherlongnose.
Woulditeverstop?
Whyshouldit?Aroundobjectwillalwayskeeponrollingaslongasitisonadownhillslope,andinthiscasethelandslopeddownhillallthewayuntilitreachedtheoceanâthesameoceanthatJameshadbeggedhisauntstobeallowedtovisitthedaybefore.
Well,perhapshewasgoingtovisititnow.Thepeachwasrushingcloserandclosertoiteverysecond,andcloseralsotothetoweringwhitecliffsthatcamefirst.
ThesecliffsarethemostfamousinthewholeofEngland,andtheyarehundredsoffeethigh.Belowthem,theseaisdeepandcoldandhungry.Manyshipshavebeenswallowedupandlostforeveronthispartofthecoast,andallthemenwhowereinthemaswell.Thepeachwasnowonlyahundredyardsawayfromthecliffânowfiftyânowtwentyânowtenânowfiveâandwhenitreachedtheedgeofthecliffitseemedtoleapupintotheskyandhangtheresuspendedforafewseconds,stillturningoverandoverintheair.
ThenitbegantofallâŠ
DownâŠ
DownâŠ
DownâŠ
DownâŠ
DownâŠ
SMACK!Ithitthewaterwithacolossalsplashandsanklikeastone.
Butafewsecondslater,upitcameagain,andthistime,upitstayed,floatingserenelyuponthesurfaceofthewater.
Seventeen
Atthismoment,thesceneinsidethepeachitselfwasoneofindescribablechaos.JamesHenryTrotterwaslyingbruisedandbatteredontheflooroftheroomamongstatangledmassofCentipedeandEarthwormandSpiderandLadybirdandGlowwormandOld-Green-Grasshopper.Inthewholehistoryoftheworld,notravellershadeverhadamoreterriblejourneythantheseunfortunatecreatures.Ithadstartedoutwell,withmuchlaughingandshouting,andforthefirstfewseconds,asthepeachhadbeguntorollslowlyforward,nobodyhadmindedbeingtumbledaboutalittlebit.AndwhenitwentBUMP!,andtheCentipedehadshouted,âThatwasAuntSponge!âandthenBUMP!again,andâThatwasAuntSpiker!âtherehadbeenatremendousburstofcheeringallround.
Butassoonasthepeachrolledoutofthegardenandbegantogodownthesteephill,rushingandplungingandboundingmadlydownward,thenthewholethingbecameanightmare.Jamesfoundhimselfbeingflungupagainsttheceiling,thenbackontothefloor,thensidewaysagainstthewall,thenupontotheceilingagain,andupanddownandbackandforthandroundandround,andatthesametimealltheothercreatureswereflyingthroughtheairineverydirection,andsowerethechairsandthesofa,nottomentiontheforty-twobootsbelongingtotheCentipede.Everythingandallofthemwerebeingrattledaroundlikepeasinsideanenormousrattlethatwasbeingrattledbyamadgiantwhorefusedtostop.Tomakeitworse,somethingwentwrongwiththeGlow-wormâslightingsystem,andtheroomwasinpitchydarkness.Therewerescreamsandyells
andcursesandcriesofpain,andeverythingkeptgoingroundandround,andonceJamesmadeafranticgrabatsomethickbarsstickingoutfromthewallonlytofindthattheywereacoupleoftheCentipedeâslegs.âLetgo,youidiot!âshoutedtheCentipede,kickinghimselffree,andJameswaspromptlyflungacrosstheroomintotheOld-Green-Grasshopperâshornylap.TwicehegottangledupinMissSpiderâslegs(ahorridbusiness),andtowardstheend,thepoorEarthworm,whowascrackinghimselflikeawhipeverytimeheflewthroughtheairfromonesideoftheroomtotheother,coiledhimselfaroundJamesâsbodyinapanicandrefusedtounwind.
Oh,itwasafranticandterribletrip!
Butitwasallovernow,andtheroomwassuddenlyverystillandquiet.Everybodywasbeginningslowlyandpainfullytodisentanglehimselffromeverybodyelse.
âLetâshavesomelight!âshoutedtheCentipede.
âYes!âtheycried.âLight!Giveussomelight!â
âIâmtrying,âansweredthepoorGlow-worm.âIâmdoingmybest.Pleasebepatient.â
Theyallwaitedinsilence.
ThenafaintgreenishlightbegantoglimmeroutoftheGlow-wormâstail,andthisgraduallybecamestrongerandstrongeruntilitwasanywayenoughtoseeby.
âSomegreatjourney!âtheCentipedesaid,limpingacrosstheroom.
âIshallneverbethesameagain,âmurmuredtheEarthworm.
âNorI,âtheLadybirdsaid.âItâstakenyearsoffmylife.â
âButmydearfriends!âcriedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,tryingtobecheerful.âWearethere!â
âWhere?âtheyasked.âWhere?Whereisthere?â
âIdonâtknow,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.âButIâllbetitâssomewheregood.â
âWeareprobablyatthebottomofacoalmine,âtheEarthwormsaidgloomily.âWecertainlywentdownanddownanddownverysuddenlyatthelastmoment.Ifeltitinmystomach.Istillfeelit.â
âPerhapsweareinthemiddleofabeautifulcountryfullofsongsandmusic,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.
âOrneartheseashore,âsaidJameseagerly,âwithlotsofotherchildrendownonthesandformetoplaywith!â
âPardonme,âmurmuredtheLadybird,turningatriflepale,âbutamIwronginthinkingthatweseemtobebobbingupanddown?â
âBobbingupanddown!âtheycried.âWhatonearthdoyoumean?â
âYouârestillgiddyfromthejourney,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppertoldher.âYouâllgetoveritinaminute.Iseverybodyreadytogoupstairsnowandtakealookround?â
âYes,yes!âtheychorused.âComeon!Letâsgo!â
âIrefusetoshowmyselfoutofdoorsinmybarefeet,âtheCentipedesaid.âIhavetogetmybootsonagainfirst.â
âForheavenâssake,letâsnotgothroughallthatnonsenseagain,âtheEarthwormsaid.
âLetâsalllendtheCentipedeahandandgetitoverwith,âtheLadybirdsaid.âComeon.â
Sotheydid,allexceptMissSpider,whosetaboutweavingalongrope-ladderthatwouldreachfromtheflooruptoaholeintheceiling.TheOld-Green-Grasshopperhadwiselysaidthattheymustnotriskgoingoutofthesideentrancewhentheydidnâtknowwheretheywere,butmustfirstofallgoupontothetopofthepeachandhavealookround.
Sohalfanhourlater,whentherope-ladderhadbeenfinishedandhung,andtheforty-secondboothadbeenlacedneatlyontotheCentipedeâsforty-secondfoot,theywereallreadytogoout.AmidstmountingexcitementandshoutsofâHerewego,boys!ThePromisedLand!Icanâtwaittoseeit!âthewholecompanyclimbeduptheladderonebyoneanddisappearedintoadarksoggytunnelintheceilingthatwentsteeply,almostvertically,upward.
Eighteen
Aminutelater,theywereoutintheopen,standingontheverytopofthepeach,nearthestem,blinkingtheireyesinthestrongsunlightandpeeringnervouslyaround.
âWhathappened?â
âWherearewe?â
âButthisisimpossible!â
âUnbelievable!â
âTerrible!â
âItoldyouwewerebobbingupanddown,âtheLadybirdsaid.
âWeâreinthemiddleofthesea!âcriedJames.
Andindeedtheywere.Astrongcurrentandahighwindhadcarriedthepeachsoquicklyawayfromtheshorethatalreadythelandwasoutofsight.Allaroundthemlaythevastblackocean,deepandhungry.Littlewaveswerebibblingagainstthesidesofthepeach.
âButhowdidithappen?âtheycried.âWherearethefields?Wherearethewoods?WhereisEngland?âNobody,notevenJames,couldunderstandhowintheworldathinglikethiscouldhavecomeabout.
âLadiesandgentlemen,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid,tryingveryhardtokeepthefearanddisappointmentoutofhisvoice,âIamafraidthatwefindourselvesinaratherawkwardsituation.â
âAwkward!âcriedtheEarthworm.âMydearOldGrasshopper,wearefinished!Everyoneofusisabouttoperish!Imaybeblind,youknow,
butthatmuchIcanseequiteclearly.â
âOffwithmyboots!âshoutedtheCentipede.âIcannotswimwithmybootson!â
âIcanâtswimatall!âcriedtheLadybird.
âNorcanI,âwailedtheGlow-worm.
âNorI!âsaidMissSpider.âNoneofusthreegirlscanswimasinglestroke.â
âButyouwonâthavetoswim,âsaidJamescalmly.âWearefloatingbeautifully.Andsoonerorlaterashipisboundtocomealongandpickusup.â
Theyallstaredathiminamazement.
âAreyouquitesurethatwearenotsinking?âtheLadybirdasked.
âOfcourseIâmsure,âansweredJames.âGoandlookforyourselves.â
Theyallranovertothesideofthepeachandpeereddownatthewaterbelow.
âTheboyisquiteright,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.âWearefloatingbeautifully.Nowwemustallsitdownandkeepperfectlycalm.Everythingwillbeallrightintheend.â
âWhatabsolutenonsense!âcriedtheEarthworm.âNothingiseverallrightintheend,andwellyouknowit!â
âPoorEarthworm,âtheLadybirdsaid,whisperinginJamesâsear.âHelovestomakeeverythingintoadisaster.Hehatestobehappy.Heisonlyhappywhenheisgloomy.Nowisnâtthatodd?Butthen,IsupposejustbeinganEarthwormisenoughtomakeapersonprettygloomy,donâtyouagree?â
âIfthispeachisnotgoingtosink,âtheEarthwormwassaying,âandifwearenotgoingtobedrowned,theneveryoneofusisgoingtostarvetodeathinstead.Doyourealizethatwehavenâthadathingtoeatsinceyesterdaymorning?â
âBygolly,heâsright!âcriedtheCentipede.âForonce,Earthwormisright!â
âOfcourseIâmright,âtheEarthwormsaid.âAndweârenotlikelytofindanythingaroundhereeither.Weshallgetthinnerandthinnerandthirstierandthirstier,andweshallalldieaslowandgrislydeathfromstarvation.Iamdyingalready.Iamslowlyshrivellingupforwantoffood.Personally,Iwouldratherdrown.â
âButgoodheavens,youmustbeblind!âsaidJames.
âYouknowverywellIâmblind,âsnappedtheEarthworm.âThereâsnoneedtorubitin.â
âIdidnâtmeanthat,âsaidJamesquickly.âIâmsorry.Butcanâtyouseethatââ
âSee?âshoutedthepoorEarthworm.âHowcanIseeifIamblind?â
Jamestookadeep,slowbreath.âCanâtyourealize,âhesaidpatiently,âthatwehaveenoughfoodheretolastusforweeksandweeks?â
âWhere?âtheysaid.âWhere?â
âWhy,thepeachofcourse!Ourwholeshipismadeoffood!â
âJumpingJehoshophat!âtheycried.âWeneverthoughtofthat!â
âMydearJames,âsaidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,layingafrontlegaffectionatelyonJamesâsshoulder,âIdonâtknowwhatweâddowithoutyou.
Youaresoclever.Ladiesandgentlemenâwearesavedagain!â
âWearemostcertainlynot!âsaidtheEarthworm.âYoumustbecrazy!Youcanâteattheship!Itâstheonlythingthatiskeepingusup!â
âWeshallstarveifwedonât!âsaidtheCentipede.
âAndweshalldrownifwedo!âcriedtheEarthworm.
âOhdear,ohdear,âsaidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.âNowweâreworseoffthanbefore!â
âCouldnâtwejusteatalittlebitofit?âaskedMissSpider.âIamsodreadfullyhungry.â
âYoucaneatallyouwant,âJamesanswered.âItwouldtakeusweeksandweekstomakeanysortofadentinthisenormouspeach.Surelyyoucanseethat?â
âGoodheavens,heâsrightagain!âcriedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,clappinghishands.âItwouldtakeweeksandweeks!Ofcourseitwould!Butletâsnotgomakingalotofholesalloverthedeck.Ithinkweâdbettersimplyscoopitoutofthattunneloverthereâtheonethatweâvejustcomeupby.â
âAnexcellentidea,âsaidtheLadybird.
âWhatareyoulookingsoworriedabout,Earthworm?âtheCentipedeasked.âWhatâstheproblem?â
âTheproblemisâŠâtheEarthwormsaid,âtheproblemisâŠwell,theproblemisthatthereisnoproblem!â
Everyoneburstoutlaughing.âCheerup,Earthworm!âtheysaid.âComeandeat!âAndtheyallwentovertothetunnelentranceandbeganscoopingoutgreatchunksofjuicy,golden-colouredpeachflesh.
âOh,marvellous!âsaidtheCentipede,stuffingitintohismouth.
âDee-licious!âsaidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.
âJustfabulous!âsaidtheGlow-worm.
