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THEWONDERFULSTORYOFHENRYSUGARANDSIXMORE

RoaldDahl

JamesandtheGiantPeach

illustratedby

QuentinBlake

PUFFIN

PUFFINBOOKS

PublishedbythePenguinGroupPenguinBooksLtd,80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,EnglandPenguinGroup(USA)Inc.,375HudsonStreet,NewYork,NewYork10014,USAPenguinGroup(Canada),90EglintonAvenueEast,Suite700,Toronto,Ontario,CanadaM4P2Y3(adivisionofPearsonPenguinCanadaInc.)PenguinIreland,25StStephen'sGreen,Dublin2,Ireland(adivisionofPenguinBooksLtd)PenguinGroup(Australia),250CamberwellRoad,Camberwell,Victoria3124,Australia(adivisionofPearsonAustraliaGroupPtyLtd)PenguinBooksIndiaPvtLtd,11CommunityCentre,PanchsheelPark,NewDelhi–110017,IndiaPenguinGroup(NZ),67ApolloDrive,Rosedale,NorthShore0632,NewZealand(adivisionofPearsonNewZealandLtd)PenguinBooks(SouthAfrica)(Pty)Ltd,24SturdeeAvenue,Rosebank,Johannesburg2196,SouthAfrica

PenguinBooksLtd,RegisteredOffices:80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,England

puffinbooks.com

FirstpublishedintheUSA1961PublishedinGreatBritainbyGeorgeAllen&Unwin1967PublishedinPuffinBooks1973eissuedwithnewillustrations1995Thiseditionpublished20072

Textcopyright©RoaldDahlNomineeLtd,1961Illustrationscopyright©QuentinBlake,1995Allrightsreserved

Themoralrightoftheauthorhasbeenasserted

ExceptintheUnitedStatesofAmerica,thisbookissoldsubjecttotheconditionthatitshallnot,bywayoftradeorotherwise,belent,re-sold,hiredout,orotherwisecirculatedwithoutthepublisher'spriorconsentinany form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar conditionincludingthisconditionbeingimposedonthesubsequentpurchaser

BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationDataACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibraryISBN:978-0-14-192987-3

ThisbookisforOliviaandTessa

One

Until he was four years old, James Henry Trotter had a happy life. He livedpeacefullywithhismotherandfatherinabeautifulhousebesidethesea.Therewere always plenty of other children for him to playwith, and therewas thesandy beach for him to run about on, and the ocean to paddle in. It was theperfectlifeforasmallboy.Then, one day, James’s mother and father went to London to do some

shopping,andthereaterriblethinghappened.Bothofthemsuddenlygoteatenup(infulldaylight,mindyou,andonacrowdedstreet)byanenormousangryrhinoceroswhichhadescapedfromtheLondonZoo.Nowthis,asyoucanwellimagine,wasarathernastyexperiencefortwosuch

gentleparents.But in the long run itwas farnastier for James than itwas forthem.Theirtroubleswerealloverinajiffy.Theyweredeadandgoneinthirty-fivesecondsflat.PoorJames,ontheotherhand,wasstillverymuchalive,andallatoncehefoundhimselfaloneandfrightenedinavastunfriendlyworld.Thelovely house by the seaside had to be sold immediately, and the little boy,carrying nothing but a small suitcase containing a pair of pyjamas and atoothbrush,wassentawaytolivewithhistwoaunts.TheirnameswereAuntSpongeandAuntSpiker,andIamsorry tosay that

theywerebothreallyhorriblepeople.Theywereselfishandlazyandcruel,andrightfromthebeginningtheystartedbeatingpoorJamesforalmostnoreasonatall.Theynevercalledhimbyhisrealname,butalwaysreferredtohimas‘youdisgustinglittlebeast’or‘youfilthynuisance’or‘youmiserablecreature’,andtheycertainlynevergavehimanytoystoplaywithoranypicturebookstolookat.Hisroomwasasbareasaprisoncell.Theylived–AuntSponge,AuntSpiker,andnowJamesaswell–inaqueer

ramshacklehouseonthetopofahighhillinthesouthofEngland.ThehillwassohighthatfromalmostanywhereinthegardenJamescouldlookdownandseeformilesandmilesacrossamarvellouslandscapeofwoodsandfields;andonaveryclearday,ifhelookedintherightdirection,hecouldseeatinygreydotfaraway on the horizon, which was the house that he used to live in with hisbelovedmotherandfather.Andjustbeyondthat,hecouldseetheoceanitself–alongthinstreakofblackish-blue,likealineofink,beneaththerimofthesky.

ButJameswasneverallowedtogodownoffthetopofthathill.NeitherAuntSpongenorAuntSpikercouldeverbebotheredtotakehimoutherself,notevenforasmallwalkorapicnic,andhecertainlywasn’tpermittedtogoalone.‘Thenastylittlebeastwillonlygetintomischiefifhegoesoutofthegarden,’AuntSpiker had said. And terrible punishments were promised him, such as beinglockedupinthecellarwiththeratsforaweek,ifheevensomuchasdaredtoclimboverthefence.

The garden, which covered the whole of the top of the hill, was large anddesolate, and theonly tree in theentireplace (apart fromaclumpofdirtyoldlaurel bushes at the far end) was an ancient peach tree that never gave anypeaches.Therewasnoswing,noseesaw,nosandpit,andnootherchildrenwereeverinvitedtocomeupthehilltoplaywithpoorJames.Therewasn’tsomuchasadogoracataroundtokeephimcompany.Andastimewenton,hebecamesadderandsadder,andmoreandmorelonely,andheusedtospendhourseveryday standing at the bottom of the garden, gazing wistfully at the lovely butforbiddenworldofwoodsandfieldsandoceanthatwasspreadoutbelowhimlikeamagiccarpet.

Two

AfterJamesHenryTrotterhadbeenlivingwithhisauntsforthreewholeyearstherecameamorningwhensomethingratherpeculiarhappenedtohim.Andthisthing,which as I saywas only rather peculiar, soon caused a second thing tohappenwhichwas very peculiar.And then the very peculiar thing, in its ownturn,causedareallyfantasticallypeculiarthingtooccur.Itallstartedonablazinghotdayinthemiddleofsummer.AuntSponge,Aunt

Spiker and Jameswere all out in the garden. James had been put towork, asusual.Thistimehewaschoppingwoodforthekitchenstove.AuntSpongeandAuntSpikerweresittingcomfortablyindeck-chairsnearby,sippingtallglassesof fizzy lemonade and watching him to see that he didn’t stop work for onemoment.AuntSpongewasenormouslyfatandveryshort.Shehadsmallpiggyeyes,a

sunkenmouth,andoneofthosewhiteflabbyfacesthatlookedexactlyasthoughithadbeenboiled.Shewaslikeagreatwhitesoggyoverboiledcabbage.AuntSpiker, on the other hand, was lean and tall and bony, and she wore steel-rimmed spectacles that fixedon to the endof her nosewith a clip. She had ascreeching voice and long wet narrow lips, and whenever she got angry orexcited,littleflecksofspitwouldcomeshootingoutofhermouthasshetalked.Andtheretheysat,thesetwoghastlyhags,sippingtheirdrinks,andeverynowandagainscreamingatJamestochopfasterandfaster.Theyalsotalkedaboutthemselves,eachonesayinghowbeautifulshethoughtshewas.Aunt

Sponge had a long-handledmirror on her lap, and she kept picking it up andgazingatherownhideousface.

‘Ilookandsmell,’AuntSpongedeclared,‘aslovelyasarose!Justfeastyoureyesuponmyface,observemyshapelynose!Beholdmyheavenlysilkylocks!AndifItakeoffbothmysocksYou’llseemydaintytoes.’‘Butdon’tforget,’AuntSpikercried,‘howmuchyourtummyshows!’

AuntSpongewentred.AuntSpikersaid,‘Mysweet,youcannotwin,BeholdMYgorgeouscurvyshape,myteeth,mycharminggrin!Oh,beauteousme!HowIadoreMyradiantlooks!AndpleaseignoreThepimpleonmychin.’‘Mydearoldtrout!’AuntSpongecriedout,‘You’reonlybonesandskin!’

‘SuchlovelinessasIpossesscanonlytrulyshineInHollywood!’AuntSpongedeclared:‘Oh,wouldn’tthatbefine!

I’dcaptureallthenations’hearts!They’dgivemealltheleadingparts!Thestarswouldallresign!’‘Ithinkyou’dmake,’AuntSpikersaid,‘alovelyFrankenstein.’

Poor James was still slaving away at the chopping-block. The heat wasterrible.Hewassweatingallover.Hisarmwasaching.Thechopperwasalargebluntthingfartooheavyforasmallboytouse.Andasheworked,Jamesbeganthinkingaboutalltheotherchildrenintheworldandwhattheymightbedoingatthismoment.Somewouldberidingtricyclesintheirgardens.Somewouldbewalking in coolwoods andpickingbunchesofwild flowers.Andall the littlefriendswhomheusedtoknowwouldbedownbytheseaside,playinginthewetsandandsplashingaroundinthewater…GreattearsbeganoozingoutofJames’seyesandrollingdownhischeeks.He

stopped working and leaned against the chopping-block, overwhelmed by hisownunhappiness.

‘What’sthematterwithyou?’AuntSpikerscreeched,glaringathimoverthetopofhersteelspectacles.Jamesbegantocry.‘Stop that immediately and get on with your work, you nasty little beast!’

AuntSpongeordered.‘Oh,AuntieSponge!’Jamescriedout.‘AndAuntieSpiker!Couldn’tweall–

please–justforonce–godowntotheseasideonthebus?Itisn’tveryfar–andIfeelsohotandawfulandlonely…’‘Why,youlazygood-for-nothingbrute!’AuntSpikershouted.‘Beathim!’criedAuntSponge.‘I certainly will!’ Aunt Spiker snapped. She glared at James, and James

lookedbackatherwithlargefrightenedeyes.‘IshallbeatyoulateroninthedaywhenIdon’tfeelsohot,’shesaid.‘Andnowgetoutofmysight,youdisgustinglittleworm,andgivemesomepeace!’James turned and ran. He ran off as fast as he could to the far end of the

garden and hid himself behind that clump of dirty old laurel bushes that wementionedearlieron.Thenhecoveredhisfacewithhishandsandbegantocryandcry.

Three

Itwasatthispointthatthefirstthingofall,theratherpeculiarthingthatledtosomanyothermuchmorepeculiarthings,happenedtohim.Forsuddenly,justbehindhim,Jamesheardarustlingofleaves,andheturned

roundandsawanoldmaninafunnydark-greensuitemergingfromthebushes.Hewasaverysmalloldman,buthehadahugebaldheadandafacethatwascovered all over with bristly black whiskers. He stopped when he was aboutthree yards away, and he stood there leaning on his stick and staring hard atJames.When he spoke, his voice was very slow and creaky. ‘Come closer tome,

littleboy,’hesaid,beckoningtoJameswithafinger.‘ComerightupclosetomeandIwillshowyousomethingwonderful.’Jameswastoofrightenedtomove.Theoldmanhobbled a step or twonearer, and thenhe put a hand into the

pocketofhisjacketandtookoutasmallwhitepaperbag.‘You see this?’ hewhispered,waving the bag gently to and fro in front of

James’s face. ‘You knowwhat this is,mydear?Youknowwhat’s inside thislittlebag?’Thenhe camenearer still, leaning forward andpushinghis face so close to

James that Jamescould feelbreathblowingonhischeeks.Thebreath smelledmustyandstaleandslightlymildewed,likeairinanoldcellar.

‘Takealook,mydear,’hesaid,openingthebagandtiltingittowardsJames.Insideit,Jamescouldseeamassoftinygreenthingsthatlookedlikelittlestonesorcrystals,eachoneaboutthesizeofagrainofrice.Theywereextraordinarilybeautiful, and there was a strange brightness about them, a sort of luminousqualitythatmadethemglowandsparkleinthemostwonderfulway.‘Listentothem!’theoldmanwhispered.‘Listentothemmove!’James stared into thebag, and sure enough therewas a faint rustling sound

coming up from inside it, and then he noticed that all the thousands of littlegreenthingswereslowly,veryveryslowlystirringaboutandmovingovereachotherasthoughtheywerealive.‘There’smorepowerandmagicinthosethingsintherethaninalltherestof

theworldputtogether,’theoldmansaidsoftly.‘But – but – what are they?’ James murmured, finding his voice at last.

‘Wheredotheycomefrom?’‘Ah-ha,’theoldmanwhispered.‘You’dneverguessthat!’Hewascrouching

alittlenowandpushinghisfacestillcloserandclosertoJamesuntilthetipofhislongnosewasactuallytouchingtheskinonJames’sforehead.Thensuddenlyhe jumped back and began waving his stick madly in the air. ‘Crocodiletongues!’hecried.‘Onethousandlongslimycrocodiletonguesboiledupintheskullofadeadwitch for twentydaysandnightswith theeyeballsofa lizard!Add the fingersof a youngmonkey, thegizzardof a pig, thebeakof a green

parrot, thejuiceofaporcupine,andthreespoonfulsofsugar.Stewforanotherweek,andthenletthemoondotherest!’All at once, he pushed the white paper bag into James’s hands, and said,

‘Here!Youtakeit!It’syours!’

Four

JamesHenryTrotterstoodthereclutchingthebagandstaringattheoldman.‘Andnow,’theoldmansaid,‘allyou‘vegottodoisthis.Takealargejugof

water,andpourallthelittlegreenthingsintoit.Then,veryslowly,onebyone,addtenhairsfromyourownhead.Thatsetsthemoff!Itgetsthemgoing!Inacoupleofminutesthewaterwillbegintofrothandbubblefuriously,andassoonasthathappensyoumustquicklydrinkitalldown,thewholejugful,inonegulp.And then,mydear,youwill feel itchurningandboiling inyourstomach,andsteam will start coming out of your mouth, and immediately after that,marvellous thingswill start happening to you, fabulous, unbelievable things –andyouwillneverbemiserableagaininyourlife.Becauseyouaremiserable,aren’tyou?Youneedn’t tellme! Iknowallabout it!Now,offyougoanddoexactlyasIsay.Anddon’twhisperawordofthistothosetwohorribleauntsofyours!Notaword!Anddon’tletthosegreenthingsintheregetawayfromyoueither!Because if theydoescape, then theywillbeworking theirmagicuponsomebodyelseinsteadofuponyou!Andthatisn’twhatyouwantatall,isit,mydear?Whoevertheymeetfirst,beitbug,insect,animal,ortree,thatwillbetheonewhogetsthefullpoweroftheirmagic!Soholdthebagtight!Don’ttearthepaper!Offyougo!Hurryup!Don’twait!Now’sthetime!Hurry!’Withthat,theoldmanturnedawayanddisappearedintothebushes.

