M Is for Magic (16 page)

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Authors: Neil Gaiman

BOOK: M Is for Magic
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From his pocket he took the large glass paperweight, its insides a multitude of bright colors, along with the paintpot, and the paintbrush.

He dipped the brush into the paint and carefully painted, in brown paint, on the surface of the paperweight, the letters

E H

and beneath them he wrote

We don't forget

It was almost daylight. Bedtime, soon, and it would not be wise for him to be late to bed for some time to come.

He put the paperweight down on the ground that had once been a nettle patch, placed it in the place that he estimated her head would have been, and, pausing only to look at his handiwork for a moment, he went through the railings and made his way, rather less gingerly, back up the hill.

“Not bad,” said a pert voice from the potter's field behind him. “Not bad at all.”

But when he turned to look, there was nobody there.

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw

before,

Say “please” before you open the latch,

go through,

walk down the path.

A red metal imp hangs from the

green-painted front door,

as a knocker,

do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.

Walk through the house. Take nothing. Eat nothing.

However,

if any creature tells you that it hungers,

feed it.

If it tells you that it is dirty,

clean it.

If it cries to you that it hurts,

if you can,

ease its pain.

From the back garden you will be able to see the wild

wood.

The deep well you walk past leads down to Winter's

realm;

there is another land at the bottom of it.

If you turn around here,

you can walk back, safely;

you will lose no face. I will think no less of you.

Once through the garden you will be in the wood.

The trees are old. Eyes peer from the undergrowth.

Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman.

She may ask for something;

give it to her. She

will point the way to the castle. Inside it

are three princesses.

Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.

In the clearing beyond the castle the

twelve months sit about a fire,

warming their feet, exchanging tales.

They may do favors for you, if you are polite.

You may pick strawberries in December's frost.

Trust the wolves, but do not tell them

where you are going.

The river can be crossed by the ferry.

The ferryman will take you.

(The answer to his question is this:

If he hands the oar to his passenger, he

will be free to leave the boat.

Only tell him this from a safe distance.)

If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.

Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that

witches are often betrayed by their appetites;

dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;

hearts can be well hidden,

and you betray them with your tongue.

Do not be jealous of your sister:

know that diamonds and roses

are as uncomfortable when they tumble

from one's lips as toads and frogs:

colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.

Remember your name.

Do not lose hope—what you seek will be found.

Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have

helped to help you in their turn.

Trust dreams.

Trust your heart, and trust your story.

When you come back, return the way you came.

Favors will be returned, debts be repaid.

Do not forget your manners.

Do not look back.

Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall)

Ride the silver fish (you will not drown)

Ride the gray wolf (hold tightly to his fur).

There is a worm at the heart of the tower;

that is why it will not stand.

When you reach the little house, the

place your journey started,

you will recognize it, although it will seem

much smaller than you remember.

Walk up the path, and through the garden

gate you never saw before but once.

And then go home. Or make a home.

Or rest.

About the Author

NEIL GAIMAN
is the author of the
New York Times
bestselling children's book
CORALINE
and of the picture books
THE WOLVES IN THE WALLS
and
THE DAY I SWAPPED MY DAD FOR TWO GOLDFISH,
illustrated by Dave McKean. He wrote the script for the film
MirrorMask
and is also the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning novels and short stories for adults, as well as the Sandman series of graphic novels. Among his many awards are the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Bram Stoker Award. Originally from England, Gaiman now lives in the United States.
You can visit him online at www.mousecircus.com

Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

Other Books for Young Readers by
NEIL GAIMAN

Coraline

The Wolves in the Walls

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish

By Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
InterWorld

Jacket art © 2007 by Teddy Kristiansen

Jacket design by Hilary Zarycky

M IS FOR MAGIC
. Copyright © 2007 by Neil Gaiman. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

EPub © Edition OCTOBER 2007 ISBN: 9780061972676

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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