âOhmy!âsaidtheLadybirdprimly.âWhataheavenlytaste!âShelookedupatJames,andshesmiled,andJamessmiledbackather.Theysatdownonthedecktogether,bothofthemchewingawayhappily.âYouknow,James,âtheLadybirdsaid,âupuntilthismoment,Ihaveneverinmylifetastedanythingexceptthosetinylittlegreenfliesthatliveonrosebushes.Theyhaveaperfectlydelightfulflavour.Butthispeachisevenbetter.â
âIsnâtitglorious!âMissSpidersaid,comingovertojointhem.âPersonally,Ihadalwaysthoughtthatabig,juicy,caught-in-the-webbluebottlewasthefinestdinnerintheworldâuntilItastedthis.â
âWhataflavour!âtheCentipedecried.âItâsterrific!Thereâsnothinglikeit!Thereneverhasbeen!AndIshouldknowbecauseIpersonallyhavetastedallthefinestfoodsintheworld!âWhereupon,theCentipede,withhismouthfullofpeachandwithjuicerunningdown
alloverhischin,suddenlyburstintosong:
âIâveeatenmanystrangeandscrumptiousdishesinmytime,
Likejelliedgnatsanddandypratsandearwigscookedinslime,
Andmicewithriceâtheyârereallynice
Whenroastedintheirprime.
(Butdonâtforgettosprinklethemwithjustapinchofgrime.)
âIâveeatenfreshmudburgersbythegreatestcooksthereare,
Andscrambleddregsandstinkbugsâeggsandhornetsstewedintar,
Andpailsofsnailsandlizardsâtails,Andbeetlesbythejar.
(Abeetleisimprovedbyjustasplashofvinegar.)
âIofteneatboiledslobbagesTheyâregrandwhenservedbeside
Minceddoodlebugsandcurriedslugs.Andhaveyouevertried
MosquitoesâtoesandwampfishroesMostdelicatelyfried?
(Theonlytroubleistheydisagreewithmyinside.)
âIâmmadforcrispywasp-stingsonapieceofbutteredtoast,
Andpickledspinesofporcupines.Andthenagorgeousroast
Ofdragonâsflesh,wellhung,notfreshâ
Itcostsapoundatmost.
(Andcomestoyouinbarrelsifyouorderitbypost.)
âIcravethetastytentaclesofoctopifortea
Ilikehot-dogs,ILOVEhot-frogs,andsurelyyouâllagree
Aplateofsoilwithengineoilâs
Asuperrecipe.
(Ihardlyneedtomentionthatifspracticallyfree.)
âFordinneronmybirthdayshallItellyouwhatIchose:
Hotnoodlesmadefrompoodlesonasliceofgardenhoseâ
Andarathersmellyjelly
Madeofarmadilloâstoes.
(Thejellyisdelicious,butyouhavetoholdyournose.)
âNowcomes,âtheCentipededeclared,âtheburdenofmyspeech:
Thesefoodsarerarebeyondcompareâsomearerightoutofreach;
ButthereâsnodoubtIâdgowithout
Amillionplatesofeach
Foronesmallmite,
Onetinybite,
OfthisFANTASTICPEACH!â
Everybodywasfeelinghappynow.Thesunwasshiningbrightlyoutofasoftblueskyandthedaywascalm.Thegiantpeach,withthesunlightglintingonitsside,waslikeamassivegoldenballsailinguponasilversea.
Nineteen
âLook!âcriedtheCentipedejustastheywerefinishingtheirmeal.âLookatthatfunnythinblackthingglidingthroughthewateroverthere!â
Theyallswungroundtolook.
âTherearetwoofthem,âsaidMissSpider.
âTherearelotsofthem!âsaidtheLadybird.
âWhatarethey?âaskedtheEarthworm,gettingworried.
âTheymustbesomekindoffish,âsaidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.âPerhapstheyhavecomealongtosayhello.â
âTheyaresharks!âcriedtheEarthworm.âIâllbetyouanythingyoulikethattheyaresharksandtheyhavecomealongtoeatusup!â
âWhatabsoluterot!âtheCentipedesaid,buthisvoiceseemedsuddenlytohavebecomealittleshaky,andhewasnâtlaughing.
âIampositivetheyaresharks!âsaidtheEarthworm.Tjustknowtheyaresharks!â
Andso,inactualfact,dideverybodyelse,buttheyweretoofrightenedtoadmitit.
Therewasashortsilence.Theyallpeereddownanxiouslyatthesharkswhowerecruisingslowlyroundandroundthepeach.
âJustassumingthattheyaresharks,âtheCentipedesaid,âtherestillcanâtpossiblybeanydangerifwestayuphere.â
Butevenashespoke,oneofthosethinblackfinssuddenlychanged
directionandcamecuttingswiftlythroughthewaterrightuptothesideofthepeachitself.Thesharkpausedandstaredupatthecompanywithsmallevileyes.
âGoaway!âtheyshouted.âGoaway,youfilthybeast!â
Slowly,almostlazily,thesharkopenedhismouth(whichwasbigenoughtohaveswallowedaperambulator)andmadealungeatthepeach.
Theyallwatched,aghast.
Andnow,asthoughatasignalfromtheleader,alltheothersharkscameswimmingintowardsthepeach,andtheyclusteredarounditandbegantoattackitfuriously.Theremusthavebeentwentyorthirtyofthematleast,allpushingandfightingandlashingtheirtailsandchurningthewaterintoafroth.
Panicandpandemoniumbrokeoutimmediatelyontopofthepeach.
âOh,wearefinishednow!âcriedMissSpider,wringingherfeet.âTheywilleatupthewholepeachandthenthereâllbenothingleftforustostandonandtheyâllstartonus!â
âSheisright!âshoutedtheLadybird.âWearelostforever!â
âOh,Idonâtwanttobeeaten!âwailedtheEarthworm.âButtheywilltakemefirstofallbecauseIamsofatandjuicyandIhavenobones!â
âIstherenothingwecando?âaskedtheLadybird,appealingtoJames.âSurelyyoucanthinkofawayoutofthis.â
SuddenlytheywerealllookingatJames.
âThink!âbeggedMissSpider.âThink,James,think!â
âComeon,âsaidtheCentipede.âComeon,James.Theremustbesomethingwecando.â
Theireyeswaiteduponhim,tense,anxious,patheticallyhopeful.
Twenty
âThereissomethingthatIbelievewemighttry,âJamesHenryTrottersaidslowly.âIâmnotsayingitâllworkâŠâ
âTellus!âcriedtheEarthworm.âTellusquick!â
âWeâlltryanythingyousay!âsaidtheCentipede.âButhurry,hurry,hurry!â
âBequietandlettheboyspeak!âsaidtheLadybird.âGoon,James.â
Theyallmovedalittleclosertohim.Therewasalongishpause.
âGoon!âtheycriedfrantically.âGoon!â
Andallthetimewhiletheywerewaitingtheycouldhearthesharksthreshingaroundinthewaterbelowthem.Itwasenoughtomakeanyonefrantic.
âComeon,James,âtheLadybirdsaid,coaxinghim.
IâŠIâŠIâmafraiditâsnogoodafterall,âJamesmurmured,shakinghishead.âIâmterriblysorry.Iforgot.Wedonâthaveanystring.Weâdneedhundredsofyardsofstringtomakethiswork.â
âWhatsortofstring?âaskedtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersharply.
âAnysort,justsolongasitâsstrong.â
âButmydearboy,thatâsexactlywhatwedohave!Weâvegotallyouwant!â
âHow?Where?â
âTheSilkworm!âcriedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.âDidnâtyouevernoticetheSilkworm?Sheâsstilldownstairs!Shenevermoves!Shejust
liestheresleepingalldaylong,butwecaneasilywakeherupandmakeherspin!â
âAndwhataboutme,mayIask?âsaidMissSpider.âIcanspinjustaswellasanySilkworm.Whatâsmore,Icanspinpatterns.â
âCanyoumakeenoughbetweenyou?âaskedJames.
âAsmuchasyouwant.â
âAndquickly?â
âOfcourse!Ofcourse!â
âAndwoulditbestrong?â
âThestrongestthereis!Itâsasthickasyourfinger!Butwhy?Whatareyougoingtodo?â
âIâmgoingtoliftthispeachclearoutofthewater!âJamesannouncedfirmly.
âYouâremad!âcriedtheEarthworm.
âItâsouronlychance.â
âTheboyâscrazy.â
âHeâsjoking.â
âGoon,James,âtheLadybirdsaidgently.âHowareyougoingtodoit?â
âSkyhooks,Isuppose,âjeeredtheCentipede.
âSeagulls,âJamesansweredcalmly.âTheplaceisfullofthem.Lookupthere!â
Theyalllookedupandsawagreatmassofseagullswheelingroundandroundinthesky.
âIâmgoingtotakealongsilkstring,âJameswenton,âandIâmgoingtolooponeendofitroundaseagullâsneck.AndthenIâmgoingtotietheotherendtothestemofthepeach.âHepointedtothepeachstem,whichwasstandinguplikeashortthickmastinthemiddleofthedeck.
âThenIâmgoingtogetanotherseagullanddothesamethingagain,thenanotherandanotherââ
âRidiculous!âtheyshouted.
âAbsurd!â
âPoppycock!â
âBalderdash!â
âMadness!â
AndtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid,âHowcanafewseagullsliftanenormousthinglikethisupintotheair,andallofusaswell?ItwouldtakehundredsâŠthousandsâŠâ
âThereisnoshortageofseagulls,âJamesanswered.âLookforyourself.Weâllprobablyneedfourhundred,fivehundred,sixhundredâŠmaybeevenathousandâŠIdonâtknowâŠIshallsimplygoonhookingthemuptothestemuntilwehaveenoughtoliftus.Theyâllbeboundtoliftusintheend.Itâslikeballoons.Yougivesomeoneenoughballoonstohold,Imeanreallyenough,thenuphegoes.Andaseagullhasfarmoreliftingpowerthanaballoon.Ifonlywehavethetimetodoit.IfonlywearenotsunkfirstbythoseawfulsharksâŠâ
âYouâreabsolutelyoffyourhead!âsaidtheEarthworm.
âHowonearthdoyouproposetogetaloopofstringroundaseagullâsneck?Isupposeyouâregoingtoflyupthereyourselfandcatchit!â
âTheboyâsdotty!âsaidtheCentipede.
âLethimfinish,âsaidtheLadybird.âGoon,James.Howwouldyoudoit?â
âWithbait.â
âBait!Whatsortofbait?â
âWithaworm,ofcourse.Seagullsloveworms,didnâtyouknowthat?Andluckilyforus,wehaveherethebiggest,fattest,pinkest,juiciestEarthwormintheworld.â
âYoucanstoprightthere!âtheEarthwormsaidsharply.âThatâsquiteenough!â
âGoon,âtheotherssaid,beginningtogrowinterested.âGoon!â
âTheseagullshavealreadyspottedhim,âJamescontinued.âThatâswhytherearesomanyofthemcirclinground.Buttheydarenâtcomedowntogethimwhilealltherestofusarestandinghere.Sothisiswhatââ
âStop!âcriedtheEarthworm.âStop,stop,stop!Iwonâthaveit!Irefuse!IâIâIâIââ
âBequiet!âsaidtheCentipede.âMindyourownbusiness!â
âIlikethat!â
âMydearEarthworm,youâregoingtobeeatenanyway,sowhatdifferencedoesitmakewhetheritâssharksorseagulls?â
âIwonâtdoit!â
âWhydonâtwehearwhattheplanisfirst?âsaidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.
âIdonâtgiveahootwhattheplanis!âcriedtheEarthworm.âIamnotgoingtobepeckedtodeathbyabunchofseagulls!â
âYouwillbeamartyr,âsaidtheCentipede.âIshallrespectyoufortherestofmylife.â
âSowillI,âsaidMissSpider.âAndyournamewillbeinallthenewspapers.EarthwormgiveslifetosavefriendsâŠâ
âButhewonâthavetogivehislife,âJamestoldthem.âNowlistentome.ThisiswhatweâlldoâŠâ
Twenty-one
âWhy,itâsabsolutelybrilliant!âcriedtheOld-Green-GrasshopperwhenJameshadexplainedhisplan.
âTheboyâsagenius!âtheCentipedeannounced.âNowIcankeepmybootsonafterall.â
âOh,Ishallbepeckedtodeath!âwailedthepoorEarthworm.
âOfcourseyouwonât.â
âIwill,IknowIwill!AndIwonâtevenbeabletoseethemcomingatmebecauseIhavenoeyes!â
JameswentoverandputanarmgentlyroundtheEarthwormâsshoulders.âIwonâtletthemtouchyou,âhesaid.âIpromiseIwonât.Butweâvegottohurry!Lookdownthere!â
Thereweremoresharksthanevernowaroundthepeach.Thewaterwasboilingwiththem.Theremusthavebeenninetyorahundredatleast.Andtothetravellersupontop,itcertainlyseemedasthoughthepeachweresinkinglowerandlowerintothewater.
âActionstations!âJamesshouted.âJumptoit!Thereâsnotamomenttolose!âHewasthecaptainnow,andeveryoneknewit.Theywoulddowhateverhetoldthem.