Five

Thenextmoment,Jameswasrunningbacktowardsthehouseasfastashecouldgo.Hewoulddo itall in thekitchen,he toldhimself– ifonlyhecouldget intherewithoutAuntSpongeandAuntSpikerseeinghim.Hewasterriblyexcited.He flew through the longgrass and the stinging-nettles,not caringwhetherhegotstungornotonhisbareknees,andinthedistancehecouldseeAuntSpongeandAuntSpikersittingintheirchairswiththeirbackstowardshim.Heswervedawayfromthemsoastogoroundtheothersideofthehouse,butthensuddenly,justashewaspassingunderneaththeoldpeachtreethatstoodinthemiddleofthegarden,his foot slippedandhe fell flatonhis face in thegrass.Thepaperbagburstopenasithitthegroundandthethousandsoftinygreenthingswerescatteredinalldirections.

James immediatelypickedhimselfupon tohishandsandkneesandstarted

searching around for his precious treasures.Butwhatwas this?Theywere allsinkingintothesoil!Hecouldactuallyseethemwrigglingandtwistingastheyburrowedtheirwaydownwardintothehardearth,andatoncehereachedoutahandtopicksomeofthemupbeforeitwastoolate,buttheydisappearedrightunderhisfingers.Hewentaftersomeothers,andthesamethinghappened!Hebeganscrabblingaroundfranticallyinanefforttocatchholdofthosethatwereleft,buttheyweretooquickforhim.Eachtimethetipsofhisfingerswerejustabouttotouchthem,theyvanishedintotheearth!Andsoon,inthespaceofonlyafewseconds,everysingleoneofthemhadgone!Jamesfelt likecrying.Hewouldneverget thembacknow– theywere lost,

lost,lostforever.Butwherehadtheygoneto?Andwhyintheworldhadtheybeensoeagerto

push down into the earth like that?Whatwere they after? Therewas nothingdownthere.Nothingexcepttherootsoftheoldpeachtree…andawholelotofearthwormsandcentipedesandinsectslivinginthesoil.Butwhatwasitthattheoldmanhadsaid?Whoevertheymeetfirst,beitbug,

insect, animal, or tree, that will be the one who gets the full power of theirmagic!Goodheavens,thoughtJames.Whatisgoingtohappeninthatcaseiftheydo

meetanearthworm?Oracentipede?Oraspider?Andwhat if theydogointotherootsofthepeachtree?‘Get up at once, you lazy little beast!’ a voice was suddenly shouting in

James’sear.JamesglancedupandsawAuntSpikerstandingoverhim,grimandtallandbony,glaringathimthroughhersteel-rimmedspectacles.‘Getbackoverthereimmediatelyandfinishchoppingupthoselogs!’sheordered.AuntSponge,fatandpulpyasajellyfish,camewaddlingupbehindhersister

toseewhatwasgoingon.‘Whydon’twejustlowertheboydownthewellinabucketand leavehim there for thenight?’ shesuggested. ‘Thatought to teachhimnottolazearoundlikethisthewholedaylong.’‘That’s a very good wheeze, my dear Sponge. But let’s make him finish

choppingup thewoodfirst.Beoffwithyouatonce,youhideousbrat,anddosomework!’Slowly, sadly, poor James got up off the ground and went back to the

woodpile.Oh,ifonlyhehadn’tslippedandfallenanddroppedthatpreciousbag.Allhopeofahappier lifehadgonecompletelynow.Todayandtomorrowandthenextdayandalltheotherdaysaswellwouldbenothingbutpunishmentandpain,unhappinessanddespair.He picked up the chopper andwas just about to start chopping away again

whenheheardashoutbehindhimthatmadehimstopandturn.

Six

‘Sponge!Sponge!Comehereatonceandlookatthis!’‘Atwhat?’‘It’sapeach!’AuntSpikerwasshouting.‘Awhat?’

‘Apeach!Rightupthereonthehighestbranch!Can’tyouseeit?’‘Ithinkyoumustbemistaken,mydearSpiker.Thatmiserabletreeneverhas

anypeachesonit.’‘There’soneonitnow,Sponge!Youlookforyourself!’‘You’reteasingme,Spiker.You’remakingmymouthwateronpurposewhen

there’snothingtoputintoit.Why,thattree’sneverevenhadablossomonit,letaloneapeach.Rightuponthehighestbranch,yousay?Ican’tseeathing.Veryfunny…Ha, ha…Good graciousme!Well, I’ll be blowed! There really is apeachupthere!’

‘Anicebigone,too!’AuntSpikersaid.‘Abeauty,abeauty!’AuntSpongecriedout.At this point, James slowly put down his chopper and turned and looked

acrossatthetwowomenwhowerestandingunderneaththepeachtree.Somethingisabouttohappen,hetoldhimself.Somethingpeculiarisaboutto

happenanymoment.Hehadn’tthefaintestideawhatitmightbe,buthecouldfeelitinhisbonesthatsomethingwasgoingtohappensoon.Hecouldfeelitintheairaroundhim…inthesuddenstillnessthathadfallenuponthegarden…Jamestiptoedalittleclosertothetree.Theauntswerenottalkingnow.They

werejuststandingthere,staringatthepeach.Therewasnotasoundanywhere,notevenabreathofwind,andoverheadthesunblazeddownuponthemoutofadeepbluesky.‘Itlooksripetome,’AuntSpikersaid,breakingthesilence.‘Thenwhy don’twe eat it?’Aunt Sponge suggested, licking her thick lips.

‘Wecanhavehalf each.Hey,you! James!Comeoverhere atonceandclimbthistree!’Jamescamerunningover.‘Iwantyoutopickthatpeachupthereonthehighestbranch,’AuntSponge

wenton.‘Canyouseeit?’‘Yes,AuntieSponge,Icanseeit!’‘Anddon’tyoudareeatanyofityourself.YourAuntSpikerandIaregoing

tohave itbetweenus righthereandnow,halfeach.Getonwithyou!Upyougo!’Jamescrossedovertothetreetrunk.‘Stop!’AuntSpikersaidquickly.‘Holdeverything!’Shewasstaringupinto

thebrancheswithhermouthwideopenandhereyesbulgingasthoughshehadseenaghost.‘Look!’shesaid.‘Look,Sponge,look!’‘What’sthematterwithyou?’AuntSpongedemanded.‘It’sgrowing!’AuntSpikercried.‘It’sgettingbiggerandbigger!’‘Whatis?’‘Thepeach,ofcourse!’‘You’rejoking!’‘Well,lookforyourself!’‘ButmydearSpiker, that’sperfectly ridiculous.That’s impossible.That’s–

that’s– that’s–Now,wait justaminute–No–Nothatcan’tberight–No–Yes–GreatScott!Thethingreallyisgrowing!’

‘It’snearlytwiceasbigalready!’AuntSpikershouted.‘Itcan’tbetrue!’‘Itistrue!’‘Itmustbeamiracle!’‘Watchit!Watchit!’‘Iamwatchingit!’‘Great heavens alive!’ Aunt Spiker yelled. ‘I can actually see the thing

bulgingandswellingbeforemyveryeyes!’

Seven

Thetwowomenandthesmallboystoodabsolutelystillonthegrassunderneaththe tree, gazing up at this extraordinary fruit. James’s little facewas glowingwithexcitement,hiseyeswereasbigandbrightastwostars.Hecouldseethepeachswellinglargerandlargerasclearlyasifitwereaballoonbeingblownup.Inhalfaminute,itwasthesizeofamelon!Inanotherhalf-minute,itwastwiceasbigagain!‘Justlookatitgrowing!’AuntSpikercried.‘Williteverstop!’AuntSpongeshouted,wavingherfatarmsandstartingto

dancearoundincircles.Andnow itwas sobig it looked like anenormousbutter-colouredpumpkin

danglingfromthetopofthetree.‘Get away from that tree trunk, you stupid boy!’ Aunt Spiker yelled. ‘The

slightestshakeandI‘msureit’llfalloff!Itmustweightwentyorthirtypoundsatleast!’The branch that the peach was growing upon was beginning to bend over

furtherandfurtherbecauseoftheweight.‘Standback!’AuntSpongeshouted.‘It’scomingdown!Thebranchisgoing

tobreak!’Butthebranchdidn’tbreak.Itsimplybentovermoreandmoreasthepeach

gotheavierandheavier.Andstillitwentongrowing.Inanotherminute,thismammothfruitwasaslargeandroundandfatasAunt

Spongeherself,andprobablyjustasheavy.‘Ithastostopnow!’AuntSpikeryelled.‘Itcan’tgoonforever!’Butitdidn’tstop.Soonitwasthesizeofasmallcar,andreachedhalfwaytotheground.Bothauntswerenowhoppingroundandroundthetree,clappingtheirhands

andshoutingallsortsofsillythingsintheirexcitement.‘Hallelujah!’AuntSpikershouted.‘Whatapeach!Whatapeach!’‘Terrifico!’ Aunt Sponge cried out, ‘Magnifico! Splendifico! And what a

meal!’‘It’sstillgrowing.’

‘Iknow!Iknow!’As for James, hewas so spellbound by thewhole thing that he could only

stand and stare andmurmur quietly to himself, ‘Oh, isn’t it beautiful. It’s themostbeautifulthingI‘veeverseen.’‘Shutup,youlittletwerp!’AuntSpikersnapped,happeningtooverhearhim.

‘It’snoneofyourbusiness!’‘That’s right,’ Aunt Sponge declared. ‘It’s got nothing to do with you

whatsoever!Keepoutofit.’

‘Look!’AuntSpikershouted.‘It’sgrowingfasterthanevernow!It’sspeedingup!’‘Iseeit,Spiker!Ido!Ido!’Biggerandbiggergrewthepeach,biggerandbiggerandbigger.Thenatlast,whenithadbecomenearlyastallasthetreethatitwasgrowing

on,astallandwide,infact,asasmallhouse,thebottompartofitgentlytouchedtheground–andthereitrested.‘Itcan’tfalloffnow!’AuntSpongeshouted.‘It’sstoppedgrowing!’AuntSpikercried.‘No,ithasn‘t!’‘Yes,ithas!’‘It’sslowingdown,Spiker,it’sslowingdown!Butithasn’tstoppedyet!You

watchit!’Therewasapause.‘Ithasnow!’‘Ibelieveyou’reright.’‘Doyouthinkit’ssafetotouchit?’‘Idon’tknow.We’dbetterbecareful.’Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker began walking slowly round the peach,

inspectingitverycautiouslyfromallsides.Theywerelikeacoupleofhunterswhohad just shot anelephant andwerenotquite surewhether itwasdeadoralive.Andthemassiveroundfruit toweredover themsohigh that they lookedlikemidgetsfromanotherworldbesideit.Theskinofthepeachwasverybeautiful–arichbutteryyellowwithpatches

ofbrilliantpinkandred.AuntSpongeadvancedcautiouslyandtoucheditwiththe tip of one finger. ‘It’s ripe!’ she cried. ‘It’s just perfect! Now, look here,Spiker.Whydon’twego andget a shovel right away anddigout a great bigchunkofitforyouandmetoeat?’‘No,’AuntSpikersaid.‘Notyet.’‘Whyevernot?’‘BecauseIsayso.’‘ButIcan’twaittoeatsome!’AuntSpongecriedout.Shewaswateringatthe

mouthnowandathintrickleofspitwasrunningdownonesideofherchin.‘MydearSponge,’AuntSpikersaidslowly,winkingathersisterandsmiling

asly,thin-lippedsmile.‘There’sapileofmoneytobemadeoutofthisifonlywecanhandleitright.Youwaitandsee.’

Eight

The news that a peach almost as big as a house had suddenly appeared insomeone’sgardenspreadlikewildfireacrossthecountryside,andthenextdayastreamofpeoplecamescramblingupthesteephilltogazeuponthismarvel.Quickly, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker called in carpenters and had them

buildastrongfenceroundthepeachtosaveitfromthecrowd;andatthesametime,thesetwocraftywomenstationedthemselvesatthefrontgatewithalargebunchofticketsandstartedchargingeveryoneforcomingin.

‘Roll up! Roll up!’ Aunt Spiker yelled. ‘Only one shilling to see the giantpeach!’‘Halfpriceforchildrenundersixweeksold!’AuntSpongeshouted.‘Oneatatime,please!Don’tpush!Don’tpush!You’reallgoingtogetin!’‘Hey,you!Comeback,there!Youhaven’tpaid!’By lunchtime, the whole place was a seething mass of men, women, and

children all pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of this miraculous fruit.Helicopterswere landing likewasps all over the hill, and out of them pouredswarms of newspaper reporters, cameramen, and men from the televisioncompanies.‘It’llcostyoudoubletobringinacamera!’AuntSpikershouted.‘All right!All right!’ theyanswered. ‘Wedon’tcare!’Andthemoneycame

rollingintothepocketsofthetwogreedyaunts.Butwhileallthisexcitementwasgoingonoutside,poorJameswasforcedto

stay locked in his bedroom, peeping through the bars of his window at thecrowdsbelow.‘The disgusting little brute will only get in everyone’s way if we let him

wanderabout,’AuntSpikerhadsaidearlythatmorning.‘Oh,please!’hehadbegged.‘Ihaven’tmetanyotherchildrenforyearsand

yearsandtherearegoingtobelotsofthemdownthereformetoplaywith.AndperhapsIcouldhelpyouwiththetickets.’‘Shutup!’AuntSpongehad snapped. ‘YourAuntSpikerand I areabout to

become millionaires, and the last thing we want is the likes of you messingthingsupandgettingintheway.’Later, when the evening of the first day came and the people had all gone

home,theauntsunlockedJames’sdoorandorderedhimtogooutsideandpickupallthebananaskinsandorangepeelandbitsofpaperthatthecrowdhadleftbehind.‘CouldIpleasehavesomethingtoeatfirst?’heasked.‘Ihaven’thadathing

allday.’‘No!’ they shouted, kicking him out of the door. ‘We’re too busy tomake

food!Wearecountingourmoney!’‘Butit’sdark!’criedJames.‘Get out!’ theyyelled. ‘And stayout until you‘ve cleanedup all themess!’

Thedoorslammed.Thekeyturnedinthelock.

Nine

Hungryandtrembling,Jamesstoodaloneoutintheopen,wonderingwhattodo.Thenightwasallaroundhimnow,andhighoverheadawildwhitemoonwasridinginthesky.Therewasnotasound,notamovementanywhere.Mostpeople–andespeciallysmallchildren–areoftenquitescaredofbeing

out of doors alone in the moonlight. Everything is so deadly quiet, and theshadowsare so longandblack, and theykeep turning into strange shapes thatseemtomoveasyoulookatthem,andtheslightestlittlesnapofatwigmakesyoujump.

