Catweazle

him.
    The
birthday tea was a great success. Aunt Flo had put masses of candles on the
cake and after Mr Bennet had blown them out it was time for the presents. Same
presented him with the pipe-rack.
    ‘That’s
really excellent, Sam,’ said Mr Bennet. ‘It’s beautifully made. Thank you very
much.’
    ‘Many
happy returns, George dear,’ said Aunt Flo, who had quite forgiven him about
the ghost. Mr Bennet stripped the wrapping from an enormous sweater.
    ‘I hope
I made it big enough,’ said Aunt Flo.
    ‘I
think so, Flo,’ smiled Mr Bennet. ‘Thank you.’
    Then it
was Carrot’s turn. ‘Here Dad,’ he said, handing his father the box.
    ‘Gosh,
what’s this?’ said Mr Bennet.
    ‘Something
for the farm,’ said Carrot. ‘You’ll never guess.’
    ‘Then
let’s have a look,’ said Mr Bennet.
    He
opened the box and took out a large crystal ball on an ornamental stand.
Everyone, including Carrot, stared at it with amazement. Catweazle had played
his final trick. He had taken the lamp and left his scrying glass in its place.
Mr Bennet concealed his bewilderment and a broad grin spread over his face.
    ‘Carrot,’
he said finally, ‘you’re a genius.’
    ‘But I
- ’ began Carrot.
    ‘I
think it’s terrific.’
    ‘What?’
said Carrot amazed.
    ‘It’s
the most original birthday present I’ve ever had.’
    There
was a bang from the front door. ‘The rotten old crook!’ thought Carrot.
    ‘But I
thought - ‘Sam began.
    ‘You
know something,’ interrupted Mr Bennet. ‘Every farmer should have one of these.
Thank you Carrot.’
    ‘You
mean - you like it?’ said Carrot.
    Mr
Bennet peered into the glass. He had sensed that there was something mysterious
about the gift and that Carrot was as surprised as he was, but wisely he
decided to ask no questions. After all, there had been many unsolved mysteries
that summer. He looked up from the crystal. ‘The future looks very bright
indeed,’ he said smiling at Carrot.
    The
future looked bright for Catweazle, too, as he prepared for his great journey.
The sun was setting over the lake as he muttered his final spells and threw his
remaining herbs into the fire. Beside him, on the bank, lay an electric light
bulb, a box of matches, a banana, Rapkyn’s book, Touchwood’s roller skate, the
telephone receiver, and the mouth-organ.
    ‘Behold
the treasures I have gleaned, Touchwood,’ he chuckled, wrapping them in a
ragged towel. ‘See my electrickery,’ he said, and switched on the stolen
car lamp and waved it at his familiar. Then he placed the bundle on the end of
his hazel wand, put the toad in his pocket and lowered himself gingerly into
the icy water.
    As he
waded out up to his waist, Carrot came running up to the lakeside. ‘Hey,’ he
shouted. ‘Give me back Dad’s present!’
    ‘He
hath the scrying glass,’ replied Catweazle.
    ‘That’s
not the point,’ said Carrot. ‘Give it back.’
    ‘I have
need of it. ’Twill protect me from the Normans.’
    ‘You’re
off your head.’
    ‘They
will fear it,’ said Catweazle, moving a little deeper.
    Carrot
stared at him. ‘Are you fishing or something?’ he asked.
    ‘Nip-bone!
I go to my cave in the great forest.’
    ‘Don’t
be silly. Come on out. You’re mad.’
    ‘I am
not mad.’
    ‘Yes
you are, completely potty. The whole thing’s a delusion. Like thinking you’re
Napoleon.’
    ‘I am
Catweazle.’
    ‘You’ll
get pneumonia.’
    ‘Thou shalt
see,’ said Catweazle, who was up to his chest in water by now.
    ‘Don’t
be daft,’ said Carrot, getting a little anxious. ‘Come on out!’
    ‘Sator,
Arepo, Tenet, Opera, Rotas!’ chanted Catweazle, waving the car lamp from side
to side.
    ‘It
can’t work, Catweazle,’ said Carrot. ‘Stop making a fool of yourself.’
    ‘Maggot!’
said Catweazle.
    ‘All
right then,’ said Carrot, folding his arms. ‘Go on, disappear!’
    Catweazle
shut his eyes and concentrated hard. ‘Salmay, Dalmay, Adonay!’ he cried. But
when he opened his eyes, he was bitterly disappointed to find he was still
there.
    ‘You’ll
have to do better than that,’ laughed Carrot from the bank.
     

     
    ‘O
Spirits of the earth, air, fire and thou, O my magic Spirit of water. I call on
thee! Sunandum! Hurandos! Salmay! Dalmay! Adonay!’
    Catweazle
waved the lamp wildly and dropped it in the water. He ducked under and tried
vainly to retrieve it before spluttering to the surface again.
    Carrot
laughed uncontrollably and then stopped