âAllhandsbelowdeckexceptEarthworm!âheordered.
âYes,yes!âtheysaideagerlyastheyscuttledintothetunnelentrance.âGomeon!Letâshurry!â
âAndyouâCentipede!âJamesshouted.âHopdownstairsandgetthatSilkwormtoworkatonce!Tellhertospinassheâsneverspunbefore!Ourlivesdependuponit!Andthesameappliestoyou,MissSpider!Hurryondown!Startspinning.â
Twenty-two
Inafewminuteseverythingwasready.
Itwasveryquietnowonthetopofthepeach.TherewasnobodyinsightânobodyexcepttheEarthworm.
OnehalfoftheEarthworm,lookinglikeagreat,thick,juicy,pinksausage,layinnocentlyinthesunforalltheseagullstosee.
Theotherhalfofhimwasdanglingdownthetunnel.
JameswascrouchingclosebesidetheEarthworminthetunnelentrance,justbelowthesurface,waitingforthefirstseagull.Hehadaloopofsilkstringinhishands.
TheOld-Green-GrasshopperandtheLadybirdwerefurtherdownthetunnel,holdingontotheEarthwormâstail,readytopullhimquicklyinoutofdangerassoonasJamesgavetheword.
Andfarbelow,inthegreatstoneofthepeach,theGlow-wormwaslightinguptheroomsothatthetwospinners,theSilkwormandMissSpider,couldseewhattheyweredoing.TheCentipedewasdowntheretoo,exhortingthembothfranticallytogreaterefforts,andeverynowandagainJamescouldhearhisvoicecomingupfaintlyfromthedepths,shouting,âSpin,Silkworm,spin,yougreatfatlazybrute!Faster,faster,orweâllthrowyoutothesharks!â
âHerecomesthefirstseagull!âwhisperedJames.âKeepstillnow,Earthworm.Keepstill.Therestofyougetreadytopull.â
âPleasedonâtletitspikeme,âbeggedtheEarthworm.
âIwonât,Iwonât.SsshhâŠâ
Outofthecornerofoneeye,JameswatchedtheseagullasitcameswoopingdowntowardstheEarthworm.Andthensuddenlyitwassoclosethathecouldseeitssmallblackeyesanditscurvedbeak,andthebeakwasopen,readytograbanicepieceoffleshoutoftheEarthwormâsback.
âPull!âshoutedJames.â
TheOld-Green-GrasshopperandtheLadybirdgavetheEarthwormâstailanenormoustug,andlikemagictheEarthwormdisappearedintothetunnel.Atthesametime,upwentJamesâshandandtheseagullflewrightintotheloopofsilkthathewasholdingout.Theloop,whichhadbeencleverlymade,tightenedjusttherightamount(butnottoomuch)arounditsneck,andtheseagullwascaptured.
âHooray!âshoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,peeringoutofthetunnel.âWelldone,James!â
UpflewtheseagullwithJamespayingoutthesilkstringasitwent.Hegaveitaboutfiftyyardsandthentiedthestringtothestemofthepeach.
âNextone!âheshouted,jumpingbackintothetunnel.âUpyougetagain,Earthworm!Bringupsomemoresilk,Centipede!â
âOh,Idonâtlikethisatall,âwailedtheEarthworm.âItonlyjustmissedme!Ievenfeltthewindonmybackasitwentswishingpast!â
âSsshh!âwhisperedJames.âKeepstill!Herecomesanotherone!â
Sotheydiditagain.
Andagain,andagain,andagain.
Andtheseagullskeptcoming,andJamescaughtthemoneaftertheotherandtetheredthemtothepeachstem.
âOnehundredseagulls!âheshouted,wipingthesweatfromhisface.
âKeepgoing!âtheycried.âKeepgoing,James!â
âTwohundredseagulls!â
âThreehundredseagulls!â
âFourhundredseagulls!â
Thesharks,asthoughsensingthattheywereindangeroflosingtheirprey,werehurlingthemselvesatthepeachmorefuriouslythanever,andthepeachwassinkinglowerandlowerstillinthewater.
âFivehundredseagulls!âJamesshouted.
âSilkwormsayssheâsrunningoutofsilk!âyelledtheCentipedefrombelow.âShesaysshecanâtkeepitupmuchlonger.NorcanMissSpider!â
âTellthemtheyâvegotto!âJamesanswered.âTheycanâtstopnow!â
âWeârelifting!âsomebodyshouted.
âNo,weârenot!â
âIfeltit!â
âPutonanotherseagull,quick!â
âQuiet,everybody!Quiet!Hereâsonecomingnow!â
Thiswasthefivehundredandfirstseagull,andthemomentthatJamescaughtitandtetheredittothestemwithalltheothers,thewholeenormouspeachsuddenlystartedrisingupslowlyoutofthewater.
âLookout!Herewego!Holdon,boys!â
Butthenitstopped.
Andthereithung.
Ithoveredandswayed,butitwentnohigher.
Thebottomofitwasjusttouchingthewater.Itwaslikeadelicatelybalancedscalethatneededonlythetiniestpushtotipitonewayortheother.
âOnemorewilldoit!âshoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,lookingoutofthetunnel.âWeârealmostthere!â
Andnowcamethebigmoment.Quickly,thefivehundredandsecondseagullwascaughtandharnessedtothepeach-stemâŠ
AndthensuddenlyâŠ
ButslowlyâŠ
MajesticallyâŠ
LikesomefabulousgoldenballoonâŠ
WithalltheseagullsstrainingatthestringsaboveâŠ
Thegiantpeachroseupdrippingoutofthewaterandbeganclimbingtowardstheheavens.
Twenty-three
Inaflash,everybodywasupontop.
âOh,isnâtitbeautiful!âtheycried.
âWhatamarvellousfeeling!â
âGood-bye,sharks!â
âOh,boy,thisisthewaytotravel!â
MissSpider,whowasliterallysquealingwithexcitement,grabbedtheCentipedebythewaistandthetwoofthemstarteddancingroundandroundthepeachstemtogether.TheEarthwormstooduponhistailanddidasortofwriggleofjoyallbyhimself.TheOld-Green-Grasshopperkepthoppinghigherandhigherintheair.TheLadybirdrushedoverandshookJameswarmlybythehand.TheGlow-worm,whoatthebestoftimeswasaveryshyandsilentcreature,satglowingwithpleasurenearthetunnelentrance.EventheSilkworm,lookingwhiteandthinandcompletelyexhausted,camecreepingoutofthetunneltowatchthismiraculousascent.
Upanduptheywent,andsoontheywereashighasthetopofachurchsteepleabovetheocean.
âIâmabitworriedaboutthepeach,âJamessaidtotheothersassoonasallthedancingandtheshoutinghadstopped.âIwonderhowmuchdamagethosesharkshavedonetoitunderneath.Itâsquiteimpossibletotellfromuphere.â
âWhydonâtIgooverthesideandmakeaninspection?âMissSpidersaid.âItâllbenotroubleatall,Iassureyou.âAndwithoutwaitingfor
ananswer,shequicklyproducedalengthofsilkthreadandattachedtheendofittothepeachstem.âIâllbebackinajiffy,âshesaid,andthenshewalkedcalmlyovertotheedgeofthepeachandjumpedoff,payingoutthethreadbehindherasshefell.
Theotherscrowdedanxiouslyaroundtheplacewhereshehadgoneover.
âWouldnâtitbedreadfulifthethreadbroke,âtheLadybirdsaid.
Therewasaratherlongsilence.
âAreyouallright,MissSpider?âshoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.
âYes,thankyou!âhervoiceansweredfrombelow.âIâmcomingupnow!âAndupshecame,climbingfootoverfootupthesilkthread,andatthesametimetuckingthethreadbackcleverlyintoherbodyassheclimbedpastit.
âIsitawful?âtheyaskedher.âIsitalleatenaway?Aretheregreatholesiniteverywhere?â
MissSpiderclamberedbackontothedeckwithapleasedbutalsoaratherpuzzledlookonherface.âYouwonâtbelievethis,âshesaid,âbutactuallythereâshardlyanydamagedownthereatall!Thepeachisalmostuntouched!Therearejustafewtinypiecesoutofithereandthere,butnothingmore.â
âYoumustbemistaken,âJamestoldher.
âOfcoursesheâsmistaken!âtheCentipedesaid.
âIpromiseyouIâmnot,âMissSpideranswered.
âButtherewerehundredsofsharksaroundus!â
âTheychurnedthewaterintoafroth!â
âWesawtheirgreatmouthsopeningandshutting!â
âIdonâtcarewhatyousaw,âMissSpideranswered.âTheycertainlydidnâtdomuchdamagetothepeach.â
âThenwhydidwestartsinking?âtheCentipedeasked.
âPerhapswedidnâtstartsinking,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersuggested.âPerhapswewereallsofrightenedthatwesimplyimaginedit.â
This,inpointoffact,wasclosertothetruththananyofthemknew.Ashark,yousee,hasanextremelylongsharpnose,anditsmouthissetveryawkwardlyunderneathitsfaceandalongwayback.Thismakesitmoreorlessimpossibleforittogetitsteethintoavastsmoothcurvingsurfacesuchasthesideofapeach.Evenifthecreatureturnsontoitsbackitstillcanâtdoit,becausethenosealwaysgetsintheway.Ifyouhaveeverseenasmalldogtryingtogetitsteethintoanenormousball,thenyouwillbeabletoimagineroughlyhowitwaswiththesharksandthepeach.
âItmusthavebeensomekindofmagic,âtheLadybirdsaid.âTheholesmusthavehealedupbythemselves.â
âOh,look!Thereâsashipbelowus!âshoutedJames.
Everybodyrushedtothesideandpeeredover.Noneofthemhadeverseenashipbefore.
âItlookslikeabigone.â
âItâsgotthreefunnels.â
âYoucanevenseethepeopleonthedecks!â
âLetâswavetothem.Doyouthinktheycanseeus?â
NeitherJamesnoranyoftheothersknewit,buttheshipthatwasnowpassingbeneaththemwasactuallytheQueenMarysailingoutoftheEnglishChannelonherwaytoAmerica.AndonthebridgeoftheQueenMary,theastonishedCaptainwasstandingwithagroupofhisofficers,allofthemgapingatthegreatroundballhoveringoverhead.
âIdonâtlikeit,âtheCaptainsaid.
âNordoI,âsaidtheFirstOfficer.
âDoyouthinkitâsfollowingus?âsaidtheSecondOfficer.
âItellyouIdonâtlikeit,âmutteredtheCaptain.
âItcouldbedangerous,âtheFirstOfficersaid.
âThatâsit!âcriedtheCaptain.âItâsasecretweapon!Holycats!SendamessagetotheQueenatonce!Thecountrymustbewarned!Andgivemeraytelescope.â
TheFirstOfficerhandedthetelescopetotheCaptain.TheCaptainputittohiseye.
âThereâsbirdseverywhere!âhecried.âThewholeskyisteemingwithbirds!Whatintheworldaretheydoing?Andwait!Waitasecond!Therearepeopleonit!Icanseethemmoving!ThereâsaâaâdoIhavethisdarnedthingfocusedright?Itlookslikealittleboyinshorttrousers!Yes,Icandistinctlyseealittleboyinshorttrousersstandingupthere!Andthereâsaâthereâsaâthereâsaâaâaâasortofgiantladybird!â
âNowjustaminute,Captain!âtheFirstOfficersaid.
âAndacolossalgreengrasshopper!â
âCaptain!âtheFirstOfficersaidsharply.âCaptain,please!â
âAndamammothspider!â
âOhdear,heâsbeenatthewhiskyagain,âwhisperedtheSecondOfficer.
âAndanenormousâasimplyenormouscentipede!âscreamedtheCaptain.
âCalltheShipâsDoctor,âtheFirstOfficersaid.âOurCaptainisnotwell.â
Amomentlater,thegreatroundballdisappearedintoacloud,andthepeopleontheshipneversawitagain.
Twenty-four
Butuponthepeachitself,everyonewasstillhappyandexcited.
âIwonderwhereweâllfinishupthistime,âtheEarthwormsaid.
âWhocares?âtheyanswered.âSeagullsalwaysgobacktothelandsoonerorlater.â
Upanduptheywent,highabovethehighestclouds,thepeachswayinggentlyfromsidetosideasitfloatedalong.
âWouldnâtthisbeaperfecttimeforalittlemusic?âtheLadybirdasked.âHowaboutit,OldGrasshopper?â
âWithpleasure,dearlady,âtheOld-Green-Grasshopperanswered,bowingfromthewaist.
âOh,hooray!Heâsgoingtoplayforus!âtheycried,andimmediatelythewholecompanysatthemselvesdowninacirclearoundtheOldGreenMusicianâandtheconcertbegan.
Fromthemomentthatthefirstnotewasstruck,theaudiencebecamecompletelyspellbound.AndasforJames,neverhadheheardsuchbeautifulmusicasthis!Inthegardenathomeonsummerevenings,hehadlistenedmanytimestothesoundofgrasshopperschirpinginthegrass,andhehadalwayslikedthenoisethattheymade.Butthiswasadifferentkindofnoisealtogether.Thiswasrealmusicâchords,harmonies,tunes,andalltherestofit.