Jamesfeltexactlylikethatnow.Hestaredstraightaheadwithlargefrightenedeyes, hardly daring to breathe. Not far away, in themiddle of the garden, hecould see the giant peach towering over everything else. Surely it was evenbigger tonight than ever before? And what a dazzling sight it was! Themoonlightwas shiningandglintingon itsgreat curving sides, turning them tocrystalandsilver.Itlookedlikeatremendoussilverballlyingthereinthegrass,silent,mysterious,andwonderful.Andthenallatonce,littleshiversofexcitementstartedrunningovertheskin

onJames’sback.Something else, he told himself, something stranger than ever this time, is

abouttohappentomeagainsoon.Hewassureofit.Hecouldfeelitcoming.He looked around him, wondering what on earth it was going to be. The

gardenlaysoftandsilver inthemoonlight.Thegrasswaswetwithdewandamilliondewdropswere sparkling and twinkling likediamonds aroundhis feet.Andnowsuddenly,thewholeplace,thewholegardenseemedtobealivewithmagic.Almost without knowing what he was doing, as though drawn by some

powerfulmagnet,JamesHenryTrotterstartedwalkingslowlytowardsthegiantpeach.Heclimbedoverthefencethatsurroundedit,andstooddirectlybeneathit,staringupatitsgreatbulgingsides.Heputoutahandandtoucheditgentlywiththetipofonefinger.Itfeltsoftandwarmandslightlyfurry,liketheskinofababymouse.Hemovedastepcloserandrubbedhischeeklightlyagainstthesoftskin.Andthensuddenly,whilehewasdoingthis,hehappenedtonoticethatrightbesidehimandbelowhim,closetotheground,therewasaholeinthesideofthepeach.

Ten

Itwasquitealargehole,thesortofthingananimalaboutthesizeofafoxmighthavemade.Jameskneltdowninfrontofit,andpokedhisheadandshouldersinside.Hecrawledin.Hekeptoncrawling.Thisisn’tahole,hethoughtexcitedly.It’satunnel!The tunnelwasdampandmurky, and all aroundhim therewas the curious

bittersweetsmelloffreshpeach.Thefloorwassoggyunderhisknees,thewallswere wet and sticky, and peach juice was dripping from the ceiling. Jamesopenedhismouthandcaughtsomeofitonhistongue.Ittasteddelicious.He was crawling uphill now, as though the tunnel were leading straight

towardstheverycentreof thegiganticfruit.Everyfewsecondshepausedandtook a bite out of the wall. The peach flesh was sweet and juicy, andmarvellouslyrefreshing.Hecrawledonforseveralmoreyards,andthensuddenly–bang–thetopof

hisheadbumped intosomethingextremelyhardblockinghisway.Heglancedup.Infrontofhimtherewasasolidwallthatseemedatfirstasthoughitweremadeofwood.Hetoucheditwithhisfingers.Itcertainlyfeltlikewood,exceptthatitwasveryjaggedandfullofdeepgrooves.‘Goodheavens!’hesaid.‘Iknowwhat this is!I‘vecometothestoneinthe

middleofthepeach!’Then he noticed that therewas a small door cut into the face of the peach

stone.Hegaveapush.Itswungopen.Hecrawledthroughit,andbeforehehadtimetoglanceupandseewherehewas,heheardavoicesaying,‘Lookwho’shere!’Andanotheronesaid,‘We‘vebeenwaitingforyou!’

Jamesstoppedandstaredatthespeakers,hisfacewhitewithhorror.Hestartedtostandup,buthiskneeswereshakingsomuchhehadtositdown

againonthefloor.Heglancedbehindhim,thinkinghecouldboltbackintothetunnelthewayhehadcome,butthedoorwayhaddisappeared.Therewasnowonlyasolidbrownwallbehindhim.

Eleven

James’slargefrightenedeyestravelledslowlyroundtheroom.The creatures, some sitting on chairs, others reclining on a sofa, were all

watchinghimintently.Creatures?Orweretheyinsects?An insect is usually something rather small, is it not? A grasshopper, for

example,isaninsect.Sowhatwouldyoucallitifyousawagrasshopperaslargeasadog?Aslarge

asalargedog.Youcouldhardlycallthataninsect,couldyou?TherewasanOld-Green-Grasshopperas largeasa largedogsittingdirectly

acrosstheroomfromJamesnow.AndnexttotheOld-Green-Grasshopper,therewasanenormousSpider.Andnext to theSpider, therewasagiantLadybirdwithnineblackspotson

herscarletshell.Eachofthesethreewassquattinguponamagnificentchair.Onasofanearby,recliningcomfortablyincurled-uppositions,therewerea

CentipedeandanEarthworm.Ontheflooroverinthefarcorner,therewassomethingthickandwhitethat

looked as though it might be a Silkworm. But it was sleeping soundly andnobodywaspayinganyattentiontoit.

Everyoneofthese‘creatures’wasatleastasbigasJameshimself,andinthestrangegreenishlightthatshonedownfromsomewhereintheceiling,theywereabsolutelyterrifyingtobehold.‘I‘mhungry!’theSpiderannouncedsuddenly,staringhardatJames.‘I‘mfamished!’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.‘SoamI!’theLadybirdcried.TheCentipedesatupalittlestraighteronthesofa.‘Everyone’sfamished!’he

said.‘Weneedfood!’

FourpairsofroundblackglassyeyeswereallfixeduponJames.

TheCentipedemadeawrigglingmovementwithhisbodyasthoughhewereabouttoglideoffthesofa–buthedidn‘t.Therewasalongpause–andalongsilence.TheSpider(whohappenedtobeafemalespider)openedhermouthandrana

long black tongue delicately over her lips. ‘Aren’t you hungry?’ she askedsuddenly,leaningforwardandaddressingherselftoJames.PoorJameswasbackedupagainstthefarwall,shiveringwithfrightandmuch

tooterrifiedtoanswer.‘What’s thematterwithyou?’ theOld-Green-Grasshopperasked. ‘You look

positivelyill!’‘Helooksasthoughhe’sgoingtofaintanysecond,’theCentipedesaid.‘Oh,mygoodness,thepoorthing!’theLadybirdcried.‘Idobelievehethinks

it’shimthatwearewantingtoeat!’Therewasaroaroflaughterfromallsides.‘Ohdear,ohdear!’theysaid.‘Whatanawfulthought!’‘Youmustn’tbe frightened,’ theLadybirdsaidkindly. ‘Wewouldn’tdream

ofhurtingyou.Youareoneofusnow,didn’tyouknowthat?Youareoneofthecrew.We’reallinthesameboat.’‘We‘vebeenwaitingforyoualldaylong,’ theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.

‘Wethoughtyouwerenevergoingtoturnup.I‘mgladyoumadeit.’‘Socheerup,myboy,cheerup!’theCentipedesaid.‘AndmeanwhileIwish

you’dcomeoverhereandgivemeahandwiththeseboots.Ittakesmehourstogetthemalloffbymyself.’

Twelve

Jamesdecidedthatthiswasmostcertainlynotatimetobedisagreeable,sohecrossedtheroomtowheretheCentipedewassittingandkneltdownbesidehim.‘Thankyousomuch,’theCentipedesaid.‘Youareverykind.’‘Youhavealotofboots,’Jamesmurmured.‘Ihavealotoflegs,’theCentipedeansweredproudly.‘Andalotoffeet.One

hundred,tobeexact.’‘Therehegoesagain!’ theEarthwormcried,speakingfor thefirst time. ‘He

simplycannot stop telling lies abouthis legs!Hedoesn’thaveanything like ahundredofthem!He’sonlygotforty-two!Thetroubleisthatmostpeopledon’tbother to count them. They just take hisword. And anyway, there is nothingmarvellous,youknow,Centipede,abouthavingalotoflegs.’‘Poorfellow,’theCentipedesaid,whisperinginJames’sear.‘He’sblind.He

can’tseehowsplendidIlook.’‘Inmyopinion,’theEarthwormsaid,‘thereallymarvellousthingistohaveno

legsatallandtobeabletowalkjustthesame.’

‘Youcallthatwalking!’criedtheCentipede.‘You’reaslitherer,that’sallyouare!Youjustslitheralong!’‘Iglide,’saidtheEarthwormprimly.‘Youareaslimybeast,’answeredtheCentipede.‘Iamnotaslimybeast,’theEarthwormsaid.‘Iamausefulandmuchloved

creature.Askanygardeneryoulike.Andasforyou…’‘Iamapest!’ theCentipedeannounced,grinningbroadlyandlookinground

theroomforapproval.‘Heissoproudofthat,’theLadybirdsaid,smilingatJames.‘Thoughforthe

lifeofmeIcannotunderstandwhy.’‘I am the only pest in this room!’ cried the Centipede, still grinning away.

‘UnlessyoucountOld-Green-Grasshopperoverthere.Butheislongpastitnow.Heistoooldtobeapestanymore.’TheOld-Green-Grasshopper turnedhis hugeblack eyes upon theCentipede

and gave him a withering look. ‘Young fellow,’ he said, speaking in a deep,slow,scornfulvoice,‘Ihaveneverbeenapestinmylife.Iamamusician.’‘Hear,hear!’saidtheLadybird.‘James,’theCentipedesaid.‘YournameisJames,isn’tit?’‘Yes.’‘Well, James, have you ever in your life seen such a marvellous colossal

Centipedeasme?’‘I certainlyhaven‘t,’ Jamesanswered. ‘Howonearthdidyouget tobe like

that?’‘Very peculiar,’ theCentipede said. ‘Very, very peculiar indeed.Letme tell

youwhathappened.Iwasmessingaboutinthegardenundertheoldpeachtreeand suddenly a funny little green thing came wriggling past my nose. Brightgreenitwas,andextraordinarilybeautiful,anditlookedlikesomekindofatinystoneorcrystal…’‘Oh,butIknowwhatthatwas!’criedJames.‘Ithappenedtome,too!’saidtheLadybird.‘And me!’ Miss Spider said. ‘Suddenly there were little green things

everywhere!Thesoilwasfullofthem!’‘Iactuallyswallowedone!’theEarthwormdeclaredproudly.‘SodidI!’theLadybirdsaid.‘I swallowed three!’ the Centipede cried. ‘But who’s telling this story

anyway?Don’tinterrupt!’

‘It’stoolatetotellstoriesnow,’theOld-Green-Grasshopperannounced.‘It’stimetogotosleep.’‘I refuse to sleep inmy boots!’ the Centipede cried. ‘Howmanymore are

theretocomeoff,James?’‘IthinkI‘vedoneabouttwentysofar,’Jamestoldhim.‘Thenthatleaveseightytogo,’theCentipedesaid.‘Twenty-two,noteighty!’shriekedtheEarthworm.‘He’slyingagain.’TheCentipederoaredwithlaughter.‘StoppullingtheEarthworm’sleg,’theLadybirdsaid.This sent theCentipede into hysterics. ‘Pullinghis leg!’ he cried,wriggling

withgleeandpointingattheEarthworm.‘WhichlegamIpulling?Youtellmethat!’JamesdecidedthatheratherlikedtheCentipede.Hewasobviouslyarascal,

butwhat a change itwas tohear somebody laughingonce in awhile.HehadneverheardAuntSpongeorAuntSpikerlaughingaloudinall thetimehehadbeenwiththem.‘Wereallymustgetsomesleep,’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.‘We‘vegot

atoughdayaheadofustomorrow.Sowouldyoubekindenough,MissSpider,tomakethebeds?’

Thirteen

Afew-minuteslater,MissSpiderhadmadethefirstbed.Itwashangingfromtheceiling, suspendedbya ropeof threads at either end so that actually it lookedmorelikeahammockthanabed.Butitwasamagnificentaffair,andthestuffthatitwasmadeofshimmeredlikesilkinthepalelight.‘I do hope you’ll find it comfortable,’ Miss Spider said to the Old-Green-

Grasshopper. ‘I made it as soft and silky as I possibly could. I spun it withgossamer. That’s amuch better quality thread than the one I use formy ownweb.’‘Thank you so much, my dear lady,’ the Old-Green-Grasshopper said,

climbing into the hammock. ‘Ah, this is just what I needed. Good night,everybody.Goodnight.’ThenMissSpiderspunthenexthammock,andtheLadybirdgotin.Afterthat,shespunalongonefortheCentipede,andanevenlongeronefor

theEarthworm.‘Andhowdoyoulikeyourbed?’shesaidtoJameswhenitcametohisturn.

‘Hardorsoft?’‘Ilikeitsoft,thankyouverymuch,’Jamesanswered.‘Forgoodness’sakestopstaringroundtheroomandgetonwithmyboots!’

theCentipedesaid.‘YouandIarenevergoingtogetanysleepatthisrate!Andkindlylinethemupneatlyinpairsasyoutakethemoff.Don’tjustthrowthemoveryourshoulder.’JamesworkedawayfranticallyontheCentipede’sboots.Eachonehadlaces

that had to be untied and loosened before it could be pulled off, and tomakemattersworse,all thelacesweretiedupinthemostterriblecomplicatedknotsthat had to be unpickedwith fingernails. It was just awful. It took about twohours.Andby the timeJameshadpulledoff the lastbootofallandhad linedthemupinarowonthefloor–twenty-onepairsaltogether–theCentipedewasfastasleep.‘Wake up, Centipede,’ whispered James, giving him a gentle dig in the

stomach.‘It’stimeforbed.’‘Thankyou,mydearchild,’theCentipedesaid,openinghiseyes.Thenhegot

downoff thesofaandambledacross theroomandcrawledintohishammock.James got into his own hammock – and oh, how soft and comfortable it was

comparedwith thehardbareboards thathisauntshadalwaysmadehimsleepuponathome.‘Lightsout,’saidtheCentipededrowsily.Nothinghappened.‘Turnoutthelight!’hecalled,raisinghisvoice.James glanced round the room,wonderingwhich of the others hemight be

talking to, but they were all asleep. The Old-Green-Grasshopper was snoringloudly through his nose. The Ladybird was making whistling noises as shebreathed, and the Earthworm was coiled up like a spring at one end of hishammock,wheezingandblowingthroughhisopenmouth.AsforMissSpider,shehadmadealovelywebforherselfacrossonecorneroftheroom,andJamescould see her crouching right in the very centre of it,mumbling softly in herdreams.‘Isaidturnoutthelight!’shoutedtheCentipedeangrily.‘Areyoutalkingtome?’Jamesaskedhim.‘Of course I‘m not talking to you, you ass!’ theCentipede answered. ‘That

crazyGlowwormhasgonetosleepwithherlighton!’For thefirst timesinceentering theroom,Jamesglancedupat theceiling–

and there he saw a most extraordinary sight. Something that looked like agigantic flywithoutwings (itwasat least three feet long)wasstandingupsidedown upon its six legs in the middle of the ceiling, and the tail end of thiscreatureseemedtobeliterallyonfire.Abrilliantgreenishlightasbrightasthebrightestelectricbulbwasshiningoutofitstailandlightingupthewholeroom.‘IsthataGlowworm?’askedJames,staringatthelight.‘Itdoesn’tlooklikea

wormofanysorttome.’‘Ofcourse it’s aGlowworm,’ theCentipedeanswered. ‘At least that’swhat

shecallsherself.Althoughactuallyyouarequiteright.Sheisn’treallyawormatall.Glowwormsareneverworms.Theyaresimplyladyfireflieswithoutwings.Wakeup,youlazybeast!’

ButtheGlowwormdidn’tstir,sotheCentipedereachedoutofhishammockandpickeduponeofhisbootsfromthefloor.‘Putoutthatwretchedlight!’he

shouted,hurlingthebootupattheceiling.TheGlowwormslowlyopenedoneeyeandstaredattheCentipede.‘Thereis

noneedtoberude,’shesaidcoldly.‘Allingoodtime.’

