🧚 Opening, part 4

This made the Magician very angry, so he turned her into a little black dog, and led her away, saying, “Since you will not come with me of your own free will, I will make you.”1 So the poor Princess was dragged away, unable to escape or to let her sisters know what had become of her.2

As Punchkin went through the palace gate the servants asked him where he got that pretty little dog, and he replied that one of the Princesses had given it to him, so they allowed him to depart.3

Very soon the six elder Princesses heard their nephew cry, and when they went upstairs were much surprised to find him all alone, and Balna nowhere to be seen.4 They questioned the servants, and when they heard of the Fakir and the little black dog they guessed what had happened and sent in every direction, but neither the Fakir nor the dog was to be found.5 They could do nothing, and gave up all hopes of ever seeing their kind husbands and their sister and her husband again, and so devoted themselves to the care and teaching of their little nephew.6

Time went on, and Balna’s son was fourteen years old.7 Then his aunts told him the whole story.8 No sooner had he heard this than he was seized with a great desire to go in search of his father and mother and uncles, and if he could find them alive to bring them home again.9 On learning his determination his aunts were much alarmed, saying, “We have lost our husbands and our sister and her husband and you are now our only hope; if you go away, what shall we do?”10 But he replied, “Do not be discouraged; I will soon return, and if it is possible will bring my mother and father and uncles with me.”11 So he set out on his travels, but for several months could learn nothing that would help him in his search.12

After journeying many hundreds of weary miles, and having become almost hopeless of hearing anything further of his parents and uncles, he reached a country that was full of rocks and stones and trees, and there he saw a large palace with a high tower, near which was a Malee’s little house.13

As he was looking about the Malee’s wife saw him, and ran out of the house and said: “My dear boy, who are you that dare venture to this dangerous place?”14

He answered, “I am a Rajah’s son, and I am in search of my father and mother and my uncles, whom a wicked enchanter bewitched.”15

Then said the Malee’s wife: “This country and this palace belong to a great Magician, who is all-powerful, and if anyone displeases him he turns them into stones and trees.16 All the rocks and trees you see here were once living people, and the enchanter turned them into what they now are.17 Some time ago a Rajah’s son came here, and soon afterwards came his six brothers, and all of them were turned into stones and trees; and these are not the only unfortunate ones, for up in that tower lives a beautiful Princess whom the Magician has kept prisoner there for twelve years, because she hates him and will not marry him.”18

The young Prince said to himself, “At last I have found what I seek; these must be my parents and uncles.”19 So he told his story to the Malee’s wife, and begged her to help him.20 This she agreed to do, and advised him to disguise himself, lest the Magician should see him and turn him into stone.21 So she dressed him up in a saree, and pretended that he was her daughter.22

One day, not long after this, as the Magician was walking in his garden he saw a little girl (as he thought) playing about, and asked her who she was.23 She told him she was the Malee’s daughter, and the Magician said, “You are a very pretty little girl, and to-morrow you shall take a present of flowers from me to the beautiful lady who lives in the tower.”24

This delighted the young Prince, who went immediately to inform the Malee’s wife.25

Now it happened that when Balna was married her husband had given her a small gold ring on which her name was engraved, and she had put it on her little son’s finger when he was a baby, and later on it was enlarged, so that he was still able to wear it.26 The Malee’s wife advised him to fasten this ring to the bouquet he was to present to his mother, and she would surely recognize it.27

This the young Prince did the next day when he took the flowers to the imprisoned Princess.28 Balna knew the ring at once, and believed the story her son told her of his long search.29 She told him how the Magician had kept her shut up in the tower for twelve long years because she refused to marry him, and had kept her so closely guarded that there was no hope of release.30 She begged him to advise her what to do, and at the same time refused to allow him to endanger his own life by attempting to rescue her.31

Balna’s son was a very clever boy, and he said: “Dear mother, have no fear; the first thing to do is to find out how far the Magician’s power extends, in order that we may be able to free my father and uncles.32 You have been angry with him for twelve long years, now speak kindly to him.33 Say that you have given up all hopes of seeing your husband again, and that you are willing to marry him.34 Then try to find out where his power lies, and if it is possible to put him to death.”35

So the next day Balna sent for Punchkin, and spoke to him as her son had suggested.36 The Magician was overwhelmed with joy at this change, and asked that the wedding take place as soon as possible.37

But she said that before she married him she must learn to know him better, they having been enemies for so long, and a closer acquaintance with him was necessary in order to strengthen their friendship.38 “And do tell me,” she said, “if you are quite immortal.39 Can death never come to you?”40

“Why do you ask?” said he.41

“Because,” she replied, “if I am to be your wife, I want to know all about you, so that if any calamity threatens you, I may help to overcome, or perhaps avert it.”42

“Certainly I am not as others,” said he.43 “Far, far away, thousands of miles from here, is a desolate country covered with heavy jungles, in the midst of which grows a circle of palm trees, in the center of which stand six jugs full of water, piled one above the other, and below the sixth is a cage which contains a little green parrot.44 On this parrot my life depends, for if this parrot is killed I must die.45 But it is impossible that the parrot should come to any harm, both because of the inaccessibility of the country, and because I have many thousands of genii surrounding the palm trees, who kill anyone attempting to approach the place.”46

All this Balna told her son, at the same time imploring him to make no attempt to kill the parrot.47

But the young Prince replied: “Dear Mother, if I do not find that parrot, neither you nor my uncles can be liberated.48 Do not fear; I shall return in good season.49 In the meantime, keep the Magician in good humor, and put off the marriage with him in any way you can.50 Before he finds out the reason for the delay I will return.”51 With this he went away.52