AndwhatawonderfulinstrumenttheOld-Green-Grasshopperwasplayingupon.Itwaslikeaviolin!Itwasalmostexactlyasthoughhewereplayinguponaviolin!
Thebowoftheviolin,thepartthatmoved,washisbackleg.Thestringsoftheviolin,thepartthatmadethesound,wastheedgeofhiswing.
Hewasusingonlythetopofhisbackleg(thethigh),andhewasstrokingthisupanddownagainsttheedgeofhiswingwithincredibleskill,sometimesslowly,sometimesfast,butalwayswiththesameeasyflowingaction.Itwaspreciselythewayacleverviolinistwouldhaveusedhisbow;andthemusiccamepouringoutandfilledthewholeblueskyaroundthemwithmagicmelodies.
Whenthefirstpartwasfinished,everyoneclappedmadly,andMissSpiderstoodupandshouted,âBravo!Encore!Giveussomemore!â
âDidyoulikethat,James?âtheOld-Green-Grasshopperasked,smilingatthesmallboy.
âOh,Ilovedit!âJamesanswered.âItwasbeautiful!Itwasasthoughyouhadarealviolininyourhands!â
âArealviolin!âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppercried.âGoodheavens,Ilikethat!Mydearboy,Iamarealviolin!Itisapartofmyownbody!â
âButdoallgrasshoppersplaytheirmusiconviolins,thesamewayasyoudo?âJamesaskedhim.
âNo,âheanswered,ânotall.Ifyouwanttoknow,Ihappentobeaâshort-hornedâgrasshopper.Ihavetwoshortfeelerscomingoutofmyhead.Canyouseethem?Theretheyare.Theyarequiteshort,arenâtthey?Thatâswhytheycallmeaâshort-hornâ.Andweâshort-hornsâaretheonlyoneswhoplayourmusicintheviolinstyle,usingabow.Myâlong-hornedârelatives,theoneswhohavelongcurvyfeelerscomingoutoftheirheads,maketheirmusicsimplybyrubbingtheedgesoftheirtwotopwingstogether.Theyarenotviolinists,theyare
wing-rubbers.Andaratherinferiornoisethesewing-rubbersproduce,too,ifImaysayso.Itsoundsmorelikeabanjothanafiddle.â
âHowfascinatingthisallis!âcriedJames.âAndtothinkthatupuntilnowIhadneverevenwonderedhowagrasshoppermadehissounds.â
âMydearyoungfellow,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaidgently,âthereareawholelotofthingsinthisworldofoursthatyouhavenâtstartedwonderingaboutyet.Where,forexample,doyouthinkthatIkeepmyears?â
âYourears?Why,inyourhead,ofcourse.â
Everyoneburstoutlaughing.
âYoumeanyoudonâtevenknowthat?âcriedtheCentipede.
âTryagain,âsaidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,smilingatJames.
âYoucanâtpossiblykeepthemanywhereelse?â
âOh,canâtI?â
âWellâIgiveup.Wheredoyoukeepthem?â
âRighthere,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.âOneoneachsideofmytummy.â
âItâsnottrue!â
âOfcourseitâstrue.Whatâssopeculiaraboutthat?Yououghttoseewheremycousinsthecricketsandthekatydidskeeptheirs.â
âWheredotheykeepthem?â
âIntheirlegs.Oneineachfrontleg,justbelowtheknee.â
âYoumeanyoudidnâtknowthateither?âtheCentipedesaidscornfully.
âYouârejoking,âJamessaid.âNobodycouldpossiblyhavehisearsinhislegs.â
âWhynot?â
âBecauseâŠbecauseitâsridiculous,thatâswhy.â
âYouknowwhatIthinkisridiculous?âtheCentipedesaid,grinningawayasusual.âIdonâtmeantoberude,butIthinkitisridiculoustohaveearsonthesidesofoneâshead.Itcertainlylooksridiculous.Yououghttotakeapeekinthemirrorsomedayandseeforyourself.â
âPest!âcriedtheEarthworm.âWhymustyoualwaysbesorudeandrambunctioustoeveryone?YououghttoapologizetoJamesatonce.â
Twenty-five
JamesdidnâtwanttheEarthwormandtheCentipedetogetintoanotherargument,sohesaidquicklytotheEarthworm,âTellme,doyouplayanykindofmusic?â
âNo,butIdootherthings,someofwhicharereallyquiteextraordinaryâtheEarthwormsaid,brightening.
âSuchaswhat?âaskedJames.
âWell,âtheEarthwormsaid.âNexttimeyoustandinafieldorinagardenandlookaroundyou,thenjustrememberthis:thateverygrainofsoiluponthesurfaceoftheland,everytinylittlebitofsoilthatyoucanseehasactuallypassedthroughthebodyofanEarthwormduringthelastfewyears!Isnâtthatwonderful?â
âItâsnotpossible!âsaidJames.
âMydearboy,itâsafact.â
âYoumeanyouactuallyswallowsoil?â
âLikemad,âtheEarthwormsaidproudly.âInoneendandouttheother.â
âButwhatâsthepoint?â
âWhatdoyoumean,whatâsthepoint?â
âWhydoyoudoit?â
âWedoitforthefarmers.Itmakesthesoilniceandlightandcrumblysothatthingswillgrowwellinit.Ifyoureallywanttoknow,thefarmerscouldnâtdowithoutus.Weareessential.Wearevital.So
itisonlynaturalthatthefarmershouldloveus.Helovesusevenmore,Ibelieve,thanhelovestheLadybird.â
âTheLadybird!âsaidJames,turningtolookather.âDotheyloveyou,too?â
âIamtoldthattheydo,âtheLadybirdansweredmodestly,blushingallover.âInfact,IunderstandthatinsomeplacesthefarmersloveussomuchthattheygooutandbuyliveLadybirdsbythesackfulandtakethemhomeandsetthemfreeintheirfields.TheyareverypleasedwhentheyhavelotsofLadybirdsintheirfields.â
âButwhy?âJamesasked.
âBecausewegobbleupallthenastylittleinsectsthataregobblingupallthefarmerâscrops.Ithelpsenormously,andweourselvesdonâtchargeapennyforourservices.â
âIthinkyouârewonderful,âJamestoldher.âCanIaskyouonespecialquestion?â
âPleasedo.â
âWell,isitreallytruethatIcantellhowoldaLadybirdisbycountingherspots?â
âOhno,thatâsjustachildrenâsstory,âtheLadybirdsaid.âWeneverchangeourspots.Someofus,ofcourse,arebornwithmorespots
thanothers,butweneverchangethem.ThenumberofspotsthataLadybirdhasissimplyawayofshowingwhichbranchofthefamilyshebelongsto.I,forexample,asyoucanseeforyourself,amaNine-SpottedLadybird.Iamverylucky.Itisafinethingtobe.â
âItis,indeed,âsaidJames,gazingatthebeautifulscarletshellwiththenineblackspotsonit.
âOntheotherhand,âtheLadybirdwenton,âsomeofmylessfortunaterelativeshavenomorethantwospotsaltogetherontheirshells!Canyouimaginethat?TheyarecalledTwo-SpottedLadybirds,andverycommonandill-manneredtheyare,Iregrettosay.Andthen,ofcourse,youhavetheFive-SpottedLadybirdsaswell.TheyaremuchnicerthantheTwo-Spottedones,althoughImyselffindthematrifletoosaucyformytaste.â
âButtheyareallofthemloved?âsaidJames.
âYes,âtheLadybirdansweredquietly.âTheyareallofthemloved.â
âItseemsthatalmosteveryonearoundhereisloved!âsaidJames.âHownicethisis!â
âNotme!âcriedtheCentipedehappily.âIamapestandIâmproudofit!Oh,Iamsuchashockingdreadfulpest!â
âHear,hear,âtheEarthwormsaid.
âButwhataboutyou,MissSpider?âaskedJames.âArenâtyoualsomuchlovedintheworld?â
âAlas,no,âMissSpideranswered,sighinglongandloud.âIamnotlovedatall.AndyetIdonothingbutgood.AlldaylongIcatchfliesandmosquitoesinmywebs.Iamadecentperson.â
âIknowyouare,âsaidJames.
âItisveryunfairthewayweSpidersaretreated,âMissSpiderwenton.âWhy,onlylastweekyourownhorribleAuntSpongeflushedmypoordearfatherdowntheplug-holeinthebathtub.â
âOh,howawful!âcriedJames.
âIwatchedthewholethingfromacornerupintheceiling,âMissSpidermurmured.âItwasghastly.Weneversawhimagain.âAlargetearrolleddownhercheekandfellwithasplashonthefloor.
âButisitnotveryunluckytokillaspider?âJamesinquired,lookingaroundattheothers.
âOfcourseitâsunluckytokillaspider!âshoutedtheCentipede.âItâsabouttheunluckiestthinganyonecando.LookwhathappenedtoAuntSpongeaftersheâddonethat!Bump!Weallfeltit,didnâtwe,asthepeachwentoverher?Oh,whatalovelybumpthatmusthavebeenforyou,MissSpider!â
âItwasverysatisfactory,âMissSpideranswered.Willyousingusasongaboutit,please?â
SotheCentipededid.
âAuntSpongewasterrificallyfat,
Andtremendouslyflabbyatthat.
Hertummyandwaist
Wereassoggyaspasteâ
Itwasworseontheplacewhereshesat!
Soshesaid,âImustmakemyselfflat.
Imustmakemyselfsleekasacat.
Ishalldowithoutdinner
Tomakemyselfthinner.â
Butalongcamethepeach!
Oh,thebeautifulpeach!
Andmadeherfarthinnerthanthat!â
âThatwasverynice,âMissSpidersaid.âNowsingoneaboutAuntSpiker.â
âWithpleasure,âtheCentipedeanswered,grinning:
âAuntSpikerwasthinasawire,
Anddryasabone,onlydrier.
Shewassolongandthin
Ifyoucarriedherin
Youcoulduseherforpokingthefire!
ââImustdosomethingquickly,âshefrowned.
âIwantFAT.Iwantpounduponpound!
Imusteatlotsandlots
Ofmarshmallowsandchocs
TillIstartbulgingoutallaround.â
ââAh,yes,âsheannounced,âIhavesworn
ThatIâllaltermyfigurebydawn!â
Criedthepeachwithasnigger,
âIâLLalteryourfigureââ
Andironedheroutonthelawn!â
EverybodyclappedandcalledoutformoresongsfromtheCentipede,whoatoncelaunchedintohisfavouritesongofall:
âOnceuponatime
Whenpigswereswine
Andmonkeyschewedtobacco
Andhenstooksnuff
Tomakethemselvestough
Andtheduckssaidquack-quack-quacko,
Andporcupines
Drankfierywines
Andgoatsatetapioca
AndOldMotherHubbard
Gotstuckinthecââ
âLookout,Centipede!âcriedJames.âLookout!â
Twenty-six
TheCentipede,whohadbegundancingwildlyroundthedeckduringthissong,hadsuddenlygonetooclosetothedownwardcurvingedgeofthepeach,andforthreeawfulsecondshehadstoodteeteringonthebrink,swinginghislegsfranticallyincirclesinanefforttostophimselffromfallingoverbackwardintospace.Butbeforeanyonecouldreachhimâdownhewent!Hegaveashriekofterrorashefell,andtheothers,rushingtothesideandpeeringover,sawhispoorlongbodytumblingoverandoverthroughtheair,gettingsmallerandsmalleruntilitwasoutofsight.
âSilkworm!âyelledJames.âQuick!Startspinning!â
TheSilkwormsighed,forshewasstillverytiredfromspinningallthatsilkfortheseagulls,butshedidasshewastold.
âIâmgoingdownafterhim!âcriedJames,grabbingthesilkstringasitstartedcomingoutoftheSilkwormandtyingtheendofitaroundhiswaist.âTherestofyouholdontoSilkwormsoIdonâtpullheroverwithme,andlateron,ifyoufeelthreetugsonthestring,starthaulingmeupagain!â
Hejumped,andhewenttumblingdownaftertheCentipede,down,down,downtowardstheseabelow,andyoucanimaginehowquicklytheSilkwormhadtospintokeepupwiththespeedofhisfall.
âWeâllneverseeeitherofthemagain!âcriedtheLadybird.âOh,dear!Ohdear!Justwhenwewereallsohappy,too!â
MissSpider,theGlow-worm,andtheLadybirdallbegantocry.SodidtheEarthworm.âIdonâtcareabitabouttheCentipede,âthe
Earthwormsobbed.âButIreallydidlovethatlittleboy.â
Verysoftly,theOld-Green-GrasshopperstartedtoplaytheFuneralMarchonhisviolin,andbythetimehehadfinished,everyone,includinghimself,wasinafloodoftears.