‘Comeon,comeon,comeon!’shoutedtheCentipede.‘OrI’llput itoutforyou!’‘Oh, hello, James!’ the Glowworm said, looking down and giving James a

little wave and a smile. ‘I didn’t see you come in. Welcome, my dear boy,welcome–andgoodnight!’Thenclick–andoutwentthelight.James Henry Trotter lay there in the darkness with his eyes wide open,

listening to the strange sleeping noises that the ‘creatures’ were making allaround him, andwonderingwhat on earthwas going to happen to him in themorning.Already, hewas beginning to like his new friends verymuch. Theywerenotnearlyasterribleastheylooked.Infacttheyweren’treallyterribleatall. They seemed extremely kind and helpful in spite of all the shouting andarguingthatwentonbetweenthem.‘Goodnight,Old-Green-Grasshopper,’hewhispered.‘Goodnight,Ladybird–

Good night,Miss Spider –’ But before he could go through them all, he hadfallenfastasleep.

Fourteen

‘We’reoff!’someonewasshouting.‘We’reoffatlast!’Jameswokeupwithajumpandlookedabouthim.Thecreatureswereallout

of theirhammocksandmovingexcitedlyaroundtheroom.Suddenly, thefloorgaveagreatheave,asthoughanearthquakeweretakingplace.‘Here we go!’ shouted the Old-Green-Grasshopper, hopping up and down

withexcitement.‘Holdontight!’‘What’shappening?’criedJames,leapingoutofhishammock.‘What’sgoing

on?’TheLadybird,whowasobviouslyakindandgentlecreature,cameoverand

stoodbesidehim.‘Incaseyoudon’tknowit,’shesaid,‘weareabouttodepartforeverfromthetopofthisghastlyhillthatwe‘veallbeenlivingonforsolong.Weare about to roll away inside this great bigbeautiful peach to a landof…of…of…toalandof–’‘Ofwhat?’askedJames.‘Neveryoumind,’ said theLadybird. ‘Butnothingcouldbeworse than this

desolatehilltopandthosetworepulsiveauntsofyours–’‘Hear,hear!’theyallshouted.‘Hear,hear!’‘Youmaynothavenoticedit,’theLadybirdwenton,‘butthewholegarden,

evenbeforeitreachesthesteepedgeofthehill,happenstobeonasteepslope.Andthereforetheonlythingthathasbeenstoppingthispeachfromrollingawayrightfromthebeginningisthethickstemattachingittothetree.Breakthestem,andoffwego.’‘Watchit!’criedMissSpider,as theroomgaveanotherviolent lurch.‘Here

wego!’‘Notquite!Notquite!’‘Atthismoment,’continuedtheLadybird,‘ourCentipede,whohasapairof

jaws as sharp as razors, is up there on top of the peach nibbling away at thatstem.Infact,hemustbenearlythroughit,asyoucantellfromthewaywe’relurchingabout.Wouldyoulikemetotakeyouundermywingsothatyouwon’tfalloverwhenwestartrolling?’‘That’sverykindofyou,’saidJames,‘butIthinkI’llbeallright.’

Just then,theCentipedestuckhisgrinningfacethroughaholeintheceilingandshouted,‘I‘vedoneit!We’reoff!’‘We’reoff!’theotherscried.‘We’reoff!’‘Thejourneybegins!’shoutedtheCentipede.‘Andwho knowswhere itwill end,’muttered the Earthworm, ‘if you have

anythingtodowithit.Itcanonlymeantrouble.’‘Nonsense,’ said the Ladybird. ‘We are now about to visit the most

marvellousplacesandseethemostwonderfulthings!Isn’tthatso,Centipede?’‘Thereisnoknowingwhatweshallsee!’criedtheCentipede.

‘WemayseeaCreaturewithforty-nineheadsWholivesinthedesolatesnow,Andwheneverhecatchesacold(whichhedreads)Hehasforty-ninenosestoblow.

‘WemayseethevenomousPink-SpottedScrunchWhocanchewupamanwithonebite.ItlikestoeatfiveofthemroastedforlunchAndeighteenforitssupperatnight.

‘WemayseeaDragon,andnobodyknowsThatwewon’tseeaUnicornthere.WemayseeaterribleMonsterwithtoesGrowingoutofthetuftsofhishair.

‘WemayseethesweetlittleBiddy-BrightHenSoplayful,sokindandwell-bred;Andsuchbeautifuleggs!YoujustboilthemandthenTheyexplodeandtheyblowoffyourhead.

‘AGnuandaGnoceroussurelyyou’llseeAndthatgnormousandgnorribleGnatWhosestingwhenitstingsyougoesinatthekneeAndcomesoutthroughthetopofyourhat.

‘Wemayevengetlostandbefrozenbyfrost.Wemaydieinanearthquakeortremor.Ornastierstill,wemayevenbetossedOnthehornsofafuriousDilemma.

‘Butwhocares!Letusgofromthishorriblehill!Letusroll!Letusbowl!Letusplunge!Let’sgorollingandbowlingandspinninguntilWe’reawayfromoldSpikerandSponge!’

Onesecondlater…slowly,insidiously,ohmostgently,thegreatpeachstartedtoleanforwardandstealintomotion.Thewholeroombegantotiltoverandallthefurniturewentslidingacross thefloor,andcrashedagainst thefarwall.Sodid James and the Ladybird and the Old-Green-Grasshopper andMiss Spiderand the Earthworm, and also the Centipede, who had just come slitheringquicklydownthewall.

Fifteen

Outsideinthegarden,at thatverymoment,AuntSpongeandAuntSpikerhadjusttakentheirplacesatthefrontgate,eachwithabunchofticketsinherhand,and the first stream of early morning sightseers was visible in the distanceclimbingupthehilltoviewthepeach.‘We shallmake a fortune today,’Aunt Spikerwas saying. ‘Just look at all

thosepeople!’‘I wonder what became of that horrid little boy of ours last night,’ Aunt

Spongesaid.‘Heneverdidcomebackin,didhe?’‘Heprobablyfelldowninthedarkandbrokehisleg,’AuntSpikersaid.‘Orhisneck,maybe,’AuntSpongesaidhopefully.‘Justwait till I getmy hands on him,’ Aunt Spiker said, waving her cane.

‘He’llneverwanttostayoutallnightagainbythetimeI‘vefinishedwithhim.Goodgraciousme!What’sthatawfulnoise?’Bothwomenswungroundtolook.Thenoise,ofcourse,hadbeencausedbythegiantpeachcrashingthroughthe

fencethatsurroundedit,andnow,gatheringspeedeverysecond,itcamerollingacross thegardentowards theplacewhereAuntSpongeandAuntSpikerwerestanding.Theygaped.Theyscreamed.Theystarted to run.Theypanicked.Theyboth

gotineachother’sway.Theybeganpushingandjostling,andeachoneofthemwasthinkingonlyaboutsavingherself.AuntSponge,thefatone,trippedoveraboxthatshe’dbroughtalongtokeepthemoneyin,andfellflatonherface.AuntSpiker immediately tripped overAunt Sponge and came down on top of her.They both lay on the ground, fighting and clawing and yelling and strugglingfranticallytogetupagain,butbeforetheycoulddothis,themightypeachwasuponthem.

Therewasacrunch.Andthentherewassilence.Thepeachrolledon.Andbehindit,AuntSpongeandAuntSpikerlayironed

outuponthegrassasflatandthinandlifelessasacoupleofpaperdollscutoutofapicturebook.

Sixteen

Andnowthepeachhadbrokenoutofthegardenandwasovertheedgeofthehill, rolling and bouncing down the steep slope at a terrific pace. Faster andfasterandfasteritwent,andthecrowdsofpeoplewhowereclimbingupthehillsuddenly caught sight of this terrible monster plunging down upon them andtheyscreamedandscatteredtorightandleftasitwenthurtlingby.Atthebottomofthehillitchargedacrosstheroad,knockingoveratelegraph

poleandflatteningtwoparkedcarsasitwentby.Thenitrushedmadlyacrossabouttwentyfields,breakingdownallthefences

andhedgesinitspath.ItwentrightthroughthemiddleofaherdoffineJerseycows, and then through a flock of sheep, and then through a paddock full ofhorses,andthenthroughayardfullofpigs,andsoonthewholecountrysidewasaseethingmassofpanic-strickenanimalsstampedinginalldirections.The peach was still going at a tremendous speed with no sign of slowing

down,andaboutamilefartheronitcametoavillage.Down themainstreetof thevillage it rolled,withpeople leaping frantically

outof itspath rightand left,andat theendof thestreet itwentcrashingrightthrough thewall of an enormous building and out the other side, leaving twogapingroundholesinthebrickwork.This building happened to be a famous factorywhere theymade chocolate,

andalmostatonceagreatriverofwarmmeltedchocolatecamepouringoutoftheholesinthefactorywall.Aminutelater,thisbrownstickymesswasflowingthrough every street in the village, oozing under the doors of houses and intopeople’s shopsandgardens.Childrenwerewading in itup to theirknees, andsomewereeven trying toswimin itandallof themweresucking it into theirmouthsingreatgreedygulpsandshriekingwithjoy.Butthepeachrushedonacrossthecountryside–onandonandon,leavinga

trail of destruction in itswake.Cowsheds, stables, pigsties, barns, bungalows,hayricks,anythingthatgotinitswaywenttopplingoverlikeaninepin.Anoldmansittingquietlybesideastreamhadhisfishingrodwhiskedoutofhishandsasitwentdashingby,andawomancalledDaisyEntwistlewasstandingsoclosetoitasitpassedthatshehadtheskintakenoffthetipofherlongnose.Woulditeverstop?Whyshouldit?Aroundobjectwillalwayskeeponrollingaslongasitisona

downhill slope, and in this case the land sloped downhill all the way until itreached the ocean – the same ocean that James had begged his aunts to beallowedtovisitthedaybefore.Well,perhapshewasgoingtovisititnow.Thepeachwasrushingcloserand

closertoiteverysecond,andcloseralsotothetoweringwhitecliffsthatcamefirst.These cliffs are the most famous in the whole of England, and they are

hundredsoffeethigh.Belowthem,theseaisdeepandcoldandhungry.Manyshipshavebeenswallowedupandlostforeveronthispartofthecoast,andallthemenwhowere in themaswell.Thepeachwasnowonlyahundredyardsawayfromthecliff–nowfifty–nowtwenty–nowten–nowfive–andwhenitreached the edgeof the cliff it seemed to leapup into the sky andhang theresuspendedforafewseconds,stillturningoverandoverintheair.Thenitbegantofall…Down…

Down…Down…Down…Down…SMACK!Ithitthewaterwithacolossalsplashandsanklikeastone.Butafewsecondslater,upitcameagain,andthistime,upitstayed,floating

serenelyuponthesurfaceofthewater.

Seventeen

Atthismoment,thesceneinsidethepeachitselfwasoneofindescribablechaos.JamesHenry Trotterwas lying bruised and battered on the floor of the roomamongsta tangledmassofCentipedeandEarthwormandSpiderandLadybirdandGlowwormandOld-Green-Grasshopper.Inthewholehistoryoftheworld,no travellers had ever had a more terrible journey than these unfortunatecreatures.Ithadstartedoutwell,withmuchlaughingandshouting,andforthefirst few seconds, as the peach had begun to roll slowly forward, nobody hadminded being tumbled about a little bit. Andwhen it wentBUMP !, and theCentipedehad shouted, ‘ThatwasAuntSponge!’ and thenBUMP! again, and‘That was Aunt Spiker!’ there had been a tremendous burst of cheering allround.Butassoonas thepeachrolledoutof thegardenandbegantogodownthe

steephill,rushingandplungingandboundingmadlydownward,thenthewholething became a nightmare. James found himself being flung up against theceiling,thenbackontothefloor,thensidewaysagainstthewall,thenupontotheceilingagain,andupanddownandbackandforthandroundandround,andat the same time all the other creatures were flying through the air in everydirection,andsowerethechairsandthesofa,nottomentiontheforty-twobootsbelonging to the Centipede. Everything and all of them were being rattledaroundlikepeasinsideanenormousrattlethatwasbeingrattledbyamadgiantwho refused to stop. To make it worse, something went wrong with theGlowworm’slightingsystem,andtheroomwasinpitchydarkness.Therewerescreamsandyellsandcursesandcriesofpain,andeverythingkeptgoingroundandround,andonceJamesmadeafranticgrabatsomethickbarsstickingoutfromthewallonlytofindthattheywereacoupleoftheCentipede’slegs.‘Letgo, you idiot!’ shouted the Centipede, kicking himself free, and James waspromptly flung across the room into the Old-Green-Grasshopper’s horny lap.TwicehegottangledupinMissSpider’slegs(ahorridbusiness),andtowardstheend,thepoorEarthworm,whowascrackinghimselflikeawhipeverytimehe flew through theair fromone sideof the room to theother, coiledhimselfaroundJames’sbodyinapanicandrefusedtounwind.Oh,itwasafranticandterribletrip!

But it was all over now, and the room was suddenly very still and quiet.Everybody was beginning slowly and painfully to disentangle himself fromeverybodyelse.‘Let’shavesomelight!’shoutedtheCentipede.‘Yes!’theycried.‘Light!Giveussomelight!’‘I‘m trying,’ answered the poorGlowworm. ‘I‘m doingmy best. Please be

patient.’Theyallwaitedinsilence.ThenafaintgreenishlightbegantoglimmeroutoftheGlowworm’stail,and

thisgraduallybecamestrongerandstrongeruntil itwasanywayenough toseeby.‘Somegreatjourney!’theCentipedesaid,limpingacrosstheroom.‘Ishallneverbethesameagain,’murmuredtheEarthworm.‘NorI,’theLadybirdsaid.‘It’stakenyearsoffmylife.’‘Butmydearfriends!’criedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,tryingtobecheerful.

‘Wearethere!’‘Where?’theyasked.‘Where?Whereisthere?’‘Idon’tknow,’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.‘ButI’llbetit’ssomewhere

good.’‘Weareprobablyatthebottomofacoalmine,’theEarthwormsaidgloomily.

‘Wecertainlywentdownanddownanddownverysuddenlyatthelastmoment.Ifeltitinmystomach.Istillfeelit.’‘Perhapsweareinthemiddleofabeautifulcountryfullofsongsandmusic,’

theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.‘Orneartheseashore,’saidJameseagerly,‘withlotsofotherchildrendown

onthesandformetoplaywith!’‘Pardonme,’murmuredtheLadybird,turningatriflepale,‘butamIwrongin

thinkingthatweseemtobebobbingupanddown?’‘Bobbingupanddown!’theycried.‘Whatonearthdoyoumean?’‘You’re still giddy from the journey,’ the Old-Green-Grasshopper told her.

