Catweazle

suddenly. Something very strange was
happening. Catweazle was slowly becoming transparent! Carrot rubbed his eyes in
amazement.
    ‘Catweazle!’
he called, hardly able to speak with excitement.
    ‘Ay,
boy?’
    ‘Something’s
happening to you. You’re - you’re - melting!’
    ‘Then
’tis beginning,’ replied Catweazle.
    ‘But
you can’t! Nobody can! I mean, it’s impossible!’
    ‘A
foolish word,’ said Catweazle.
    ‘You’re
going all misty!’
    ‘Nay,
’tis thou,’ said Catweazle. ‘Thou art like smoke!’
    ‘But
Catweazle - ’
    Carrot looked
at Catweazle. He was a pale shadow above the surface of the lake.
    ‘Then
it’s true,’ he said quietly. ‘Everything.’
    ‘Ay,
thou doubter! Ay thou disbelieving dreg!’
    ‘Don’t
go yet,’ shouted Carrot suddenly.
    ‘Too
late, nettle-face!’
    ‘Please,
Catweazle!’
    ‘Nay,
Carrot,’ smiled the old magician, shaking his head. ‘Nine hundred years lie
between us. Fare thee well,’ and Catweazle turned from the boy and disappeared
beneath the water.
    ‘Will
you come back one day?’ called Carrot.
    ‘One
day, one day,’ echoed his voice as the mist began to rise, and the magic
circles spread outwards over the lake.