Suddenly,therecamethreesharptugsontherope.âPull!âshoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.âEveryonegetbehindmeandpull!â
Therewasaboutamileofstringtobehauledin,buttheyallworkedlikemad,andintheend,overthesideofthepeach,thereappearedadripping-wetJameswithadripping-wetCentipedeclingingtohimtightlywithallforty-twoofhislegs.
âHesavedme!âgaspedtheCentipede.âHeswamaroundinthemiddleoftheAtlanticOceanuntilhefoundme!â
âMydearboy,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid,pattingJamesontheback.âIdocongratulateyou.â
âMyboots!âcriedtheCentipede.âJustlookatmypreciousboots!
Theyareruinedbythewater!â
âBequiet!âtheEarthwormsaid.âYouareluckytobealive.â
âArewestillgoingupandup?âaskedJames.
âWecertainlyare,âansweredtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.âAnditâsbeginningtogetdark.â
âIknow.Itâllsoonbenight.â
âWhydonâtweallgodownbelowandkeepwarmuntiltomorrowmorning?âMissSpidersuggested.
âNo,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.âIthinkthatwouldbeveryunwise.Itwillbesaferifweallstayupherethroughthenightandkeepwatch.Then,ifanythinghappens,weshallanywaybereadyforit.â
Twenty-seven
JamesHenryTrotterandhiscompanionscrouchedclosetogetherontopofthepeachasthenightbeganclosinginaroundthem.Cloudslikemountainstoweredhighabovetheirheadsonallsides,mysterious,menacing,overwhelming.Graduallyitgrewdarkeranddarker,andthenapalethree-quartermooncameupoverthetopsofthecloudsandcastaneerielightoverthewholescene.Thegiantpeachswayedgentlyfromsidetosideasitfloatedalong,andthehundredsofsilkywhitestringsgoingupwardfromitsstemwerebeautifulinthemoonlight.Soalsowasthegreatflockofseagullsoverhead.
Therewasnotasoundanywhere.Travellinguponthepeachwasnotintheleastliketravellinginanaeroplane.Theaeroplanecomesclatteringandroaringthroughthesky,andwhatevermightbelurkingsecretlyupthereinthegreatcloud-mountainsgoesrunningforcoveratitsapproach.Thatiswhypeoplewhotravelinaeroplanesneverseeanything.
ButthepeachâŠah,yesâŠthepeachwasasoft,stealthytraveller,makingnonoiseatallasitfloatedalong.Andseveraltimesduringthatlongsilentnightridehighupoverthemiddleoftheoceaninthemoonlight,Jamesandhisfriendssawthingsthatnoonehadeverseenbefore.
Once,astheydriftedsilentlypastamassivewhitecloud,theysawonthetopofitagroupofstrange,tall,wispy-lookingthingsthatwereabouttwicetheheightofordinarymen.Theywerenoteasytoseeatfirstbecausetheywerealmostaswhiteastheclouditself,butasthepeachsailedcloser,itbecameobviousthattheseâthingsâwereactuallylivingcreaturesâtall,wispy,wraithlike,shadowy,whitecreatureswholookedasthoughtheyweremadeoutofamixtureofcotton-woolandcandyflossandthinwhitehairs.
âOooooooooooooh!âtheLadybirdsaid.âIdonâtlikethisatall!â
âSsshh!âJameswhisperedback.âDonâtletthemhearyou!TheymustbeCloud-Men!â
âCloud-Men!âtheymurmured,huddlingclosertogetherforcomfort.âOhdear,ohdear!â
âIâmgladIâmblindandcanâtseethem,âtheEarthwormsaid,âorIwouldprobablyscream.â
âIhopetheydonâtturnroundandseeus,âMissSpiderstammered.
âDoyouthinktheywouldeatus?âtheEarthwormasked.
âTheywouldeatyou,âtheCentipedeanswered,grinning.âTheywouldcutyouuplikeasalamiandeatyouinthinslices.â
ThepoorEarthwormbegantoquiveralloverwithfright.
âButwhataretheydoing?âtheOld-Green-Grasshopperwhispered.
âIdonâtknow,âJamesansweredsoftly.âLetâswatchandsee.â
TheCloud-Menwereallstandinginagroup,andtheyweredoingsomethingpeculiarwiththeirhands.First,theywouldreachout(allofthematonce)andgrabhandfulsofcloud.Thentheywouldrollthesehandfulsofcloudintheirfingersuntiltheyturnedintowhatlookedlikelargewhitemarbles.Thentheywouldtossthemarblestoonesideandquicklygrabmorebitsofcloudandstartoveragain.
Itwasallverysilentandmysterious.Thepileofmarblesbesidethemkeptgrowinglargerandlarger.Soontherewasatruckloadof
themthereatleast.
âTheymustbeabsolutelymad!âtheCentipedesaid.âThereâsnothingtobeafraidofhere!â
âBequiet,youpest!âtheEarthwormwhispered.âWeshallallbeeateniftheyseeus!â
ButtheCloud-Menweremuchtoobusywithwhattheyweredoingtohavenoticedthegreatpeachfloatingsilentlyupbehindthem.
ThenthewatchersonthepeachsawoneoftheCloud-Menraisinghislongwispyarmsabovehisheadandtheyheardhimshouting,âAllright,boys!Thatâsenough!Gettheshovels!âAndalltheotherCloud-Menimmediatelyletoutastrangehigh-pitchedwhoopofjoyandstartedjumpingupanddownandwavingtheirarmsintheair.Thentheypickedupenormousshovelsandrushedovertothepileofmarblesandbeganshovellingthemasfastastheycouldoverthesideofthecloud,intospace.âDowntheygo!âtheychantedastheyworked.
âDowntheygo!
Hailandsnow!
Freezesandsneezesandnoseswillblow!â
âItâshailstones!âwhisperedJamesexcitedly.âTheyâvebeenmakinghailstonesandnowtheyareshoweringthemdownontothepeopleintheworldbelow!â
âHailstones?âtheCentipedesaid.âThatâsridiculous!Thisissummertime.Youdonâthavehailstonesinsummertime.â
âTheyarepractisingforthewinter,âJamestoldhim.
âIdonâtbelieveit!âshoutedtheCentipede,raisinghisvoice.
âSsshh!âtheotherswhispered.AndJamessaidsoftly,âForheavenâssake,Centipede,donâtmakesomuchnoise.â
TheCentipederoaredwithlaughter.âThoseimbecilescouldnâthear
anything!âhecried.âTheyâredeafasdoorknobs!Youwatch!âAndbeforeanyonecouldstophim,hehadcuppedhisfrontfeettohismouthandwasyellingattheCloud-Menasloudashecould.âIdiots!âheyelled.âNincompoops!Half-wits!Blunderheads!Asses!Whatonearthdoyouthinkyouâredoingoverthere!â
Theeffectwasimmediate.TheCloud-Menjumpedroundasiftheyhadbeenstungbywasps.Andwhentheysawthegreatgoldenpeachfloatingpastthemnotfiftyyardsawayinthesky,theygaveayelpofsurpriseanddroppedtheirshovelstotheground.Andtheretheystoodwiththemoonlightstreamingdownalloverthem,absolutelymotionless,likeagroupoftallwhitehairystatues,staringandstaringatthegiganticfruitasitwentsailingby.
Thepassengersonthepeach(allexcepttheCentipede)satfrozenwithterror,lookingbackattheCloud-Menandwonderingwhatwasgoingtohappennext.
âNowyouâvedoneit,youloathsomepest!âwhisperedtheEarthwormtotheCentipede.
âIâmnotfrightenedofthem!âshoutedtheCentipede,andtoshoweverybodyonceagainthathewasnât,hestooduptohisfullheightandstarteddancingaboutandmakinginsultingsignsattheCloud-Menwithallforty-twoofhislegs.
ThisevidentlyinfuriatedtheCloud-Menbeyondbelief.Allatonce,theyspunroundandgrabbedgreathandfulsofhailstonesandrushedtotheedgeofthecloudandstartedthrowingthematthepeach,shriekingwithfuryallthetime.
âLookout!âcriedJames.âQuick!Liedown!Lieflatonthedeck!â
Itwasluckytheydid!Alargehailstonecanhurtyouasmuchasa
rockoralumpofleadifitisthrownhardenoughâandmygoodness,howthoseCloud-Mencouldthrow!Thehailstonescamewhizzingthroughtheairlikebulletsfromamachine-gun,andJamescouldhearthemsmashingagainstthesidesofthepeachandburyingthemselvesinthepeachfleshwithhorriblesquelchingnoisesâplop!plop!plop!plop!Andthenping!ping!ping!astheybouncedoffthepoorLadybirdâsshellbecauseshecouldnâtlieasflatastheothers.Andthencrack!asoneofthemhittheCentipederightonthenoseandcrack!againasanotheronehithimsomewhereelse.
âOw!âhecried.âOw!Stop!Stop!Stop!â
ButtheCloud-Menhadnointentionofstopping.Jamescouldseethemrushingaboutonthecloudlikealotofhugehairyghosts,pickinguphailstonesfromthepile,dashingtotheedgeofthecloud,hurlingthehailstonesatthepeach,dashingbackagaintogetmore,andthen,whenthepileofstoneswasallgone,theysimplygrabbedhandfulsofcloudandmadeasmanymoreastheywanted,andmuchbiggeronesnow,someofthemaslargeascannonballs.
âQuickly!âcriedJames.âDownthetunnelorweâllallbewipedout!â
Therewasarushforthetunnelentrance,andhalfaminutelatereverybodywassafelydownstairsinsidethestoneofthepeach,tremblingwithfrightandlisteningtothenoiseofthehailstonesastheycamecrashingagainstthesideofthepeach.
âIâmawreck!âgroanedtheCentipede.âIamwoundedallover!â
âItservesyouright,âsaidtheEarthworm.
âWouldsomebodykindlylookandseeifmyshelliscracked?âtheLadybirdsaid.
âGiveussomelight!âshoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.
âIcanât!âwailedtheGlow-worm.âTheyâvebrokenmybulb!â
âThenputinanotherone!âtheCentipedesaid.
âBequietamoment,âsaidJames.âListen!Idobelievetheyârenothittingusanymore!â
Theyallstoppedtalkingandlistened.Yesâthenoisehadceased.Thehailstoneswerenolongersmashingagainstthepeach.
âWeâveleftthembehind!â
âTheseagullsmusthavepulledusawayoutofdanger.
âHooray!Letâsgoupandsee!â
Cautiously,withJamesgoingfirst,theyallclimbedbackupthetunnel.Jamespokedhisheadoutandlookedaround.âItâsallclear!âhecalled.âIcanâtseethemanywhere!â
Twenty-eight
Onebyone,thetravellerscameoutagainontothetopofthepeachandgazedcarefullyaround.Themoonwasstillshiningasbrightlyasever,andtherewerestillplentyofhugeshimmeringcloud-mountainsonallsides.ButtherewerenoCloud-Meninsightnow.
âThepeachisleaking!âshoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,peeringovertheside.âItâsfullofholesandthejuiceisdrippingouteverywhere!â
âThatdoesit!âcriedtheEarthworm.âIfthepeachisleakingthenweshallsurelysink!â
âDonâtbeanass!âtheCentipedetoldhim.âWeârenotinthewaternow!â
âOh,look!âshoutedtheLadybird.âLook,look,look!Overthere!â
Everybodyswungroundtolook.
Inthedistanceanddirectlyaheadofthem,theynowsawamostextraordinarysight.Itwasakindofarch,acolossalcurvy-shapedthingthatreachedhighupintotheskyandcamedownagainatbothends.Theendswererestinguponahugeflatcloudthatwasasbigasadesert.
âNowwhatintheworldisthat?âaskedJames.
âItâsabridge!â
âItâsanenormoushoopcutinhalf!â
âItâsagianthorseshoestandingupsidedown!â
âStopmeifIâmwrong,âmurmuredtheCentipede,goingwhiteintheface,âbutmightthosenotbeCloud-Menclimbingalloverit?â
Therewasadreadfulsilence.Thepeachfloatedcloserandcloser.
âTheyareCloud-Men!â
âTherearehundredsofthem!â
âThousands!â
âMillions!â
âIdonâtwanttohearaboutit!âshriekedthepoorblindEarthworm.âIâdratherbeontheendofafishhookandusedasbaitthancomeupagainstthoseterriblecreaturesagain!â
âIâdratherbefriedaliveandeatenbyaMexican!âwailedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.
âPleasekeepquiet,âwhisperedJames.âItâsouronlyhope.â
Theycrouchedverystillontopofthepeach,staringattheCloud-Men.Thewholesurfaceofthecloudwasliterallyswarmingwiththem,andtherewerehundredsmoreupaboveclimbingaboutonthatmonstrouscrazyarch.
âButwhatisthatthing?âwhisperedtheLadybird.âAndwhataretheydoingtoit?â
âIdonâtcarewhattheyâredoingtoit!âtheCentipedesaid,scuttlingovertothetunnelentrance.âIâmnotstayinguphere!Good-bye!â
Buttherestofthemweretoofrightenedortoohypnotizedbythewholeaffairtomakeamove.
âDoyouknowwhat?âJameswhispered.