‘You’llgetoveritinaminute.Iseverybodyreadytogoupstairsnowandtakealookround?’‘Yes,yes!’theychorused.‘Comeon!Let’sgo!’‘Irefusetoshowmyselfoutofdoorsinmybarefeet,’theCentipedesaid.‘I

havetogetmybootsonagainfirst.’‘For heaven’s sake, let’s not go through all that nonsense again,’ the

Earthwormsaid.‘Let’salllendtheCentipedeahandandgetitoverwith,’theLadybirdsaid.

‘Comeon.’Sotheydid,allexceptMissSpider,whosetaboutweavingalongrope-ladder

that would reach from the floor up to a hole in the ceiling. The Old-Green-Grasshopper had wisely said that they must not risk going out of the sideentrancewhentheydidn’tknowwheretheywere,butmustfirstofallgoupontothetopofthepeachandhavealookround.Sohalfanhourlater,whentherope-ladderhadbeenfinishedandhung,and

theforty-secondboothadbeenlacedneatlyontotheCentipede’sforty-secondfoot, theywereall readytogoout.Amidstmountingexcitementandshoutsof‘Here we go, boys! The Promised Land! I can’t wait to see it!’ the wholecompanyclimbedup the ladderonebyoneanddisappeared intoadarksoggytunnelintheceilingthatwentsteeply,almostvertically,upward.

Eighteen

Aminutelater,theywereoutintheopen,standingontheverytopofthepeach,near the stem,blinking their eyes in the strong sunlight andpeeringnervouslyaround.‘Whathappened?’‘Wherearewe?’‘Butthisisimpossible!’‘Unbelievable!’‘Terrible!’‘Itoldyouwewerebobbingupanddown,’theLadybirdsaid.‘We’reinthemiddleofthesea!’criedJames.Andindeedtheywere.Astrongcurrentandahighwindhadcarriedthepeach

soquicklyawayfromtheshorethatalreadythelandwasoutofsight.Allaroundthem lay the vast black ocean, deep and hungry. Little waves were bibblingagainstthesidesofthepeach.‘But how did it happen?’ they cried. ‘Where are the fields?Where are the

woods?WhereisEngland?’Nobody,notevenJames,couldunderstandhowintheworldathinglikethiscouldhavecomeabout.‘Ladiesandgentlemen,’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid,tryingveryhardto

keep the fear and disappointment out of his voice, ‘I am afraid that we findourselvesinaratherawkwardsituation.’‘Awkward!’ cried the Earthworm. ‘My dear Old Grasshopper, we are

finished!Everyoneofusisabouttoperish!Imaybeblind,youknow,butthatmuchIcanseequiteclearly.’‘Offwithmyboots!’ shouted theCentipede. ‘I cannot swimwithmyboots

on!’‘Ican’tswimatall!’criedtheLadybird.‘NorcanI,’wailedtheGlowworm.‘NorI!’saidMissSpider.‘Noneofusthreegirlscanswimasinglestroke.’‘But you won’t have to swim,’ said James calmly. ‘We are floating

beautifully.Andsoonerorlaterashipisboundtocomealongandpickusup.’Theyallstaredathiminamazement.‘Areyouquitesurethatwearenotsinking?’theLadybirdasked.

‘OfcourseI‘msure,’answeredJames.‘Goandlookforyourselves.’Theyallranovertothesideofthepeachandpeereddownatthewaterbelow.‘The boy is quite right,’ the Old-Green-Grasshopper said. ‘We are floating

beautifully.Nowwemustallsitdownandkeepperfectlycalm.Everythingwillbeallrightintheend.’‘Whatabsolutenonsense!’criedtheEarthworm.‘Nothingiseverallrightin

theend,andwellyouknowit!’‘PoorEarthworm,’theLadybirdsaid,whisperinginJames’sear.‘Helovesto

makeeverythingintoadisaster.Hehatestobehappy.Heisonlyhappywhenheisgloomy.Nowisn’tthatodd?Butthen,IsupposejustbeinganEarthwormisenoughtomakeapersonprettygloomy,don’tyouagree?’‘Ifthispeachisnotgoingtosink,’theEarthwormwassaying,‘andifweare

notgoingtobedrowned,theneveryoneofusisgoingtostarvetodeathinstead.Doyourealizethatwehaven’thadathingtoeatsinceyesterdaymorning?’‘Bygolly,he’sright!’criedtheCentipede.‘Foronce,Earthwormisright!’‘Of course I‘m right,’ the Earthworm said. ‘And we’re not likely to find

anythingaroundhereeither.Weshallget thinner and thinner and thirstier andthirstier,andweshallalldieaslowandgrislydeathfromstarvation.Iamdyingalready.Iamslowlyshrivellingupforwantoffood.Personally,Iwouldratherdrown.’‘Butgoodheavens,youmustbeblind!’saidJames.‘YouknowverywellI‘mblind,’snappedtheEarthworm.‘There’snoneedto

rubitin.’‘Ididn’tmeanthat,’saidJamesquickly.‘I‘msorry.Butcan’tyouseethat–’’See?’shoutedthepoorEarthworm.‘HowcanIseeifIamblind?’James tookadeep,slowbreath. ‘Can’tyoureal ize,’hesaidpatiently, ‘that

wehaveenoughfoodheretolastusforweeksandweeks?’‘Where?’theysaid.‘Where?’‘Why,thepeachofcourse!Ourwholeshipismadeoffood!’‘JumpingJehoshophat!’theycried.‘Weneverthoughtofthat!’‘My dear James,’ said the Old-Green-Grasshopper, laying a front leg

affectionatelyonJames’sshoulder,‘Idon’tknowwhatwe’ddowithoutyou.

Youaresoclever.Ladiesandgentlemen–wearesavedagain!’‘Wearemost certainlynot!’ said theEarthworm. ‘Youmustbe crazy!You

can’teattheship!It’stheonlythingthatiskeepingusup!’‘Weshallstarveifwedon‘t!’saidtheCentipede.‘Andweshalldrownifwedo!’criedtheEarthworm.‘Ohdear, oh dear,’ said theOld-Green-Grasshopper. ‘Nowwe’reworse off

thanbefore!’‘Couldn’twejusteatalittlebitofit?’askedMissSpider.‘Iamsodreadfully

hungry.’‘You can eat all you want,’ James answered. ‘It would take us weeks and

weeks tomake any sort of a dent in this enormouspeach.Surelyyou can seethat?’‘Goodheavens,he’srightagain!’criedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,clapping

hishands.‘Itwouldtakeweeksandweeks!Ofcourseitwould!Butlet’snotgomakingalotofholesalloverthedeck.Ithinkwe’dbettersimplyscoopitoutofthattunneloverthere–theonethatwe‘vejustcomeupby.’‘Anexcellentidea,’saidtheLadybird.‘What areyou looking soworriedabout,Earthworm?’ theCentipedeasked.

‘What’stheproblem?’‘Theproblemis…’theEarthwormsaid,‘theproblemis…well,theproblemis

thatthereisnoproblem!’Everyoneburst out laughing. ‘Cheer up,Earthworm!’ they said. ‘Come and

eat!’Andtheyallwentovertothetunnelentranceandbeganscoopingoutgreatchunksofjuicy,golden-colouredpeachflesh.‘Oh,marvellous!’saidtheCentipede,stuffingitintohismouth.‘Dee-licious!’saidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘Justfabulous!’saidtheGlowworm.‘Ohmy!’saidtheLadybirdprimly.‘Whataheavenlytaste!’Shelookedupat

James,andshesmiled,andJamessmiledbackather.Theysatdownonthedecktogether,bothofthemchewingawayhappily.‘Youknow,James,’theLadybirdsaid,‘upuntilthismoment,Ihaveneverinmylifetastedanythingexceptthosetiny little green flies that live on rosebushes. They have a perfectly delightfulflavour.Butthispeachisevenbetter.’‘Isn’titglorious!’MissSpidersaid,comingovertojointhem.‘Personally,I

hadalwaysthoughtthatabig,juicy,caught-in-the-webbluebottlewasthefinestdinnerintheworld–untilItastedthis.’‘What a flavour!’ theCentipede cried. ‘It’s terrific! There’s nothing like it!

Thereneverhasbeen!AndIshouldknowbecause Ipersonallyhave tastedallthefinestfoodsintheworld!’Whereupon,theCentipede,withhismouthfullofpeachandwithjuicerunningdownalloverhischin,suddenlyburstintosong:

‘I‘veeatenmanystrangeandscrumptiousdishesinmytime,Likejelliedgnatsanddandypratsandearwigscookedinslime,Andmicewithrice–they’rereallyniceWhenroastedintheirprime.(Butdon’tforgettosprinklethemwithjustapinchofgrime.)

‘I‘veeatenfreshmudburgersbythegreatestcooksthereare,Andscrambleddregsandstinkbugs’eggsandhornetsstewedintar,Andpailsofsnailsandlizards’tails,Andbeetlesbythejar.(Abeetleisimprovedbyjustasplashofvinegar.)

‘IofteneatboiledslobbagesThey’regrandwhenservedbesideMinceddoodlebugsandcurriedslugs.AndhaveyouevertriedMosquitoes’toesandwampfishroesMostdelicatelyfried?(Theonlytroubleistheydisagreewithmyinside.)

‘I‘mmadforcrispywasp-stingsonapieceofbutteredtoast,Andpickledspinesofporcupines.AndthenagorgeousroastOfdragon’sflesh,wellhung,notfresh–Itcostsapoundatmost.(Andcomestoyouinbarrelsifyouorderitbypost.)

‘IcravethetastytentaclesofoctopiforteaIlikehot-dogs,ILOVEhot-frogs,andsurelyyou’llagreeAplateofsoilwithengineoil’sAsuperrecipe.(Ihardlyneedtomentionthatifspracticallyfree.)

‘FordinneronmybirthdayshallItellyouwhatIchose:Hotnoodlesmadefrompoodlesonasliceofgardenhose–AndarathersmellyjellyMadeofarmadillo’stoes.(Thejellyisdelicious,butyouhavetoholdyournose.)

‘Nowcomes,’theCentipededeclared,‘theburdenofmyspeech:Thesefoodsarerarebeyondcompare–somearerightoutofreach;Butthere’snodoubtI’dgowithoutAmillionplatesofeachForonesmallmite,Onetinybite,OfthisFANTASTICPEACH!’

Everybodywasfeelinghappynow.Thesunwasshiningbrightlyoutofasoftblueskyandthedaywascalm.Thegiantpeach,withthesunlightglintingonitsside,waslikeamassivegoldenballsailinguponasilversea.

Nineteen

‘Look!’criedtheCentipedejustastheywerefinishingtheirmeal.‘Lookatthatfunnythinblackthingglidingthroughthewateroverthere!’Theyallswungroundtolook.‘Therearetwoofthem,’saidMissSpider.‘Therearelotsofthem!’saidtheLadybird.‘Whatarethey?’askedtheEarthworm,gettingworried.‘Theymustbesomekindoffish,’saidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘Perhaps

theyhavecomealongtosayhello.’‘Theyare sharks!’ cried theEarthworm. ‘I’ll bet youanythingyou like that

theyaresharksandtheyhavecomealongtoeatusup!’‘What absolute rot!’ the Centipede said, but his voice seemed suddenly to

havebecomealittleshaky,andhewasn’tlaughing.‘I am positive they are sharks!’ said the Earthworm. T just know they are

sharks!’And so, in actual fact, did everybody else, but theywere too frightened to

admitit.Therewasashortsilence.Theyallpeereddownanxiouslyatthesharkswho

werecruisingslowlyroundandroundthepeach.‘Just assuming that they are sharks,’ the Centipede said, ‘there still can’t

possiblybeanydangerifwestayuphere.’Butevenashespoke,oneofthosethinblackfinssuddenlychangeddirection

and came cutting swiftly through the water right up to the side of the peachitself.Thesharkpausedandstaredupatthecompanywithsmallevileyes.‘Goaway!’theyshouted.‘Goaway,youfilthybeast!’Slowly,almostlazily,thesharkopenedhismouth(whichwasbigenoughto

haveswallowedaperambulator)andmadealungeatthepeach.

Theyallwatched,aghast.And now, as though at a signal from the leader, all the other sharks came

swimmingintowardsthepeach,andtheyclusteredarounditandbegantoattackitfuriously.Theremusthavebeentwentyorthirtyofthematleast,allpushingandfightingandlashingtheirtailsandchurningthewaterintoafroth.Panicandpandemoniumbrokeoutimmediatelyontopofthepeach.‘Oh,weare finishednow!’criedMissSpider,wringingher feet. ‘Theywill

eatup thewholepeachand then there’llbenothing left forus tostandonandthey’llstartonus!’‘Sheisright!’shoutedtheLadybird.‘Wearelostforever!’‘Oh,Idon’twanttobeeaten!’wailedtheEarthworm.‘Buttheywilltakeme

firstofallbecauseIamsofatandjuicyandIhavenobones!’‘Istherenothingwecando?’askedtheLadybird,appealingtoJames.‘Surely

youcanthinkofawayoutofthis.’SuddenlytheywerealllookingatJames.‘Think!’beggedMissSpider.‘Think,James,think!’

‘Comeon,’ said theCentipede. ‘Comeon, James.Theremust be somethingwecando.’Theireyeswaiteduponhim,tense,anxious,patheticallyhopeful.

Twenty

‘There is something that I believe we might try,’ James Henry Trotter saidslowly.‘I‘mnotsayingit’llwork…’‘Tellus!’criedtheEarthworm.‘Tellusquick!’‘We’lltryanythingyousay!’saidtheCentipede.‘Buthurry,hurry,hurry!’‘Bequietandlettheboyspeak!’saidtheLadybird.‘Goon,James.’Theyallmovedalittleclosertohim.Therewasalongishpause.‘Goon!’theycriedfrantically.‘Goon!’Andallthetimewhiletheywerewaitingtheycouldhearthesharksthreshing

aroundinthewaterbelowthem.Itwasenoughtomakeanyonefrantic.‘Comeon,James,’theLadybirdsaid,coaxinghim.I…I…I‘mafraidit’snogoodafterall,’Jamesmurmured,shakinghishead.

‘I‘mterriblysorry. I forgot.Wedon’thaveanystring.We’dneedhundredsofyardsofstringtomakethiswork.’‘Whatsortofstring?’askedtheOld-Green-Grasshoppersharply.‘Anysort,justsolongasit’sstrong.’‘Butmydearboy,that’sexactlywhatwedohave!We‘vegotallyouwant!’‘How?Where?’‘The Silkworm!’ cried the Old-Green-Grasshopper. ‘Didn’t you ever notice

the Silkworm? She’s still downstairs! She never moves! She just lies theresleepingalldaylong,butwecaneasilywakeherupandmakeherspin!’‘Andwhataboutme,mayIask?’saidMissSpider.‘Icanspinjustaswellas

anySilkworm.What’smore,Icanspinpatterns.’‘Canyoumakeenoughbetweenyou?’askedJames.‘Asmuchasyouwant.’‘Andquickly?’‘Ofcourse!Ofcourse!’‘Andwoulditbestrong?’‘Thestrongest there is! It’sas thickasyour finger!Butwhy?Whatareyou

goingtodo?’‘I‘mgoingtoliftthispeachclearoutofthewater!’Jamesannouncedfirmly.‘You’remad!’criedtheEarthworm.

