The others waited until she slowed down. Then Mr Murry said gravely, We were trying to work out a plan to rescue Charles Wallace. Since I made such a mistake in tessering away from IT, we feel that it would not be wise for me to try to get back to Camazotz, even alone. If I missed the mark again I could easily get lost and wander for ever from galaxy to galaxy and that would be small help to anyone, least of all to Charles Wallace.
Such a wave of despondency came over Meg that she was no longer able to eat.
Our friends here, he continued, feel that it was only the fact that I still wore the glasses your Mrs Who gave you that kept me within this solar system. Here are the glasses, Meg. But I am afraid that the virtue has gone from them and now they are only glass. Perhaps they were meant to help only once and only on Camazotz. Perhaps it was going through the Black Thing that did it. He pushed the glasses across the table to her.
These people know about tessering, Calvin gestured at the circle of great beasts, but they cant do it on to a dark planet.
Have you tried to call Mrs Whatsit? Meg asked.
Not yet, her father answered.
But if you havent thought of anything else, its the only thing to do! Father, dont you care about Charles at all!
At that Aunt Beast stood up, saying, Child, in a reproving way. Mr Murry said nothing, and Meg could see that she had wounded him deeply. She reacted as she would have reacted to Mr Jenkins. She scowled down at the table, saying, Weve got to ask them for help now. Youre just stupid if you think we dont.
Aunt Beast spoke to the others. The child is distraught. Dont judge her harshly. She was almost taken by the Black Thing. Sometimes we cant know what spiritual damage it leaves even when physical recovery is complete.
Meg looked angrily around the table. The beasts sat there, silent, motionless. She felt that she was being measured and found wanting.
Calvin swung away from her and hunched himself up. Hasnt it occurred to you that weve been trying to tell them about our ladies? What do you think weve been up to all this time? Just stuffing our faces? Okay, you have a shot at it.
Yes. Try, child. Aunt Beast seated herself again, and pulled Meg up beside her. But I do not understand this feeling of anger I sense in you. What is it about? There is blame going on, and guilt. Why?
Aunt Beast, dont you know?
No, Aunt Beast said. But this is not telling me about whoever they are you want us to know. Try.
Meg tried. Blunderingly. Fumblingly. At first she described Mrs Whatsit and her mans coat and multicoloured shawls and scarves, Mrs Who and her white robes and shimmering spectacles, Mrs Which in her peaked cap and black gown quivering in and out of body. Then she realized that this was absurd. She was describing them only to herself. This wasnt Mrs Whatsit or Mrs Who or Mrs Which. She might as well have described Mrs Whatsit as she was when she took on the form of a flying creature of Uriel.
Dont try to use words, Aunt Beast said soothingly. Youre just fighting yourself and me. Think about what they are.This look doesnt help us at all.
Meg tried again, but she could not get a visual concept out of her mind. She tried to think of Mrs Whatsit explaining tessering. She tried to think of them in terms of mathematics. Every once in a while she thought she felt a flicker of understanding from Aunt Beast or one of the others, but most of the time all that emanated from them was gentle puzzlement.
Angels! Calvin shouted suddenly from across the table. Guardian angels! There was a moments silence, and he shouted again, his face tense with concentration, Messengers! Messengers of God!
I thought for a moment Aunt Beast started, then subsided, sighing. No. Its not clear enough.
How strange it is that they cant tell us what they themselves seem to know, a tall, thin beast murmured.
One of Aunt Beasts tentacled arms went around Megs waist again. They are very young. And on their Earth, as they call it, they never communicate with other planets. They revolve about all alone in space.
Oh, the thin beast said. Arent they lonely?
Suddenly a thundering voice reverberated throughout the great halclass="underline"
WWEEE ARRE HHERRE!
12
Meg could see nothing, but she felt her heart pounding with hope.With one accord all the beasts rose to their feet, turned towards one of the arched openings, and bowed their heads and tentacles in greeting. Mrs Whatsit appeared, standing between two columns. Beside her came Mrs Who, behind them a quivering of light. The three of them were somehow not quite the same as they had been when Meg had first seen them. Their outlines seemed blurred; colours ran together as in a wet watercolour painting. But they were there; they were recognizable; they were themselves.
Meg pulled herself away from Aunt Beast, jumped to the floor, and rushed at Mrs Whatsit. But Mrs Whatsit held up a warning hand and Meg realized that she was not completely materialized, that she was light and not substance, and embracing her now would have been like trying to hug a sunbeam.
We had to hurry so there wasnt quite time You wanted us? Mrs Whatsit asked.
The tallest of the beasts bowed again and took a step away from the table and towards Mrs Whatsit. It is a question of the little boy.
Father left him! Meg cried. He left him on Cama-zotz!
Appallingly, Mrs Whatsit s voice was cold. And what do you expect us to do?
Meg pressed her knuckles against her teeth so that her brace cut her skin. Then she flung out her arms pleadingly. But its Charles Wallace! IT has him, Mrs Whatsit! Save him, please save him!
You know that we can do nothing on Camazotz, Mrs Whatsit said, her voice still cold.
You mean youll let Charles be caught by IT for ever? Megs voice rose shrilly.
Did I say that?
But we cant do anything! You know we cant! We tried! Mrs Whatsit, you have to save him!
Meg, this is not our way, Mrs Whatsit said sadly. I thought you would know that this is not our way.
Mr Murry took a step forward and bowed, and to Megs amazement the three ladies bowed back to him. I dont believe weve been introduced, Mrs Whatsit said.
Its father, you know its father, Megs angry impatience grew. Father, Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which.
Im very glad to Mr Murry mumbled, then went on, Im sorry, my glasses are broken, and I cant see you very well.
Its not necessary to see us, Mrs Whatsit said.
If you could teach me enough about the tesseract so that I could get back to Camazotz
Wwhatt tthenn? came Mrs Whichs surprising voice.
I will try to take my child away from IT.
Annd yyou kknoww tthatt yyou wwill nnott ssucceeedd?
Theres nothing left except to try.
Mrs Whatsit spoke gently. Im sorry. We cannot allow you to go.
Then let me, Calvin suggested. I almost got him away before.
Mrs Whatsit shook her head. No, Calvin. Charles has gone even deeper into IT. You will not be permitted to throw yourself in with him, for that, you must realize, is what would happen.
There was a long silence. All the soft rays filtering into the great hall seemed to concentrate on Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who, and the faint light that must be Mrs Which. No one spoke. One of the beasts moved a tendril slowly back and forth across the stone tabletop. At last Meg could stand it no longer and she cried out despairingly, Then what are you going to do? Are you just going to throw Charles away?