âWhat?âtheysaid.âWhat?â
âThatenormousarchâtheyseemtobepaintingit!Theyâvegotpotsofpaintandbigbrushes!Youlook!â
Andhewasquiteright.ThetravellerswerecloseenoughnowtoseethatthiswasexactlywhattheCloud-Menweredoing.Theyallhadhugebrushesintheirhandsandtheyweresplashingthepaintontothegreatcurvyarchinafrenzyofspeed,sofast,infact,thatinafewminutesthewholeofthearchbecamecoveredwiththemostgloriouscoloursâreds,blues,greens,yellows,andpurples.
âItâsarainbow!âeveryonesaidatonce.âTheyaremakingarainbow!â
âOh,isnâtitbeautiful!â
âJustlookatthosecolours!â
âCentipede!âtheyshouted.âYoumustcomeupandseethis!âTheyweresoenthralledbythebeautyandbrillianceoftherainbowthattheyforgottokeeptheirvoiceslowanylonger.TheCentipedepokedhisheadcautiouslyoutofthetunnelentrance.
âWell,well,well,âhesaid.âIâvealwayswonderedhowthosethingsweremade.Butwhyalltheropes?Whataretheydoingwiththoseropes?â
âGoodheavens,theyarepushingitoffthecloud!âcriedJames.âThereitgoes!Theyareloweringitdowntotheearthwithropes!â
âAndIâlltellyousomethingelse,âtheCentipedesaidsharply.âIfIâmnotgreatlymistaken,weourselvesaregoingtobumprightintoit!â
âBlessmysoul,heâsright!âtheOld-Green-Grasshopperexclaimed.
Therainbowwasnowdanglingintheairbelowthecloud.Thepeachwasalsojustbelowthelevelofthecloud,anditwasheading
directlytowardstherainbow,travellingratherfast.
âWearelost!âMissSpidercried,wringingherfeetagain.âTheendhascome!â
âIcanâtstandit!âwailedtheEarthworm.âTellmewhatâshappening!â
âWeâregoingtomissit!âshoutedtheLadybird.
âNo,weârenot!â
âYes,weare!â
âYes!âYes!âNo!âOh,myheavens!â
âHoldon,everybody!âJamescalledout,andsuddenlytherewasatremendousthudasthepeachwentcrashingintothetopoftherainbow.Thiswasfollowedbyanawfulsplinteringnoiseastheenormousrainbowsnappedrightacrossthemiddleandbecametwoseparatepieces.
Thenextthingthathappenedwasextremlyunfortunate.TheropesthattheCloud-Menhadbeenusingforloweringtherainbowgottangledupwiththesilkstringsthatwentupfromthepeachtotheseagulls!Thepeachwastrapped!Panicandpandemoniumbrokeoutamongthetravellers,andJamesHenryTrotter,glancingupquickly,sawthefacesofathousandfuriousCloud-Menpeeringdownathimovertheedgeofthecloud.Thefaceshadalmostnoshapeatallbecauseofthelongwhitehairsthatcoveredthem.Therewerenonoses,nomouths,noears,nochinsâonlytheeyeswerevisibleineachface,twosmallblackeyesglintingmalevolentlythroughthehairs.
Thencamethemostfrighteningthingofall.OneCloud-Man,ahugehairycreaturewhomusthavebeenfourteenfeettallatleast,suddenlystoodupandmadeatremendousleapoffthesideofthe
cloud,tryingtogettooneofthesilkstringsabovethepeach.Jamesandhisfriendssawhimgoflyingthroughtheairabovethem,hisarmsoutstretchedinfrontofhim,reachingfortheneareststring,andtheysawhimgrabitandclingtoitwithhishandsandlegs.Andthen,veryveryslowly,handoverhand,hebegantocomedownthestring.
âMercy!Help!Saveus!âcriedtheLadybird.
âHeâscomingdowntoeatus!âwailedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.âJumpoverboard!â
âTheneattheEarthwormfirst!âshoutedtheCentipede.âItâsnogoodeatingme,Iâmfullofboneslikeakipper!â
âCentipede!âyelledJames.âQuickly!Bitethroughthatstring,theoneheâscomingdownon!â
TheCentipederushedovertothestemofthepeachandtookthesilkstringinhisteethandbitthroughitwithonesnapofhisjaws.Immediately,farabovethem,asingleseagullwasseentocomeawayfromtherestoftheflockandgoflyingoffwithalongstringtrailing
fromitsneck.Andclingingdesperatelytotheendofthestring,shoutingandcursingwithfury,wasthehugehairyCloud-Man.Upanduphewent,swingingacrossthemoonlitsky,andJamesHenryTrotter,watchinghimwithdelight,said,âMygoodness,hemustweighalmostnothingatallforoneseagulltobeabletopullhimuplikethat!Hemustbeallhairandair!â
TherestoftheCloud-Menweresoflabbergastedatseeingoneoftheircompanycarriedawayinthismannerthattheyletgotheropestheywereholdingandthenofcoursedownwenttherainbow,bothhalvesofittogether,tumblingtowardstheearthbelow.Thisfreedthepeach,whichatoncebegansailingawayfromthatterriblecloud.
Butthetravellerswerenotintheclearyet.TheinfuriatedCloud-Menjumpedupandranafterthemalongthecloud,peltingthemmercilesslywithallsortsofhardandhorribleobjects.Emptypaintbuckets,paintbrushes,stepladders,stools,saucepans,frying-pans,rotteneggs,deadrats,bottlesofhair-oilâanythingthosebrutescouldlaytheirhandsoncamerainingdownuponthepeach.OneCloud-Man,takingverycarefulaim,tippedagallonofthickpurplepaintovertheedgeofthecloudrightontotheCentipedehimself.
TheCentipedescreamedwithanger.âMylegs!âhecried.âTheyareallstickingtogether!Icanâtwalk!Andmyeyelidswonâtopen!Icanâtsee!Andmyboots!Mybootsareruined!â
ButforthemomenteveryonewasfartoobusydodgingthethingsthattheCloud-MenwerethrowingtopayanyattentiontotheCentipede.
âThepaintisdrying!âhemoaned.âItâsgoinghard!Icanâtmovemylegs!Icanâtmoveanything!â
âYoucanstillmoveyourmouth,âtheEarthwormsaid.âAndthatisagreatpity.â
âJames!âbawledtheCentipede.âPleasehelpme!Washoffthispaint!Scrapeitoff!Anything!â
Twenty-nine
Itseemedlikealongtimebeforetheseagullswereabletopullthepeachawayfromthathorriblerainbow-cloud.Buttheymanageditatlast,andtheneverybodygatheredaroundthewretchedCentipedeandbeganarguingaboutthebestwaytogetthepaintoffhisbody.
Hereallydidlookasight.Hewaspurpleallover,andnowthatthepaintwasbeginningtodryandharden,hewasforcedtositverystiffandupright,asthoughhewereencasedincement.Andallforty-twoofhislegswerestickingoutstraightinfrontofhim,likerods.Hetriedtosaysomething,buthislipswouldnâtmove.Allhecoulddonowwastomakegurglingnoisesinhisthroat.
TheOld-Green-Grasshopperreachedoutandtouchedhimcarefullyonthestomach.âButhowcoulditpossiblyhavedriedsoquickly?âheasked.
âItâsrainbow-paint,âJamesanswered.âRainbow-paintdriesveryquickandveryhard.â
âIdetestpaint,âMissSpiderannounced.âItfrightensme.Itreminds
meofAuntSpikerâthelateAuntSpiker,Imeanâbecausethelasttimeshepaintedherkitchenceilingmypoordarlinggrandmothersteppedintoitbymistakewhenitwasstillwet,andthereshestuck.Andallthroughthenightwecouldhearhercallingtous,sayingâHelp!help!help!âanditwasheartbreakingtolistentoher.Butwhatcouldwedo?Notathinguntilthenextdaywhenthepainthaddried,andthenofcourseweallrushedovertoherandcalmedherdownandgavehersomefood.Believeitornot,shelivedforsixmonthslikethat,upsidedownontheceilingwithherlegsstuckpermanentlyinthepaint.Shereallydid.Wefedhereveryday.Webroughtherfreshfliesstraightfromtheweb.Butthenonthetwenty-sixthofAprillast,AuntSpongeâthelateAuntSponge,Imeanâhappenedtoglanceupattheceiling,andshespottedher.âAspider!âshecried.âAdisgustingspider!Quick!Fetchmethemopwiththelonghandle!âAndthenâOh,itwassoawfulIcanâtbeartothinkofitâŠâMissSpiderwipedawayatearandlookedsadlyattheCentipede.âYoupoorthing,âshemurmured.âIdofeelsorryforyou.â
âItâllnevercomeoff,âtheEarthwormsaidbrightly.âOurCentipedewillnevermoveagain.Hewillturnintoastatueandweshallbeabletoputhiminthemiddleofthelawnwithabird-bathonthetopofhishead.â
âWecouldtrypeelinghimlikeabanana,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersuggested.
âOrrubbinghimwithsandpaper,âtheLadybirdsaid.
âNowifhestuckouthistongue,âtheEarthwormsaid,smilingalittleforperhapsthefirsttimeinhislife,âifhestuckitoutreallyfar,thenwecouldallcatchholdofitandstartpulling.Andifwepulledhardenough,wecouldturnhiminsideoutandhewouldhaveanew
skin!â
Therewasapausewhiletheothersconsideredthisinterestingproposal.
âIthink,âJamessaidslowly,âIthinkthatthebestthingtodoâŠâThenhestopped.âWhatwasthat?âheaskedquickly.âIheardavoice!Iheardsomeoneshouting!â
Thirty
Theyallraisedtheirheads,listening.
âSsshh!Thereitisagain!â
Butthevoicewastoofarawayforthemtohearwhatitwassaying.
âItâsaCloud-Man!âMissSpidercried.âIjustknowitâsaCloud-Man!Theyâreafterusagain!â
âItcamefromabove!âtheEarthwormsaid,andautomaticallyeverybodylookedupward,everybodyexcepttheCentipede,whocouldnâtmove.
âOuch!âtheysaid.âHelp!Mercy!Weâregoingtocatchitthistime!âForwhattheynowsaw,swirlingandtwistingdirectlyovertheirheads,wasanimmenseblackcloud,aterrible,dangerous,thundery-lookingthingthatbegantorumbleandroarevenastheywerestaringatit.Andthen,fromhighuponthetopofthecloud,thefarawayvoicecamedowntothemonceagain,thistimeveryloudandclear.
âOnwiththefaucets!âitshouted.âOnwiththefaucets!Onwiththefaucets!â
Threesecondslater,thewholeunderneathofthecloudseemedtosplitandburstopenlikeapaperbag,andthenâoutcamethewater!Theysawitcoming.Itwasquiteeasytoseebecauseitwasnâtjustraindrops.Itwasnâtraindropsatall.Itwasagreatsolidmassofwaterthatmighthavebeenalakeorawholeoceandroppingoutoftheskyontopofthem,anddownitcame,downanddownanddown,crashingfirstontotheseagullsandthenontothepeachitself,whilethepoortravellersshriekedwithfearandgropedaroundfrantically
forsomethingtocatchholdofâthepeachstem,thesilkstrings,anythingtheycouldfindâandallthetimethewatercamepouringandroaringdownuponthem,bouncingandsmashingandsloshingandslashingandswashingandswirlingandsurgingandwhirlingandgurglingandgushingandrushingandrushing,anditwaslikebeingpinneddownunderneaththebiggestwaterfallintheworldandnotbeingabletogetout.Theycouldnâtspeak.Theycouldnâtsee.Theycouldnâtbreathe.AndJamesHenryTrotter,holdingonmadlytooneofthesilkstringsabovethepeachstem,toldhimselfthatthismustsurelybetheendofeverythingatlast.Butthen,justassuddenlyasithadstarted,thedelugestopped.Theywereoutofitanditwasallover.Thewonderfulseagullshadflownrightthroughitandhadcomeoutsafelyontheotherside.Onceagainthegiantpeachwassailingpeacefullythroughthemysteriousmoonlitsky.
âIamdrowned!âgaspedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,spittingoutwaterbythepint.
âItâsgonerightthroughmyskin!âtheEarthwormgroaned.âIalwaysthoughtmyskinwaswaterproofbutitisnâtandnowIâmfullofrain!â
âLookatme,lookatme!âshoutedtheCentipedeexcitedly.âItâswashedmeclean!Thepaintâsallgone!Icanmoveagain!â
âThatâstheworstnewsIâvehadinalongtime,âtheEarthwormsaid.
TheCentipedewasdancingaroundthedeckandturningsomersaultsintheairandsingingatthetopofhisvoice:
âOh,hoorayforthestormandtherain!
Icanmove!Idonâtfeelanypain!
AndnowIâmapest,
Iâmthebiggestandbest,
Themostmarvellouspestonceagain!â
âOh,doshutup,âtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.
âLookatme!âcriedtheCentipede.
âLookatME!Iamfreed!Iamfreed!
Notascratchnorabruisenorableed!