‘It’souronlychance.’‘Theboy’scrazy.’‘He’sjoking.’‘Goon,James,’theLadybirdsaidgently.‘Howareyougoingtodoit?’‘Skyhooks,Isuppose,’jeeredtheCentipede.‘Seagulls,’Jamesansweredcalmly.‘Theplaceisfullofthem.Lookupthere!’

They all looked up and saw a great mass of seagulls wheeling round androundinthesky.‘I‘mgoingtotakealongsilkstring,’Jameswenton,‘andI‘mgoingtoloop

oneendofitroundaseagull’sneck.AndthenI‘mgoingtotietheotherendtothestemofthepeach.’Hepointedtothepeachstem,whichwasstandinguplikeashortthickmastinthemiddleofthedeck.‘Then I‘m going to get another seagull and do the same thing again, then

anotherandanother–’‘Ridiculous!’theyshouted.‘Absurd!’‘Poppycock!’‘Balderdash!’‘Madness!’

And the Old-Green-Grasshopper said, ‘How can a few seagulls lift anenormous thing like this up into the air, and all of us as well? It would takehundreds…thousands…’‘Thereisnoshortageofseagulls,’Jamesanswered.‘Lookforyourself.We’ll

probably need four hundred, five hundred, six hundred… maybe even athousand…Idon’tknow…I shall simplygoonhooking themup to the stemuntilwehaveenoughto liftus.They’llbeboundto liftus in theend.It’s likeballoons. You give someone enough balloons to hold, I mean really enough,thenuphegoes.Andaseagullhasfarmoreliftingpowerthanaballoon.Ifonlywehavethetimetodoit.Ifonlywearenotsunkfirstbythoseawfulsharks…’‘You’reabsolutelyoffyourhead!’saidtheEarthworm.‘Howonearthdoyouproposetogetaloopofstringroundaseagull’sneck?I

supposeyou’regoingtoflyupthereyourselfandcatchit!’‘Theboy’sdotty!’saidtheCentipede.‘Lethimfinish,’saidtheLadybird.‘Goon,James.Howwouldyoudoit?’‘Withbait.’‘Bait!Whatsortofbait?’‘With aworm, of course. Seagulls loveworms, didn’t you know that?And

luckily forus,wehavehere thebiggest, fattest,pinkest, juiciestEarthworm intheworld.’‘Youcanstoprightthere!’theEarthwormsaidsharply.‘That’squiteenough!’‘Goon,’theotherssaid,beginningtogrowinterested.‘Goon!’‘Theseagullshavealreadyspottedhim,’Jamescontinued.‘That’swhythere

are somany of them circling round. But they daren’t come down to get himwhilealltherestofusarestandinghere.Sothisiswhat–’‘Stop!’criedtheEarthworm.‘Stop,stop,stop!Iwon’thaveit!Irefuse!I–I–

I–I–’‘Bequiet!’saidtheCentipede.‘Mindyourownbusiness!’‘Ilikethat!’‘My dear Earthworm, you’re going to be eaten anyway, sowhat difference

doesitmakewhetherit’ssharksorseagulls?’‘Iwon’tdoit!’‘Whydon’twehearwhattheplanisfirst?’saidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘Idon’tgiveahootwhattheplanis!’criedtheEarthworm.‘Iamnotgoingto

bepeckedtodeathbyabunchofseagulls!’‘Youwillbeamartyr,’saidtheCentipede.‘Ishallrespectyoufortherestof

mylife.’‘SowillI,’saidMissSpider.‘Andyournamewillbeinall thenewspapers.

Earthwormgiveslifetosavefriends…’‘Buthewon’thavetogivehislife,’Jamestoldthem.‘Nowlistentome.This

iswhatwe’lldo…’

Twenty-one

‘Why, it’s absolutely brilliant!’ cried the Old-Green-Grasshopper when Jameshadexplainedhisplan.‘Theboy’sagenius!’theCentipedeannounced.‘NowIcankeepmybootson

afterall.’‘Oh,Ishallbepeckedtodeath!’wailedthepoorEarthworm.‘Ofcourseyouwon‘t.’‘Iwill, I know Iwill!And Iwon’t evenbe able to see themcoming atme

becauseIhavenoeyes!’JameswentoverandputanarmgentlyroundtheEarthworm’sshoulders.‘I

won’tletthemtouchyou,’hesaid.‘IpromiseIwon‘t.Butwe‘vegottohurry!Lookdownthere!’There were more sharks than ever now around the peach. The water was

boilingwiththem.Theremusthavebeenninetyorahundredatleast.Andtothetravellersupontop,itcertainlyseemedasthoughthepeachweresinkinglowerandlowerintothewater.‘Actionstations!’Jamesshouted.‘Jumptoit!There’snotamomenttolose!’

Hewasthecaptainnow,andeveryoneknewit.Theywoulddowhateverhetoldthem.

‘AllhandsbelowdeckexceptEarthworm!’heordered.‘Yes,yes!’theysaideagerlyastheyscuttledintothetunnelentrance.‘Gome

on!Let’shurry!’‘And you – Centipede!’ James shouted. ‘Hop downstairs and get that

Silkwormtoworkatonce!Tellhertospinasshe’sneverspunbefore!Ourlivesdependuponit!Andthesameappliestoyou,MissSpider!Hurryondown!Startspinning.’

Twenty-two

Inafewminuteseverythingwasready.Itwasveryquietnowon the topof thepeach.Therewasnobody insight–

nobodyexcepttheEarthworm.OnehalfoftheEarthworm,lookinglikeagreat,thick,juicy,pinksausage,lay

innocentlyinthesunforalltheseagullstosee.Theotherhalfofhimwasdanglingdownthetunnel.JameswascrouchingclosebesidetheEarthworminthetunnelentrance,just

belowthesurface,waitingforthefirstseagull.Hehadaloopofsilkstringinhishands.TheOld-Green-GrasshopperandtheLadybirdwerefurtherdownthe tunnel,

holdingontotheEarthworm’stail,readytopullhimquicklyinoutofdangerassoonasJamesgavetheword.Andfarbelow,inthegreatstoneofthepeach,theGlowwormwaslightingup

theroomsothatthetwospinners,theSilkwormandMissSpider,couldseewhatthey were doing. The Centipede was down there too, exhorting them bothfranticallytogreaterefforts,andeverynowandagainJamescouldhearhisvoicecomingupfaintlyfromthedepths,shouting,‘Spin,Silkworm,spin,yougreatfatlazybrute!Faster,faster,orwe’llthrowyoutothesharks!’‘Herecomesthefirstseagull!’whisperedJames.‘Keepstillnow,Earthworm.

Keepstill.Therestofyougetreadytopull.’‘Pleasedon’tletitspikeme,’beggedtheEarthworm.‘Iwon‘t,Iwon‘t.Ssshh…’Outofthecornerofoneeye,Jameswatchedtheseagullasitcameswooping

downtowardstheEarthworm.Andthensuddenlyitwassoclosethathecouldsee its small black eyes and its curvedbeak, and thebeakwasopen, ready tograbanicepieceoffleshoutoftheEarthworm’sback.‘Pull!’shoutedJames.’TheOld-Green-Grasshopper and theLadybird gave theEarthworm’s tail an

enormoustug,andlikemagictheEarthwormdisappearedintothetunnel.Atthesametime,upwentJames’shandandtheseagullflewrightintotheloopofsilkthathewasholdingout.Theloop,whichhadbeencleverlymade,tightenedjustthe right amount (but not too much) around its neck, and the seagull wascaptured.

‘Hooray!’ shouted the Old-Green-Grasshopper, peering out of the tunnel.‘Welldone,James!’UpflewtheseagullwithJamespayingoutthesilkstringasitwent.Hegaveit

aboutfiftyyardsandthentiedthestringtothestemofthepeach.

‘Next one!’ he shouted, jumping back into the tunnel. ‘Up you get again,Earthworm!Bringupsomemoresilk,Centipede!’‘Oh,Idon’tlikethisatall,’wailedtheEarthworm.‘Itonlyjustmissedme!I

evenfeltthewindonmybackasitwentswishingpast!’‘Ssshh!’whisperedJames.‘Keepstill!Herecomesanotherone!’Sotheydiditagain.Andagain,andagain,andagain.Andtheseagullskeptcoming,andJamescaughtthemoneaftertheotherand

tetheredthemtothepeachstem.‘Onehundredseagulls!’heshouted,wipingthesweatfromhisface.‘Keepgoing!’theycried.‘Keepgoing,James!’‘Twohundredseagulls!’‘Threehundredseagulls!’‘Fourhundredseagulls!’The sharks, as though sensing that theywere indangerof losing theirprey,

were hurling themselves at the peachmore furiously than ever, and the peachwassinkinglowerandlowerstillinthewater.‘Fivehundredseagulls!’Jamesshouted.‘Silkwormsaysshe’srunningoutofsilk!’yelledtheCentipedefrombelow.

‘Shesaysshecan’tkeepitupmuchlonger.NorcanMissSpider!’‘Tellthemthey‘vegotto!’Jamesanswered.‘Theycan’tstopnow!’‘We’relifting!’somebodyshouted.‘No,we’renot!’‘Ifeltit!’‘Putonanotherseagull,quick!’‘Quiet,everybody!Quiet!Here’sonecomingnow!’Thiswasthefivehundredandfirstseagull,andthemomentthatJamescaught

it and tethered it to the stem with all the others, the whole enormous peachsuddenlystartedrisingupslowlyoutofthewater.‘Lookout!Herewego!Holdon,boys!’Butthenitstopped.Andthereithung.Ithoveredandswayed,butitwentnohigher.Thebottomofitwasjusttouchingthewater.Itwaslikeadelicatelybalanced

scalethatneededonlythetiniestpushtotipitonewayortheother.‘Onemorewilldoit!’shoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,lookingoutofthe

tunnel.‘We’realmostthere!’Andnowcamethebigmoment.Quickly,thefivehundredandsecondseagull

wascaughtandharnessedtothepeach-stem…Andthensuddenly…Butslowly…Majestically…Likesomefabulousgoldenballoon…Withalltheseagullsstrainingatthestringsabove…Thegiantpeachroseupdrippingoutofthewaterandbeganclimbingtowards

theheavens.

Twenty-three

Inaflash,everybodywasupontop.‘Oh,isn’titbeautiful!’theycried.‘Whatamarvellousfeeling!’‘Good-bye,sharks!’‘Oh,boy,thisisthewaytotravel!’Miss Spider, who was literally squealing with excitement, grabbed the

Centipedebythewaistandthetwoofthemstarteddancingroundandroundthepeach stem together. The Earthworm stood up on his tail and did a sort ofwriggleofjoyallbyhimself.TheOld-Green-Grasshopperkepthoppinghigherandhigherintheair.TheLadybirdrushedoverandshookJameswarmlybythehand. The Glowworm, who at the best of times was a very shy and silentcreature,satglowingwithpleasurenearthetunnelentrance.EventheSilkworm,looking white and thin and completely exhausted, came creeping out of thetunneltowatchthismiraculousascent.Up and up they went, and soon they were as high as the top of a church

steepleabovetheocean.‘I‘mabitworriedaboutthepeach,’Jamessaidtotheothersassoonasallthe

dancingandtheshoutinghadstopped.‘Iwonderhowmuchdamagethosesharkshavedonetoitunderneath.It’squiteimpossibletotellfromuphere.’‘Why don’t I go over the side andmake an inspection?’Miss Spider said.

‘It’llbenotroubleatall,Iassureyou.’Andwithoutwaitingforananswer,shequicklyproducedalengthofsilkthreadandattachedtheendofittothepeachstem.‘I’llbebackinajiffy,’shesaid,andthenshewalkedcalmlyovertotheedgeofthepeachandjumpedoff,payingoutthethreadbehindherasshefell.

Theotherscrowdedanxiouslyaroundtheplacewhereshehadgoneover.‘Wouldn’titbedreadfulifthethreadbroke,’theLadybirdsaid.Therewasaratherlongsilence.‘Areyouallright,MissSpider?’shoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘Yes,thankyou!’hervoiceansweredfrombelow.‘I‘mcomingupnow!’And

up she came, climbing foot over foot up the silk thread, and at the same timetuckingthethreadbackcleverlyintoherbodyassheclimbedpastit.‘Isitawful?’theyaskedher.‘Isitalleatenaway?Aretheregreatholesinit

everywhere?’MissSpider clamberedbackon to thedeckwithapleasedbut alsoa rather

puzzledlookonherface.‘Youwon’tbelievethis,’shesaid,‘butactuallythere’shardlyanydamagedownthereatall!Thepeachisalmostuntouched!Therearejustafewtinypiecesoutofithereandthere,butnothingmore.’‘Youmustbemistaken,’Jamestoldher.‘Ofcourseshe’smistaken!’theCentipedesaid.‘IpromiseyouI‘mnot,’MissSpideranswered.‘Buttherewerehundredsofsharksaroundus!’‘Theychurnedthewaterintoafroth!’‘Wesawtheirgreatmouthsopeningandshutting!’‘Idon’tcarewhatyousaw,’MissSpideranswered.‘Theycertainlydidn’tdo

muchdamagetothepeach.’‘Thenwhydidwestartsinking?’theCentipedeasked.‘Perhaps we didn’t start sinking,’ the Old-Green-Grasshopper suggested.

‘Perhapswewereallsofrightenedthatwesimplyimaginedit.’This,inpointoffact,wasclosertothetruththananyofthemknew.Ashark,

yousee,hasanextremelylongsharpnose,anditsmouthissetveryawkwardlyunderneathitsfaceandalongwayback.Thismakesitmoreorlessimpossiblefor it to get its teeth into a vast smooth curving surface such as the side of apeach.Even if the creature turnson to its back it still can’t do it, because thenosealwaysgetsintheway.Ifyouhaveeverseenasmalldogtryingtogetitsteethintoanenormousball,thenyouwillbeabletoimagineroughlyhowitwaswiththesharksandthepeach.‘Itmusthavebeensomekindofmagic,’ theLadybirdsaid.‘Theholesmust

havehealedupbythemselves.’‘Oh,look!There’sashipbelowus!’shoutedJames.Everybodyrushedtothesideandpeeredover.Noneofthemhadeverseena

shipbefore.‘Itlookslikeabigone.’‘It’sgotthreefunnels.’‘Youcanevenseethepeopleonthedecks!’‘Let’swavetothem.Doyouthinktheycanseeus?’NeitherJamesnoranyoftheothersknewit,buttheshipthatwasnowpassing

beneaththemwasactuallytheQueenMarysailingoutoftheEnglishChannelonher way to America. And on the bridge of the Queen Mary, the astonishedCaptainwasstandingwithagroupofhisofficers,allofthemgapingatthegreatroundballhoveringoverhead.‘Idon’tlikeit,’theCaptainsaid.‘NordoI,’saidtheFirstOfficer.‘Doyouthinkit’sfollowingus?’saidtheSecondOfficer.‘ItellyouIdon’tlikeit,’mutteredtheCaptain.‘Itcouldbedangerous,’theFirstOfficersaid.‘That’s it!’ cried the Captain. ‘It’s a secret weapon! Holy cats! Send a

message to theQueenatonce!Thecountrymustbewarned!Andgivemeraytelescope.’TheFirstOfficerhandedthetelescopetotheCaptain.TheCaptainputittohis

eye.‘There’sbirdseverywhere!’hecried. ‘Thewholesky is teemingwithbirds!

