As they approached the fire they could see a dark shadow against it, and as they went closer still they could see that the shadow was a woman. She wore a turban of pale mauve silk, and a flowing, purple satin gown. In her hands was a crystal ball into which she was gazing raptly. She did not appear to see the children, Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which, but continued to stare into the crystal ball; as she stared she began to laugh; and she laughed and laughed at whatever it was that she was seeing.
Mrs Whichs voice rang out clear and strong, echoing against the walls of the cavern, and the words fell with a sonorous clang.
WWEE ARRE HHERRE!
The woman looked up from the ball, and when she saw them she got up and curtsied deeply. Mrs Whatsit and Mrs Who dropped small curtsies in return, and the shimmer seemed to bow slightly.
Oh, Medium, dear, Mrs Whatsit said, these are the children. Charles Wallace Murry. Charles Wallace bowed. Margaret Murry. Meg felt that if Mrs Whatsit and Mrs Who had curtsied, she ought to; so she did, rather awkwardly. And Calvin OKeefe. Calvin bobbed his head. We want them to see their home planet, Mrs Whatsit said.
The Medium lost the delighted smile she had worn till then. Oh, why must you make me look at unpleasant things when there are so many delightful ones to see?
Again Mrs Whichs voice reverberated through the cave. Therre willl nno llonggerr bee sso manyy pplleasanntt thinggss too llookk att iff rressponssible ppeoplle ddo nnott ddoo ssomethingg abboutt thee unnppleassanntt oness.
The Medium sighed and held the ball high.
Look, children, Mrs Whatsit said. Look into it well.
Que la terre est petite qui la voit des cieux! Delille. Howsmall is the earth to him who looks from heaven, Mrs Who intoned musically.
Meg looked into the crystal ball, at first with caution, then with increasing eagerness, as she seemed to see an enormous sweep of dark and empty space, and then galaxies swinging across it. Finally they seemed to move in closer on one of the galaxies.
Your own Milky Way, Mrs Whatsit whispered to Meg.
They were headed directly towards the centre of the galaxy; then they moved off to one side; stars seemed to be rushing at them. Meg flung her arm up over her face as though to ward off the blow.
Llookk!Mrs Which commanded.
Meg dropped her arm. They seemed to be moving in towards a planet. She thought she could make out polar ice caps. Everything seemed sparkling clear.
No, no, Medium dear, thats Mars, Mrs Whatsit reproved gently.
Do I have to? the Medium asked.
NNOWW!Mrs Which commanded.
The bright planet moved out of their vision. For a moment there was the darkness of space; then another planet. The outlines of this planet were not clean and clear. It seemed to be covered with a smoky haze. Through the haze Meg thought she could make out the familiar outlines of continents like pictures in her social studies books.
Is it because of our atmosphere that we cant see properly? she asked anxiously.
Nno, Mmegg, yyou knnoww thatt itt iss nnott tthee attmosspheeere, Mrs Which said. Yyou mmusstt bee brrave.
Its the Thing! Charles Wallace cried. Its the Dark Thing we saw from the mountain peak on Uriel when we were riding on Mrs Whatsit s back!
Did it just come? Meg asked in agony, unable to take her eyes from the shadow which darkened the beauty of the earth. Did it just come while weve been gone?
Mrs Whichs voice seemed very tired. Ttell herr, she said to Mrs Whatsit.
Mrs Whatsit sighed. No, Meg. It hasnt just come. It has been there for a great many years. That is why your planet is such a troubled one.
But why Calvin started to ask, his voice croaking hoarsely.
Mrs Whatsit raised her hand to silence him. We showed you the Dark Thing on Uriel first oh, for many reasons. First, because the atmosphere on the mountain peaks there is so clear and thin you could see it for what it is. And we thought it would be easier for you to understand it if you saw it well, someplace else first, not your own earth.
I hate it! Charles Wallace cried passionately. I hate the Dark Thing.
Mrs Whatsit nodded. Yes, Charles. We all do. Thats another reason we wanted to prepare you on Uriel. We thought it would be too frightening for you to see it first of all about your own, beloved world.
But what is it? Calvin demanded. We know that its evil, but what is it?
Yyouu hhave ssaidd itt! Mrs Whichs voice rang out. Itt iss Eevill. Itt iss thee Ppowers of Ddarrkknesss!
But whats going to happen? Megs voice trembled. Oh, please, Mrs Which, tell us whats going to happen!
Wee wwill cconnttinnue tto ffightt!
Something in Mrs Whichs voice made all three of the children stand straighter, throwing back their shoulders with determination, looking at the glimmer that was Mrs Which with pride and confidence.
And were not alone, you know, children, came Mrs Whatsit, the comforter. All through the universe its being fought, all through the cosmos, and my, but its a grand and exciting battle. I know its hard for you to understand about size, how theres very little difference in the size of the tiniest microbe and the greatest galaxy. You think about that, and maybe it wont seem strange to you that some of our very best fighters have come right from your own planet, and its a little planet, dears, out on the edge of a little galaxy. You can be proud that its done so well.
Who have our fighters been? Calvin asked.
Oh, you must know them, dear, Mrs Whatsit said.
Mrs Whos spectacles shone out at them triumphantly, And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Jesus! Charles Wallace said. Why of course, Jesus!
Of course! Mrs Whatsit said. Go on, Charles, love. There were others. All your great artists. Theyve been lights for us to see by
Leonardo da Vinci? Calvin suggested tentatively. And Michelangelo?
And Shakespeare, Charles Wallace called out, and Bach! And Pasteur and Madame Curie and Einstein!
Now Calvins voice rang with confidence. And Schweitzer and Gandhi and Buddha and Beethoven and Rembrandt and St Francis!
Now you, Meg, Mrs Whatsit ordered.
Oh, Euclid, I suppose. Meg was in such an agony of impatience that her voice grated irritably. And Copernicus. But what about father? Please, what about father?
Wee aarre ggoingg tto yourr ffatherr, Mrs Which said.
But where is he? Meg went over to Mrs Which and stamped as though she were as young as Charles Wallace.
Mrs Whatsit answered in a voice that was low but quite firm. On a planet that has given in. So you must prepare to be very strong.
All traces of cheer had left the Happy Mediums face. She sat holding the great ball, looking down at the shadowed earth, and a slow tear coursed down her cheek. I cant stand it any longer, she sobbed. Watch now, children, watch!
6
Again they focused their eyes on the crystal ball. The earth with its fearful covering of dark shadow swam out of view and they moved rapidly through the Milky Way. And there was the Thing again.
Watch! the Medium told them.
The Darkness seemed to seethe and writhe. Was this meant to comfort them?
Suddenly there was a great burst of light through the Darkness. The light spread out and where it touched the Darkness the Darkness disappeared. The light spread until the patch of Dark Thing had vanished, and there was only a gentle shining, and through the shining came the stars, clear and pure. Then, slowly, the shining dwindled until it, too, was gone, and there was nothing but stars and starlight. No shadows. No fear. Only the stars and the clear darkness of space, quite different from the fearful darkness of the Thing.