Tohisgravethisfinegent
Theyallthoughttheyhadsent
AndIverynearwent!
Oh,IVERYnearwent!
ButtheycentquitethewrongSentipede!â
Thirty-one
âHowfastwearegoingallofasudden,âtheLadybirdsaid.âIwonderwhy?â
âIdonâtthinktheseagullslikethisplaceanybetterthanwedo,âJamesanswered.âIimaginetheywanttogetoutofitassoonastheycan.Theygotabadfrightinthatstormweâvejustbeenthrough.â
Fasterandfasterflewtheseagulls,skimmingacrosstheskyatatremendouspace,withthepeachtrailingoutbehindthem.Cloudaftercloudwentbyoneitherside,allofthemghostlywhiteinthemoonlight,andseveralmoretimesduringthenightthetravellerscaughtglimpsesofCloud-Menmovingaroundonthetopsoftheseclouds,workingtheirsinistermagicupontheworldbelow.
Oncetheypassedasnowmachineinoperation,withtheCloud-Menturningthehandleandablizzardofsnowflakesblowingoutofthegreatfunnelabove.Theysawthehugedrumsthatwereusedformakingthunder,andtheCloud-Menbeatingthemfuriouslywithlonghammers.TheysawthefrostfactoriesandthewindproducersandtheplaceswherecyclonesandtornadoesweremanufacturedandsentspinningdowntowardstheEarth,andonce,deepinthehollowofalargebillowycloud,theyspottedsomethingthatcouldonlyhavebeenaCloud-Menâscity.Therewerecaveseverywhererunningintothecloud,andattheentrancestothecavestheCloud-Menâswiveswerecrouchingoverlittlestoveswithfrying-pansintheirhands,fryingsnowballsfortheirhusbandsâsuppers.AndhundredsofCloud-Menâschildrenwerefriskingaboutallovertheplaceandshriekingwithlaughterandslidingdownthebillowsofthecloudontoboggans.
Anhourlater,justbeforedawn,thetravellersheardasoftwhooshingnoiseabovetheirheadsandtheyglancedupandsawanimmensegreybatlikecreatureswoopingdowntowardsthemoutofthedark.Itcircledroundandroundthepeach,flappingitsgreatwingsslowlyinthemoonlightandstaringatthetravellers.Thenitutteredaseriesoflongdeepmelancholycriesandflewoffagainintothenight.
âOh,Idowishthemorningwouldcome!âMissSpidersaid,shiveringallover.
âItwonâtbelongnow,âJamesanswered.âLook,itâsgettinglighterovertherealready.â
Theyallsatinsilencewatchingthesunasitcameupslowlyovertherimofthehorizonforanewday.
Thirty-two
Andwhenfulldaylightcameatlast,theyallgottotheirfeetandstretchedtheirpoorcrampedbodies,andthentheCentipede,whoalwaysseemedtoseethingsfirst,shouted,âLook!Thereâslandbelow!â
âHeâsright!âtheycried,runningtotheedgeofthepeachandpeeringover.âHooray!Hooray!â
âItlookslikestreetsandhouses!â
âButhowenormousitallis!â
Avastcity,glisteningintheearlymorningsunshine,layspreadoutthreethousandfeetbelowthem.Atthatheight,thecarswerelikelittlebeetlescrawlingalongthestreets,andpeoplewalkingonthepavementslookednolargerthantinygrainsofsoot.
âButwhattremendoustallbuildings!âexclaimedtheLadybird.âIâveneverseenanythinglikethembeforeinEngland.Whichtowndoyouthinkitis?â
âThiscouldnâtpossiblybeEngland,âsaidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.
âThenwhereisit?âaskedMissSpider.
âYouknowwhatthosebuildingsare?âshoutedJames,jumpingupanddownwithexcitement.âThoseareskyscrapers!SothismustbeAmerica!Andthat,myfriends,meansthatwehavecrossedtheAtlanticOceanovernight!â
âYoudonâtmeanit!âtheycried.
âItâsnotpossible!â
âItâsincredible!Itâsunbelievable!â
âOh,IâvealwaysdreamedofgoingtoAmerica!âcriedtheCentipede.âIhadafriendoncewhoââ
âBequiet!âsaidtheEarthworm.âWhocaresaboutyourfriend?Thethingweâvegottothinkaboutnowishowoneartharewegoingtogetdowntoearth?â
âAskJames,âsaidtheLadybird.
âIdonâtthinkthatshouldbesoverydifficult,âJamestoldthem.âAllweâllhavetodoistocutlooseafewseagulls.Nottoomany,mindyou,butjustenoughsothattheotherscanâtquitekeepusupintheair.Thendownweshallgo,slowlyandgently,untilwereachtheground.Centipedewillbitethroughthestringsforusoneatatime.â
Thirty-three
Farbelowthem,intheCityofNewYork,somethinglikepandemoniumwasbreakingout.AgreatroundballasbigasahousehadbeensightedhoveringhighupintheskyovertheverycentreofManhattan,andthecryhadgoneupthatitwasanenormousbombsentoverbyanothercountrytoblowthewholecitytosmithereens.Air-raidsirensbeganwailingineverysection.Allradioandtelevisionprogrammeswereinterruptedwithannouncementsthatthepopulationmustgodownintotheircellarsimmediately.Onemillionpeoplewalkinginthestreetsontheirwaytoworklookedupintotheskyandsawthemonsterhoveringabovethem,andstartedrunningforthenearestsubwayentrancetotakecover.Generalsgrabbedholdoftelephonesandshoutedorderstoeveryonetheycouldthinkof.TheMayorofNewYorkcalledupthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesdowninWashington,D.C.,toaskhimforhelp,andthePresident,whoatthatmomentwashavingbreakfastinhispyjamas,quicklypushedawayhishalf-finishedplateofSugarCrispsandstartedpressingbuttonsrightandlefttosummonhisAdmiralsandhisGenerals.AndallthewayacrossthevaststretchofAmerica,inallthefiftyStatesfromAlaskatoFlorida,fromPennsylvaniatoHawaii,thealarmwassoundedandthewordwentoutthatthebiggestbombinthehistoryoftheworldwashoveringoverNewYorkCity,andthatatanymomentitmightgooff.
Thirty-four
âComeon,Centipede,bitethroughthefirststring,âJamesordered.
TheCentipedetookoneofthesilkstringsbetweenhisteethandbitthroughit.Andonceagain(butnotwithanangryCloud-Mandanglingfromtheendofthestringthistime)asingleseagullcameawayfromtherestoftheflockandwentflyingoffonitsown.
âBiteanother,âJamesordered.
TheCentipedebitthroughanotherstring.
âWhyarenâtwesinking?â
âWearesinking!â
âNo,weârenot!â
âDonâtforgetthepeachisalotlighternowthanwhenwestartedout,âJamestoldthem.âItlostanawfullotofjuicewhenallthosehailstoneshititinthenight.Cutawaytwomoreseagulls,Centipede!â
âAh,thatâsbetter!â
âHerewego!â
âNowwereallyaresinking!â
âYes,thisisperfect!Donâtbiteanymore,Centipede,orweâllsinktoofast!Gentlydoesit!â
Slowlythegreatpeachbeganlosingheight,andthebuildingsandstreetsdownbelowbegancomingcloserandcloser.
âDoyouthinkweâllallgetourpicturesinthepaperswhenwegetdown?âtheLadybirdasked.
âMygoodness,Iâveforgottentopolishmyboots!âtheCentipedesaid.âEveryonemusthelpmetopolishmybootsbeforewearrive.â
âOh,forheavenâssake!âsaidtheEarthworm.âCanâtyoueverstopthinkingaboutââ
Butheneverfinishedhissentence.ForsuddenlyâŠWHOOOSH!âŠandtheylookedupandsawahugefour-enginedplanecomeshootingoutofanear-bycloudandgowhizzingpastthemnotmorethantwentyfeetovertheirheads.ThiswasactuallytheregularearlymorningpassengerplanecomingintoNewYorkfromChicago,andasitwentby,itslicedrightthrougheverysingleoneofthesilkenstrings,andimmediatelytheseagullsbrokeaway,andtheenormouspeach,havingnothingtoholditupintheairanylonger,wenttumblingdowntowardstheearthlikealumpoflead.
âHelp!âcriedtheCentipede.
âSaveus!âcriedMissSpider.
âWearelost!âcriedtheLadybird.
âThisistheend!âcriedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.
âJames!âcriedtheEarthworm.âDosomething,James!Quickly,dosomething!â
âIcanât!âcriedJames.âIâmsorry!Good-bye!Shutyoureyeseverybody!Itwonâtbelongnow!â
Thirty-five
Roundandroundandupsidedownwentthepeachasitplummetedtowardstheearth,andtheywereallclingingdesperatelytothestemtosavethemselvesfrombeingflungintospace.
Fasterandfasteritfell.Downanddownanddown,racingcloserandclosertothehousesandstreetsbelow,whereitwouldsurelysmashintoamillionpieceswhenithit.AndallthewayalongFifthAvenueandMadisonAvenue,andalongalltheotherstreetsintheCity,peoplewhohadnotyetreachedtheundergroundshelterslookedupandsawitcoming,andtheystoppedrunningandstoodtherestaringinasortofstuporatwhattheythoughtwasthebiggestbombinalltheworldfallingoutoftheskyontotheirheads.Afewwomenscreamed.Otherskneltdownonthesidewalksandbeganprayingaloud.Strongmenturnedtooneanotherandsaidthingslike,âIguessthisisit,Joe,âandâGood-bye,everybody,good-bye.âAndforthenextthirtysecondsthewholeCityhelditsbreath,waitingfortheendtocome.
Thirty-six
âGood-bye,Ladybird!âgaspedJames,clingingtothestemofthefallingpeach.âGood-bye,Centipede.Good-bye,everybody!âTherewereonlyafewsecondstogonowanditlookedasthoughtheyweregoingtofallrightinamongallthetallestbuildings.Jamescouldseetheskyscrapersrushinguptomeetthematthemostawfulspeed,andmostofthemhadsquareflattops,buttheverytallestofthemallhadatopthattaperedoffintoalongsharppointâlikeanenormoussilverneedlestickingupintothesky.
Anditwaspreciselyontothetopofthisneedlethatthepeachfell!
Therewasasquelch.Theneedlewentindeep.Andsuddenlyâtherewasthegiantpeach,caughtandspikedupontheverypinnacleoftheEmpireStateBuilding.
Thirty-seven
Itwasreallyanamazingsight,andintwoorthreeminutes,assoonasthepeoplebelowrealizedthatthisnowcouldnâtpossiblybeabomb,theycamepouringoutofthesheltersandthesubwaystogapeatthemarvel.Thestreetsforhalfamilearoundthebuildingwerejammedwithmenandwomen,andwhenthewordspreadthattherewereactuallylivingthingsmovingaboutonthetopofthegreatroundball,theneveryonewentwildwithexcitement.
âItâsaflyingsaucer!âtheyshouted.
âTheyarefromOuterSpace!â
âTheyaremenfromMars!â
âOrmaybetheycamefromtheMoon!â
Andamanwhohadapairofbinocularstohiseyessaid,âTheylookpritt-typeculiartome,Iâlltellyouthat.â
PolicecarsandfireenginescamescreaminginfromalloverthecityandpulledupoutsidetheEmpireStateBuilding.Twohundredfiremenandsixhundredpolicemenswarmedintothebuildingandwentupintheelevatorsashighastheycouldgo.Thentheypouredoutontotheobservationroofâwhichistheplacewheretouristsstandâjustatthebottomofthebigspike.
Allthepolicemenwereholdingtheirgunsattheready,withtheirfingersonthetriggers,andthefiremenwereclutchingtheirhatchets.Butfromwheretheystood,almostdirectlyunderneaththepeach,theycouldnâtactuallyseethetravellersupontop.
âAhoythere!âshoutedtheChiefofPolice.âComeoutandshowyourselves!â
Suddenly,thegreatbrownheadoftheCentipedeappearedoverthesideofthepeach.Hisblackeyes,aslargeandroundastwomarbles,glareddownatthepolicemenandthefiremenbelow.Thenhismonstrousuglyfacebrokeintoawidegrin.
Thepolicemenandthefiremenallstartedshoutingatonce.âLookout!âtheycried.âItâsaDragon!â
âItâsnotaDragon!ItâsaWampus!â
âItâsaGorgon!â
âItâsaSea-serpent!â
âItâsaProck!â
âItâsaManticore!â
Threefiremenandfivepolicemenfaintedandhadtobecarriedaway.
âItâsaSnozzwanger!âcriedtheChiefofPolice.
âItâsaWhangdoodle!âyelledtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.
TheCentipedekeptongrinning.Heseemedtobeenjoyingenormouslythecommotionthathewascausing.
âNowseehere!âshoutedtheChiefofPolice,cuppinghishandstohismouth.âYoulistentome!Iwantyoutotellmeexactlywhereyouâvecomefrom!â
âWeâvecomefromthousandsofmilesaway!âtheCentipedeshoutedback,grinningmorebroadlythaneverandshowinghisbrownteeth.