Whatintheworldaretheydoing?Andwait!Waitasecond!Therearepeopleonit!Icanseethemmoving!There’sa–a–doIhavethisdarnedthingfocusedright?Itlookslikealittleboyinshorttrousers!Yes,Icandistinctlyseealittleboyinshorttrousersstandingupthere!Andthere’sa–there’sa–there’sa–a–a–asortofgiantladybird!’‘Nowjustaminute,Captain!’theFirstOfficersaid.‘Andacolossalgreengrasshopper!’‘Captain!’theFirstOfficersaidsharply.‘Captain,please!’‘Andamammothspider!’‘Ohdear,he’sbeenatthewhiskyagain,’whisperedtheSecondOfficer.‘Andanenormous–asimplyenormouscentipede!’screamedtheCaptain.‘CalltheShip’sDoctor,’theFirstOfficersaid.‘OurCaptainisnotwell.’Amomentlater,thegreatroundballdisappearedintoacloud,andthepeople

ontheshipneversawitagain.

Twenty-four

Butuponthepeachitself,everyonewasstillhappyandexcited.‘Iwonderwherewe’llfinishupthistime,’theEarthwormsaid.‘Whocares?’theyanswered.‘Seagullsalwaysgobacktothelandsooneror

later.’Upanduptheywent,highabovethehighestclouds,thepeachswayinggently

fromsidetosideasitfloatedalong.‘Wouldn’tthisbeaperfecttimeforalittlemusic?’theLadybirdasked.‘How

aboutit,OldGrasshopper?’‘With pleasure, dear lady,’ the Old-Green-Grasshopper answered, bowing

fromthewaist.‘Oh, hooray! He’s going to play for us!’ they cried, and immediately the

wholecompanysatthemselvesdowninacirclearoundtheOldGreenMusician–andtheconcertbegan.From the moment that the first note was struck, the audience became

completely spellbound. And as for James, never had he heard such beautifulmusicasthis!Inthegardenathomeonsummerevenings,hehadlistenedmanytimestothesoundofgrasshopperschirpinginthegrass,andhehadalwayslikedthenoisethattheymade.Butthiswasadifferentkindofnoisealtogether.Thiswasrealmusic–chords,harmonies,tunes,andalltherestofit.And what a wonderful instrument the Old-Green-Grasshopper was playing

upon.Itwaslikeaviolin!Itwasalmostexactlyasthoughhewereplayinguponaviolin!Thebowof theviolin, thepart thatmoved,washisback leg.Thestringsof

theviolin,thepartthatmadethesound,wastheedgeofhiswing.Hewasusingonlythetopofhisbackleg(thethigh),andhewasstrokingthis

up and down against the edge of his wing with incredible skill, sometimesslowly, sometimes fast, but alwayswith the same easy flowing action. Itwasprecisely the way a clever violinist would have used his bow; and themusiccame pouring out and filled the whole blue sky around them with magicmelodies.When the first partwas finished, everyone clappedmadly, andMissSpider

stoodupandshouted,‘Bravo!Encore!Giveussomemore!’‘Didyoulikethat,James?’theOld-Green-Grasshopperasked,smilingat the

smallboy.‘Oh,Ilovedit!’Jamesanswered.‘Itwasbeautiful!Itwasasthoughyouhada

realviolininyourhands!’‘Arealviolin!’theOld-Green-Grasshoppercried.‘Goodheavens,Ilikethat!

Mydearboy,Iamarealviolin!Itisapartofmyownbody!’‘But do all grasshoppers play theirmusic on violins, the sameway as you

do?’Jamesaskedhim.‘No,’ he answered, ‘not all. If youwant to know, I happen to be a “short-

horned”grasshopper.Ihavetwoshortfeelerscomingoutofmyhead.Canyouseethem?Theretheyare.Theyarequiteshort,aren’tthey?That’swhytheycallmea“short-horn”.Andwe“short-horns”aretheonlyoneswhoplayourmusicintheviolinstyle,usingabow.My“long-horned”relatives,theoneswhohavelong curvy feelers coming out of their heads, make their music simply byrubbingtheedgesoftheirtwotopwingstogether.Theyarenotviolinists, theyarewing-rubbers.Andaratherinferiornoisethesewing-rubbersproduce,too,ifImaysayso.Itsoundsmorelikeabanjothanafiddle.’‘Howfascinating this all is!’ cried James. ‘And to think thatupuntilnow I

hadneverevenwonderedhowagrasshoppermadehissounds.’‘Mydearyoungfellow,’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaidgently,‘therearea

whole lot of things in this world of ours that you haven’t started wonderingaboutyet.Where,forexample,doyouthinkthatIkeepmyears?’‘Yourears?Why,inyourhead,ofcourse.’Everyoneburstoutlaughing.‘Youmeanyoudon’tevenknowthat?’criedtheCentipede.‘Tryagain,’saidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,smilingatJames.‘Youcan’tpossiblykeepthemanywhereelse?’‘Oh,can’tI?’‘Well–Igiveup.Wheredoyoukeepthem?’‘Right here,’ the Old-Green-Grasshopper said. ‘One on each side of my

tummy.’‘It’snottrue!’‘Ofcourse it’s true.What’s sopeculiar about that?Youought to seewhere

mycousinsthecricketsandthekatydidskeeptheirs.’‘Wheredotheykeepthem?’‘Intheirlegs.Oneineachfrontleg,justbelowtheknee.’‘Youmeanyoudidn’tknowthateither?’theCentipedesaidscornfully.

‘You’re joking,’ James said. ‘Nobody could possibly have his ears in hislegs.’‘Whynot?’‘Because…becauseit’sridiculous,that’swhy.’‘YouknowwhatIthinkisridiculous?’theCentipedesaid,grinningawayas

usual. ‘Idon’tmean tobe rude,but I think it is ridiculous tohaveearson thesidesofone’shead.Itcertainlylooksridiculous.Yououghttotakeapeekinthemirrorsomedayandseeforyourself.’‘Pest!’ cried the Earthworm. ‘Why must you always be so rude and

rambunctioustoeveryone?YououghttoapologizetoJamesatonce.’

Twenty-five

James didn’t want the Earthworm and the Centipede to get into anotherargument,sohesaidquicklytotheEarthworm,‘Tellme,doyouplayanykindofmusic?’‘No,butIdoother things,someofwhicharereallyquiteextraordinary’the

Earthwormsaid,brightening.‘Suchaswhat?’askedJames.‘Well,’theEarthwormsaid.‘Nexttimeyoustandinafieldorinagardenand

look around you, then just remember this: that every grain of soil upon thesurface of the land, every tiny little bit of soil that you can see has actuallypassed through thebodyofanEarthwormduring the last fewyears! Isn’t thatwonderful?’‘It’snotpossible!’saidJames.‘Mydearboy,it’safact.’‘Youmeanyouactuallyswallowsoil?’‘Likemad,’theEarthwormsaidproudly.‘Inoneendandouttheother.’‘Butwhat’sthepoint?’‘Whatdoyoumean,what’sthepoint?’‘Whydoyoudoit?’‘Wedoitforthefarmers.Itmakesthesoilniceandlightandcrumblysothat

thingswillgrowwellinit.Ifyoureallywanttoknow,thefarmerscouldn’tdowithoutus.Weareessential.Wearevital.Soit isonlynatural that thefarmershouldloveus.Helovesusevenmore,Ibelieve,thanhelovestheLadybird.’‘TheLadybird!’saidJames,turningtolookather.‘Dotheyloveyou,too?’‘Iamtold that theydo,’ theLadybirdansweredmodestly,blushingallover.

‘Infact,IunderstandthatinsomeplacesthefarmersloveussomuchthattheygooutandbuyliveLadybirdsbythesackfulandtakethemhomeandsetthemfree in their fields.Theyareverypleasedwhen theyhave lotsofLadybirds intheirfields.’‘Butwhy?’Jamesasked.‘Becausewegobbleupallthenastylittleinsectsthataregobblingupallthe

farmer’scrops.Ithelpsenormously,andweourselvesdon’tchargeapennyforourservices.’

‘I think you’re wonderful,’ James told her. ‘Can I ask you one specialquestion?’‘Pleasedo.’‘Well, is it really true that I can tell howold aLadybird isbycountingher

spots?’

‘Ohno, that’s just a children’s story,’ theLadybird said. ‘Wenever changeourspots.Someofus,ofcourse,arebornwithmorespots thanothers,butweneverchangethem.ThenumberofspotsthataLadybirdhasissimplyawayofshowingwhichbranchofthefamilyshebelongsto.I,forexample,asyoucanseeforyourself,amaNine-SpottedLadybird.Iamverylucky.Itisafinethingtobe.’‘It is, indeed,’ said James,gazingat thebeautiful scarlet shellwith thenine

blackspotsonit.‘On the other hand,’ the Ladybird went on, ’some of my less fortunate

relatives have no more than two spots altogether on their shells! Can youimaginethat?TheyarecalledTwo-SpottedLadybirds,andverycommonandill-mannered they are, I regret to say. And then, of course, you have the Five-Spotted Ladybirds as well. They are much nicer than the Two-Spotted ones,althoughImyselffindthematrifletoosaucyformytaste.’‘Buttheyareallofthemloved?’saidJames.‘Yes,’theLadybirdansweredquietly.‘Theyareallofthemloved.’‘Itseemsthatalmosteveryonearoundhereis loved!’saidJames.‘Hownice

thisis!’‘Notme!’criedtheCentipedehappily.‘IamapestandI‘mproudofit!Oh,I

amsuchashockingdreadfulpest!’‘Hear,hear,’theEarthwormsaid.‘Butwhataboutyou,MissSpider?’askedJames.‘Aren’tyoualsomuchloved

intheworld?’

‘Alas,no,’MissSpideranswered, sighing longand loud. ‘Iamnot lovedatall.AndyetIdonothingbutgood.AlldaylongIcatchfliesandmosquitoesinmywebs.Iamadecentperson.’‘Iknowyouare,’saidJames.‘ItisveryunfairthewayweSpidersaretreated,’MissSpiderwenton.‘Why,

only last week your own horrible Aunt Sponge flushed my poor dear fatherdowntheplug-holeinthebathtub.’‘Oh,howawful!’criedJames.‘I watched the whole thing from a corner up in the ceiling,’ Miss Spider

murmured.‘Itwasghastly.Weneversawhimagain.’Alargetearrolleddownhercheekandfellwithasplashonthefloor.

‘Butisitnotveryunluckytokillaspider?’Jamesinquired,lookingaroundattheothers.‘Ofcourseit’sunluckytokillaspider!’shoutedtheCentipede.‘It’saboutthe

unluckiestthinganyonecando.LookwhathappenedtoAuntSpongeaftershe’ddonethat!Bump!Weallfeltit,didn’twe,asthepeachwentoverher?Oh,whatalovelybumpthatmusthavebeenforyou,MissSpider!’‘It was very satisfactory,’ Miss Spider answered. Will you sing us a song

aboutit,please?’SotheCentipededid.

‘AuntSpongewasterrificallyfat,Andtremendouslyflabbyatthat.HertummyandwaistWereassoggyaspaste–Itwasworseontheplacewhereshesat!

Soshesaid,“Imustmakemyselfflat.Imustmakemyselfsleekasacat.

IshalldowithoutdinnerTomakemyselfthinner.”Butalongcamethepeach!Oh,thebeautifulpeach!Andmadeherfarthinnerthanthat!’

‘Thatwasverynice,’MissSpidersaid.‘NowsingoneaboutAuntSpiker.’‘Withpleasure,’theCentipedeanswered,grinning:

‘AuntSpikerwasthinasawire,Anddryasabone,onlydrier.ShewassolongandthinIfyoucarriedherinYoucoulduseherforpokingthefire!

‘“Imustdosomethingquickly,”shefrowned.‘IwantFAT.Iwantpounduponpound!ImusteatlotsandlotsOfmarshmallowsandchocsTillIstartbulgingoutallaround.”

‘“Ah,yes,”sheannounced,“IhaveswornThatI’llaltermyfigurebydawn!”Criedthepeachwithasnigger,“I’LLalteryourfigure–”Andironedheroutonthelawn!’

EverybodyclappedandcalledoutformoresongsfromtheCentipede,whoatoncelaunchedintohisfavouritesongofall:

‘OnceuponatimeWhenpigswereswineAndmonkeyschewedtobaccoAndhenstooksnuff

TomakethemselvestoughAndtheduckssaidquack-quack-quacko,AndporcupinesDrankfierywinesAndgoatsatetapiocaAndOldMotherHubbardGotstuckinthec–’

‘Lookout,Centipede!’criedJames.‘Lookout!’

Twenty-six

TheCentipede,whohadbegundancingwildlyroundthedeckduringthissong,hadsuddenlygonetooclosetothedownwardcurvingedgeofthepeach,andforthree awful seconds he had stood teetering on the brink, swinging his legsfranticallyincirclesinanefforttostophimselffromfallingoverbackwardintospace.Butbeforeanyonecouldreachhim–downhewent!Hegaveashriekofterror as he fell, and the others, rushing to the side and peering over, sawhispoor long body tumbling over and over through the air, getting smaller andsmalleruntilitwasoutofsight.‘Silkworm!’yelledJames.‘Quick!Startspinning!’TheSilkwormsighed, for shewasstillvery tired fromspinningall that silk

fortheseagulls,butshedidasshewastold.‘I‘mgoingdownafterhim!’criedJames,grabbingthesilkstringasitstarted

comingoutoftheSilkwormandtyingtheendofitaroundhiswaist.‘TherestofyouholdontoSilkwormsoIdon’tpullheroverwithme,andlateron, ifyoufeelthreetugsonthestring,starthaulingmeupagain!’He jumped, and he went tumbling down after the Centipede, down, down,

down towards the seabelow, andyou can imaginehowquickly theSilkwormhadtospintokeepupwiththespeedofhisfall.‘We’ll never see either of them again!’ cried the Ladybird. ‘Oh, dear! Oh

dear!Justwhenwewereallsohappy,too!’Miss Spider, theGlowworm, and theLadybird all began to cry. So did the

Earthworm.‘Idon’tcareabitabouttheCentipede,’theEarthwormsobbed.‘ButIreallydidlovethatlittleboy.’Verysoftly,theOld-Green-GrasshopperstartedtoplaytheFuneralMarchon

hisviolin,andbythetimehehadfinished,everyone,includinghimself,wasinafloodoftears.Suddenly, there came three sharp tugs on the rope. ‘Pull!’ shouted theOld-

Green-Grasshopper.‘Everyonegetbehindmeandpull!’

