As they enter Chup, the poison in the water becomes worse and the currents are no longer warm. Butt tells him that he is suffering a “Heart-Shadow,” which happens to everyone the first time they see the Darkness beyond. But which can also be a very foolish thing.”Īs the army enters the Twilight Strip, Haroun despairs that it is all a suicidal mission. Mali, the Floating Gardener, tells him it is because of love, a “wonderful and dashing matter.
Only Prince Bolo remains aloof and Haroun wonders why.
The army marches on, discussing the General’s secret plans (which he divulged to everyone, of course). Haroun thinks that earth soldiers would be court marshaled for such talk, but Butt the Hoopoe wonders what the use of Freedom of Speech is if it cannot be used. General Kitab flies around the army listening to the arguments and even provoking the disputes. Haroun explains that it is an adjective, another concept that the Guppees do not understand. Haroun thinks that this sounds like mutinous talk, but mutiny is a concept no one understands. Some think it is to save Batcheat others think it is to save the Ocean. There is a great noise in the army and Haroun realizes it is all the Pages arguing about the cause for the war. “It’s a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.” Butt the Hoopoe answers that it is more a case of “out of the fridge into the freezer.” Rashid is amazed that the machine spoke without moving its beak. Haroun is amazed at how quickly his life has changed. Rashid laments that they will freeze in their nightshirts, but Iff gives them Laminations, transparent garments that cling to them so tightly that they do not even feel that they are wearing them. Rashid, Iff, and Haroun climb aboard Butt the Hoopoe and they go. The Army gives a cry of, “For Batcheat and the Ocean,” and they begin to march. Haroun and Blabbermouth make it to the Garden, and Haroun sees his father, disheveled and wearing his nightshirt, in a pavilion standing with Iff the Water Genie. Haroun thinks this should be easy, since they are numbered, but Blabbermouth tells him that he should not “judge a book by its cover,” as there are chapters and volumes that must be taken into account. Haroun tells her that she does not understand: “I wanted to do it for him.”Īll of the Pages in the army are jostling to find out their order. Haroun thinks that everything is ruined, but Blabbermouth tells him that his father can work out his own problems with the Walrus. Blabbermouth tells him that she removed the Disconnecting Tool from under his pillow while he was asleep. Haroun realizes that by volunteering to help save Batcheat, he is becoming caught in another princess rescue story.
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