âThereyouare!âcalledtheChiefofPolice.âItoldyoutheycame
fromMars!â
âIguessyouâreright!âsaidtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.
Atthispoint,theOld-Green-Grasshopperpokedhishugegreenheadoverthesideofthepeach,alongsidetheCentipedeâs.Sixmorebigstrongmenfaintedwhentheysawhim.
âThatoneâsanOinck!âscreamedtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.âIjustknowitâsanOinck!â
âOraCockatrice!âyelledtheChiefofPolice.âStandback,men!Itmayjumpdownonusanymoment!â
âWhatoneartharetheytalkingabout?âtheOld-Green-GrasshoppersaidtotheCentipede.
âSearchme,âtheCentipedeanswered.âButtheyseemtobeinanawfulstewaboutsomething.â
ThenMissSpiderâslargeblackmurderous-lookinghead,whichtoastrangerwasprobablythemostterrifyingofall,appearednexttotheGrasshopperâs.
âSnakesandladders!âyelledtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.âWearefinishednow!ItâsagiantScorpula!â
âItâsworsethanthat!âcriedtheChiefofPolice.âItâsavermiciousKnid!Oh,justlookatitsvermiciousgruesomeface!â
âIsthatthekindthateatsfully-grownmenforbreakfast?âtheHeadoftheFireDepartmentasked,goingwhiteasasheet.
âIâmafraiditis,âtheChiefofPoliceanswered.
âOh,pleasewhydoesnâtsomeonehelpustogetdownfromhere?âMissSpidercalledout.âItâsmakingmegiddy.â
âThiscouldbeatrick!âsaidtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.âDonâtanyonemakeamoveuntilIsay!â
âTheyâveprobablygotspaceguns!âmutteredtheChiefofPolice.
âButweâvegottodosomething!âtheHeadoftheFireDepartmentannouncedgrimly.âAboutfivemillionpeoplearestandingdownthereonthestreetswatchingus.â
âThenwhydonâtyouputupaladder?âtheChiefofPoliceaskedhim.âIâllstandatthebottomandholditsteadyforyouwhileyougoupandseewhatâshappening.â
âThanksverymuch!âsnappedtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.
SoontherewerenolessthansevenlargefantasticfacespeeringdownoverthesideofthepeachâtheCentipedeâs,theOld-Green-Grasshopperâs,MissSpiderâs,theEarthwormâs,theLadybirdâs,theSilkwormâs,andtheGlow-wormâs.Andasortofpanicwasbeginningtobreakoutamongthefiremenandthepolicemenontherooftop.
Then,allatonce,thepanicstoppedandagreatgaspofastonishmentwentupallround.Fornow,asmallboywasseentobestandinguptherebesidetheothercreatures.Hishairwasblowinginthewind,andhewaslaughingandwavingandcallingout,âHello,everybody!Hello!â
Forafewmoments,themenbelowjuststoodandstaredandgaped.Theysimplycouldnâtbelievetheireyes.
âBlessmysoul!âcriedtheHeadoftheFireDepartment,goingredintheface.âItreallyisalittleboy,isnâtit?â
âDonâtbefrightenedofus,please!âJamescalledout.âWearesogladtobehere!â
âWhataboutthoseothersbesideyou?âshoutedtheChiefofPolice.âAreanyofthemdangerous?â
âOfcoursetheyârenotdangerous!âJamesanswered.âTheyârethenicestcreaturesintheworld!AllowmetointroducethemtoyouonebyoneandthenIâmsureyouwillbelieveme.â
âMyfriends,thisistheCentipede,andletmemakeitknown
Heissosweetandgentlethat(althoughheâsovergrown)
TheQueenofSpain,againandagain,hassummonedhimbyphone
Tobaby-sitandsingandknitandbeachaperone
Whennurseisoffandalltheroyalchildrenarealone.â
(âSmallwonder,âsaidaFireman,âtheyârenolongeronthethrone.â)
âTheEarthworm,ontheotherhand,â
SaidJames,beginningtoexpand,
âIsgreatfordigginguptheland
Andmakingoldsoilsnewer.
Moreover,youshouldunderstand
Hewouldbeabsolutelygrand
Fordiggingsubwaytunnelsand
Formakingyouasewer.â
(TheEarthwormblushedandbeamedwithpride.
MissSpiderclappedandcheeredandcried,
âCouldanywordsbetruer?â)
âAndtheGrasshopper,ladiesandgents,isaboon
Inmillionsandmillionsofways.
Youhaveonlytoaskhimtogiveyouatune
Andheplaysandheplaysandheplays.
Asatoyforyourchildrenheâsperfectlysweet;
Thereâsnothingsogoodintheshopsâ
Youâveonlytoticklethesolesofhisfeet
Andhehopsandhehopsandhehops.â
(âHecanâtbeveryfierce!âexclaimed
TheHeadofalltheCops.)
âAndnowwithoutexcuse
Iâdliketointroduce
ThischarmingGlow-worm,loverofsimplicity.
Sheiseasytoinstall
Onjourceilingoryourwall,
Andalthoughthissmacksabitofeccentricity,
Itâsreallyratherclever
Forthereafteryouwillnever
YouwillNEVERNEVERNEVER
Havetheslightestneedforusingelectricity.â
(Atwhich,nolessthanfifty-two
Policemencried,âIfthisistrue
Thatcreatureâllgetsomefabulouspublicity!â)
âAndherewehaveMissSpider
Withamileofthreadinsideher
Whohaspersonallyrequestedmetosay
ThatsheâsNEVERmetMissMuffet
Onhercharminglittletuffetâ
IfshehadsheâdNOThavefrightenedheraway.
Shouldherlookssometimesalarmyou
ThenIdonâtthinkitwouldharmyou
Torepeatatleastahundredtimesaday:
âImustNEVERkillaspider
Imustonlyhelpandguideher
Andinviteherinthenurserytoplay.ââ
(ThePoliceallnoddedslightly,
AndtheFiremensmiledpolitely,
Andaboutadozenpeoplecried,âHooray!â)
âAndhereâsmydarlingLadybird,sobeautjul,sokind,
Mygreatestcomfortsincethistripbegan.
Shehasfourhundredchildrenandsheâsleftthemallbehind,
Buttheyârecomingonthenextpeachofthecan.â
(TheCopscried,âSheâsentrancing!â
AlltheFiremenstarteddancing,
Andthecrowdsallstartedcheeringtoaman!)
âAndnow,theSilkworm,âJameswenton,
âWhosesilkwillbearcomparison
Withallthegreatestsilksthereare
InRomeandPhiladelphia.
Ifyouwouldsearchthewholeworldthrough
FromParaguaytoTimbuctoo
Idonâtthinkyouwouldfindonebit
Ofsilkthatcouldcomparewithit.
EventheshopsinSingapore
Donâthavethestuff.Andwhatismore,
ThisSilkwormhad,Iâllhaveyouknow,
Thehonour,notsolongago,
Tospinandweaveandsewandpress
TheQueenofEnglandâsweddingdress.
Andsheâsalreadymadeandsent
AwaistcoatforyourPresident.â
(âWell,goodforher!âtheCopscriedout,
Andallatonceamightyshout
WentuparoundtheEmpireState,
Letâsgetthemdownatonce!WhyWAIT?â)
Thirty-eight
Fiveminuteslater,theywereallsafelydown,andJameswasexcitedlytellinghisstorytoagroupofflabbergastedofficials.
Andsuddenlyâeveryonewhohadcomeoveronthepeachwasahero!TheywereallescortedtothestepsofCityHall,wheretheMayorofNewYorkmadeaspeechofwelcome.Andwhilehewasdoingthis,onehundredsteeplejacks,armedwithropesandladdersandpulleys,swarmeduptothetopoftheEmpireStateBuildingandliftedthegiantpeachoffthespikeandloweredittotheground.
ThentheMayorshouted,âWemustnowhaveaticker-tapeparadeforourwonderfulvisitors!â
Andsoaprocessionwasformed,andintheleadingcar(whichwasanenormousopenlimousine)satJamesandallhisfriends.
Nextcamethegiantpeachitself.Menwithcranesandhookshadquicklyhoisteditontoaverylargetruckandthereitnowsat,lookingjustashugeandproudandbraveasever.Therewas,ofcourse,abitofaholeinthebottomofitwherethespikeoftheEmpireStateBuildinghadgonein,butwhocaredaboutthatâorindeedaboutthepeachjuicethatwasdrippingoutofitontothestreet?
Behindthepeach,skiddingaboutallovertheplaceinthepeachjuice,cametheMayorâslimousine,andbehindtheMayorâslimousinecameabouttwentyotherlimousinescarryingalltheimportantpeopleoftheCity.
Andthecrowdswentwildwithexcitement.Theylinedthestreets
andtheyleanedoutofthewindowsoftheskyscrapers,cheeringandyellingandscreamingandclappingandthrowingoutbitsofwhitepaperandticker-tape,andJamesandhisfriendsstoodupintheircarandwavedbackatthemastheywentby.
Thenarathercuriousthinghappened.TheprocessionwasmovingslowlyalongFifthAvenuewhensuddenlyalittlegirlinareddressranoutfromthecrowdandshouted,âOh,James,James!CouldIpleasehavejustatinytasteofyourmarvellouspeach?â
âHelpyourself!âJamesshoutedback.âEatallyouwant!Itwonâtkeepforever,anyway!â
Nosoonerhadhesaidthisthanaboutfiftyotherchildrenexplodedoutofthecrowdandcamerunningontothestreet.
âCanwehavesome,too?âtheycried.
âOfcourseyoucan!âJamesanswered.âEveryonecanhavesome!â
Thechildrenjumpedupontothetruckandswarmedlikeantsalloverthegiantpeach,eatingandeatingtotheirheartsâcontent.Andasthenewsofwhatwashappeningspreadquicklyfromstreettostreet,moreandmoreboysandgirlscamerunningfromalldirectionstojointhefeast.Soon,therewasatrailofchildrenamilelongchasingafterthepeachasitproceededslowlyupFifthAvenue.Really,itwasafantasticsight.TosomepeopleitlookedasthoughthePiedPiperofHamelinhadsuddenlydescendeduponNewYork.AndtoJames,whohadneverdreamedthattherecouldbesomanychildrenasthisintheworld,itwasthemostmarvellousthingthathadeverhappened.
Bythetimetheprocessionwasover,thewholegiganticfruithadbeencompletelyeatenup,andonlythebigbrownstoneinthemiddle,lickedcleanandshinybytenthousandeagerlittletongues,
Thirty-nine
Andthusthejourneyended.Butthetravellerslivedon.Everyoneofthembecamerichandsuccessfulinthenewcountry.
TheCentipedewasmadeVice-President-in-Charge-of-Salesofahigh-classfirmofbootandshoemanufacturers.
TheEarthworm,withhislovelypinkskin,wasemployedbyacompanythatmadewomenâsfacecreamstospeakcommercialsontelevision.
TheSilkwormandMissSpider,aftertheyhadbothbeentaughttomakenylonthreadinsteadofsilk,setupafactorytogetherandmaderopesfortightropewalkers.
TheGlow-wormbecamethelightinsidethetorchontheStatueofLiberty,andthussavedagratefulCityfromhavingtopayahugeelectricitybilleveryyear.
TheOld-Green-GrasshopperbecameamemberoftheNewYorkSymphonyOrchestra,wherehisplayingwasgreatlyadmired.
TheLadybird,whohadbeenhauntedallherlifebythefearthatherhousewasonfireandherchildrenallgone,marriedtheHeadoftheFireDepartmentandlivedhappilyeverafter.
AndasfortheenormouspeachstoneâitwassetuppermanentlyinaplaceofhonourinCentralParkandbecameafamousmonument.Butitwasnotonlyafamousmonument.Itwasalsoafamoushouse.Andinsidethefamoushousetherelivedafamouspersonâ
JAMESHENRYTROTTER
himself.
Andallyouhadtodoanydayoftheweekwastogoandknockuponthedoor,andthedoorwouldalwaysbeopenedtoyou,andyouwouldalwaysbeaskedtocomeinsideandseethefamousroomwhereJameshadfirstmethisfriends.Andsometimes,ifyouwereverylucky,youwouldfindtheOld-Green-Grasshopperinthereaswell,restingpeacefullyinachairbeforethefire,orperhapsitwouldbetheLadybirdwhohaddroppedinforacupofteaandagossip,ortheCentipedetoshowoffanewbatchofparticularlyelegantbootsthathehadjustacquired.
Everydayoftheweek,hundredsandhundredsofchildrenfromfarandnearcamepouringintotheCitytoseethemarvellouspeachstoneinthePark.AndJamesHenryTrotter,whoonce,ifyouremember,hadbeenthesaddestandloneliestlittleboythatyoucouldfind,nowhadallthefriendsandplaymatesintheworld.Andbecausesomanyofthemwerealwaysbegginghhntotellandtellagainthestoryofhisadventuresonthepeach,hethoughtitwouldbeniceifonedayhesatdownandwroteitasabook.
Sohedid.
Andthatiswhatyouhavejustfinishedreading