Therewasaboutamileofstringtobehauledin,buttheyallworkedlikemad,andintheend,overthesideofthepeach,thereappearedadripping-wetJameswithadripping-wetCentipedeclinging tohim tightlywithall forty-twoofhislegs.‘Hesavedme!’gaspedtheCentipede.‘Heswamaroundinthemiddleofthe

AtlanticOceanuntilhefoundme!’‘Mydearboy,’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid,pattingJamesontheback.‘I

docongratulateyou.’‘Myboots!’ cried theCentipede. ‘Just look atmy precious boots!They are

ruinedbythewater!’‘Bequiet!’theEarthwormsaid.‘Youareluckytobealive.’‘Arewestillgoingupandup?’askedJames.‘Wecertainlyare,’answeredtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘Andit’sbeginning

togetdark.’‘Iknow.It’llsoonbenight.’‘Whydon’tweallgodownbelowandkeepwarmuntiltomorrowmorning?’

MissSpidersuggested.‘No,’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.‘Ithinkthatwouldbeveryunwise.It

willbesafer ifweall stayuphere through thenightandkeepwatch.Then, ifanythinghappens,weshallanywaybereadyforit.’

Twenty-seven

JamesHenryTrotterandhiscompanionscrouchedclosetogetherontopofthepeachasthenightbeganclosinginaroundthem.Cloudslikemountainstoweredhigh above their heads on all sides, mysterious, menacing, overwhelming.Graduallyitgrewdarkeranddarker,andthenapalethree-quartermooncameupover the tops of the clouds and cast an eerie light over thewhole scene. Thegiantpeachswayedgentlyfromsidetosideasitfloatedalong,andthehundredsof silky white strings going upward from its stem were beautiful in themoonlight.Soalsowasthegreatflockofseagullsoverhead.Therewasnot a soundanywhere.Travellingupon thepeachwasnot in the

leastliketravellinginanaeroplane.Theaeroplanecomesclatteringandroaringthrough the sky, andwhatevermight be lurking secretly up there in the greatcloud-mountainsgoesrunningforcoveratitsapproach.Thatiswhypeoplewhotravelinaeroplanesneverseeanything.Butthepeach…ah,yes…thepeachwasasoft,stealthytraveller,makingno

noise at all as it floated along.And several timesduring that long silent nightridehighupoverthemiddleoftheoceaninthemoonlight,Jamesandhisfriendssawthingsthatnoonehadeverseenbefore.

Once,astheydriftedsilentlypastamassivewhitecloud,theysawonthetopof it a group of strange, tall, wispy-looking things that were about twice theheight of ordinarymen. Theywere not easy to see at first because theywere

almost as white as the cloud itself, but as the peach sailed closer, it becameobvious that these ‘things’ were actually living creatures – tall, wispy,wraithlike,shadowy,whitecreatureswholookedasthoughtheyweremadeoutofamixtureofcotton-woolandcandyflossandthinwhitehairs.‘Oooooooooooooh!’theLadybirdsaid.‘Idon’tlikethisatall!’‘Ssshh!’ James whispered back. ‘Don’t let them hear you! They must be

Cloud-Men!’‘Cloud-Men!’theymurmured,huddlingclosertogetherforcomfort.‘Ohdear,

ohdear!’

‘I‘m glad I‘m blind and can’t see them,’ the Earthworm said, ‘or I wouldprobablyscream.’‘Ihopetheydon’tturnroundandseeus,’MissSpiderstammered.‘Doyouthinktheywouldeatus?’theEarthwormasked.‘Theywouldeatyou,’theCentipedeanswered,grinning.‘Theywouldcutyou

uplikeasalamiandeatyouinthinslices.’ThepoorEarthwormbegantoquiveralloverwithfright.‘Butwhataretheydoing?’theOld-Green-Grasshopperwhispered.‘Idon’tknow,’Jamesansweredsoftly.‘Let’swatchandsee.’TheCloud-Menwereallstandinginagroup,andtheyweredoingsomething

peculiarwith theirhands.First, theywouldreachout(allof thematonce)andgrab handfuls of cloud. Then theywould roll these handfuls of cloud in theirfingers until they turned intowhat looked like largewhitemarbles.Then theywouldtossthemarblestoonesideandquicklygrabmorebitsofcloudandstart

overagain.Itwas all very silent andmysterious.The pile ofmarbles beside themkept

growinglargerandlarger.Soontherewasatruckloadofthemthereatleast.‘Theymust be absolutelymad!’ the Centipede said. ‘There’s nothing to be

afraidofhere!’‘Bequiet,youpest!’theEarthwormwhispered.‘Weshallallbeeatenifthey

seeus!’But theCloud-Menweremuch toobusywithwhat theyweredoing tohave

noticedthegreatpeachfloatingsilentlyupbehindthem.Then thewatcherson thepeach sawoneof theCloud-Men raisinghis long

wispyarmsabovehisheadandtheyheardhimshouting,‘Allright,boys!That’senough!Get the shovels!’And all the otherCloud-Men immediately let out astrangehigh-pitchedwhoopofjoyandstartedjumpingupanddownandwavingtheirarmsintheair.Thentheypickedupenormousshovelsandrushedovertothepileofmarblesandbeganshovellingthemasfastastheycouldoverthesideofthecloud,intospace.‘Downtheygo!’theychantedastheyworked.

‘Downtheygo!

Hailandsnow!Freezesandsneezesandnoseswillblow!’

‘It’shailstones!’whisperedJamesexcitedly.‘They‘vebeenmakinghailstonesandnowtheyareshoweringthemdownontothepeopleintheworldbelow!’‘Hailstones?’theCentipedesaid.‘That’sridiculous!Thisissummertime.You

don’thavehailstonesinsummertime.’‘Theyarepractisingforthewinter,’Jamestoldhim.‘Idon’tbelieveit!’shoutedtheCentipede,raisinghisvoice.‘Ssshh!’ the others whispered. And James said softly, ‘For heaven’s sake,

Centipede,don’tmakesomuchnoise.’The Centipede roared with laughter. ‘Those imbeciles couldn’t hear

anything!’ he cried. ‘They’re deaf as doorknobs! You watch!’ And beforeanyonecouldstophim,hehadcuppedhisfrontfeettohismouthandwasyellingattheCloud-Menasloudashecould.‘Idiots!’heyelled.‘Nincompoops!Half-wits! Blunderheads! Asses! What on earth do you think you’re doing overthere!’Theeffectwasimmediate.TheCloud-Menjumpedroundasiftheyhadbeen

stungbywasps.Andwhentheysawthegreatgoldenpeachfloatingpast themnot fiftyyardsaway in thesky, theygaveayelpofsurpriseanddropped theirshovelstotheground.Andtheretheystoodwiththemoonlightstreamingdownall over them, absolutely motionless, like a group of tall white hairy statues,staringandstaringatthegiganticfruitasitwentsailingby.Thepassengersonthepeach(allexcepttheCentipede)satfrozenwithterror,

lookingbackattheCloud-Menandwonderingwhatwasgoingtohappennext.‘Nowyou‘vedone it,you loathsomepest!’whispered theEarthworm to the

Centipede.‘I‘mnotfrightenedof them!’shoutedtheCentipede,andtoshoweverybody

once again that he wasn‘t, he stood up to his full height and started dancingaboutandmakinginsultingsignsattheCloud-Menwithallforty-twoofhislegs.ThisevidentlyinfuriatedtheCloud-Menbeyondbelief.Allatonce,theyspun

round and grabbed great handfuls of hailstones and rushed to the edge of thecloudandstartedthrowingthematthepeach,shriekingwithfuryallthetime.‘Lookout!’criedJames.‘Quick!Liedown!Lieflatonthedeck!’Itwasluckytheydid!Alargehailstonecanhurtyouasmuchasarockora

lumpofleadifitisthrownhardenough–andmygoodness,howthoseCloud-

Men could throw! The hailstones came whizzing through the air like bulletsfromamachine-gun,andJamescouldhear themsmashingagainst thesidesofthe peach and burying themselves in the peach fleshwith horrible squelchingnoises–plop!plop!plop!plop!Andthenping!ping!ping!astheybouncedoffthepoorLadybird’sshellbecauseshecouldn’tlieasflatastheothers.Andthencrack! as oneof themhit theCentipede right on thenose andcrack! again asanotheronehithimsomewhereelse.‘Ow!’hecried.‘Ow!Stop!Stop!Stop!’But the Cloud-Men had no intention of stopping. James could see them

rushingaboutonthecloudlikealotofhugehairyghosts,pickinguphailstonesfrom the pile, dashing to the edge of the cloud, hurling the hailstones at thepeach,dashingbackagaintogetmore,andthen,whenthepileofstoneswasallgone, they simplygrabbedhandfuls of cloud andmade asmanymore as theywanted,andmuchbiggeronesnow,someofthemaslargeascannonballs.‘Quickly!’criedJames.‘Downthetunnelorwe’llallbewipedout!’Therewasa rush for the tunnelentrance, andhalf aminute later everybody

was safely downstairs inside the stone of the peach, tremblingwith fright andlisteningtothenoiseofthehailstonesastheycamecrashingagainstthesideofthepeach.‘I‘mawreck!’groanedtheCentipede.‘Iamwoundedallover!’‘Itservesyouright,’saidtheEarthworm.‘Wouldsomebodykindlylookandseeifmyshell iscracked?’theLadybird

said.‘Giveussomelight!’shoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘Ican‘t!’wailedtheGlowworm.‘They‘vebrokenmybulb!’‘Thenputinanotherone!’theCentipedesaid.‘Bequietamoment,’saidJames.‘Listen!Idobelieve they’renothittingus

anymore!’They all stopped talking and listened. Yes – the noise had ceased. The

hailstoneswerenolongersmashingagainstthepeach.‘We‘veleftthembehind!’‘Theseagullsmusthavepulledusawayoutofdanger.‘Hooray!Let’sgoupandsee!’Cautiously,withJamesgoingfirst,theyallclimbedbackupthetunnel.James

poked his head out and looked around. ‘It’s all clear!’ he called. ‘I can’t seethemanywhere!’

Twenty-eight

Onebyone,thetravellerscameoutagainontothetopofthepeachandgazedcarefullyaround.Themoonwasstillshiningasbrightlyasever,andtherewerestillplentyofhugeshimmeringcloud-mountainsonallsides.ButtherewerenoCloud-Meninsightnow.‘Thepeachisleaking!’shoutedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,peeringoverthe

side.‘It’sfullofholesandthejuiceisdrippingouteverywhere!’‘That does it!’ cried the Earthworm. ‘If the peach is leaking then we shall

surelysink!’‘Don’tbeanass!’theCentipedetoldhim.‘We’renotinthewaternow!’‘Oh,look!’shoutedtheLadybird.‘Look,look,look!Overthere!’Everybodyswungroundtolook.Inthedistanceanddirectlyaheadofthem,theynowsawamostextraordinary

sight.Itwasakindofarch,acolossalcurvy-shapedthingthatreachedhighupinto theskyandcamedownagainatbothends.Theendswere restinguponahugeflatcloudthatwasasbigasadesert.‘Nowwhatintheworldisthat?’askedJames.‘It’sabridge!’‘It’sanenormoushoopcutinhalf!’‘It’sagianthorseshoestandingupsidedown!’‘Stopme if I‘mwrong,’murmured the Centipede, goingwhite in the face,

‘butmightthosenotbeCloud-Menclimbingalloverit?’Therewasadreadfulsilence.Thepeachfloatedcloserandcloser.‘TheyareCloud-Men!’‘Therearehundredsofthem!’‘Thousands!’‘Millions!’‘Idon’twanttohearaboutit!’shriekedthepoorblindEarthworm.‘I’drather

beontheendofafishhookandusedasbaitthancomeupagainstthoseterriblecreaturesagain!’‘I’d rather be fried alive and eaten by a Mexican!’ wailed the Old-Green-

Grasshopper.‘Pleasekeepquiet,’whisperedJames.‘It’souronlyhope.’

Theycrouchedverystillon topof thepeach,staringat theCloud-Men.Thewhole surface of the cloudwas literally swarming with them, and therewerehundredsmoreupaboveclimbingaboutonthatmonstrouscrazyarch.‘Butwhatisthatthing?’whisperedtheLadybird.‘Andwhataretheydoingto

it?’‘Idon’tcarewhatthey’redoingtoit!’theCentipedesaid,scuttlingovertothe

tunnelentrance.‘I‘mnotstayinguphere!Good-bye!’Buttherestofthemweretoofrightenedortoohypnotizedbythewholeaffair

tomakeamove.‘Doyouknowwhat?’Jameswhispered.‘What?’theysaid.‘What?’‘Thatenormousarch–theyseemtobepaintingit!They‘vegotpotsofpaint

andbigbrushes!Youlook!’Andhewasquiteright.Thetravellerswerecloseenoughnowtoseethatthis

wasexactlywhattheCloud-Menweredoing.Theyallhadhugebrushesintheirhandsandtheyweresplashingthepaintontothegreatcurvyarchinafrenzyofspeed, so fast, in fact, that in a few minutes the whole of the arch becamecovered with the most glorious colours – reds, blues, greens, yellows, andpurples.‘It’sarainbow!’everyonesaidatonce.‘Theyaremakingarainbow!’‘Oh,isn’titbeautiful!’‘Justlookatthosecolours!’‘Centipede!’ they shouted. ‘Youmust comeup and see this!’Theywere so

enthralledby thebeautyandbrillianceof the rainbow that they forgot tokeeptheirvoiceslowanylonger.TheCentipedepokedhisheadcautiouslyoutofthetunnelentrance.‘Well, well, well,’ he said. ‘I‘ve always wondered how those things were

made.Butwhyalltheropes?Whataretheydoingwiththoseropes?’‘Goodheavens,theyarepushingitoffthecloud!’criedJames.‘Thereitgoes!

Theyareloweringitdowntotheearthwithropes!’‘And I’ll tell you something else,’ the Centipede said sharply. ‘If I‘m not

greatlymistaken,weourselvesaregoingtobumprightintoit!’‘Blessmysoul,he’sright!’theOld-Green-Grasshopperexclaimed.Therainbowwasnowdanglingintheairbelowthecloud.Thepeachwasalso

just below the level of the cloud, and it was heading directly towards therainbow,travellingratherfast.‘Wearelost!’MissSpidercried,wringingherfeetagain.‘Theendhascome!’

‘Ican’tstandit!’wailedtheEarthworm.‘Tellmewhat’shappening!’‘We’regoingtomissit!’shoutedtheLadybird.‘No,we’renot!’‘Yes,weare!’‘Yes!–Yes!–No!–Oh,myheavens!’‘Holdon,everybody!’Jamescalledout,andsuddenlytherewasatremendous

thudasthepeachwentcrashingintothetopoftherainbow.Thiswasfollowedbyanawfulsplinteringnoiseastheenormousrainbowsnappedrightacrossthemiddleandbecametwoseparatepieces.

The next thing that happenedwas extremly unfortunate. The ropes that theCloud-Menhadbeenusingforloweringtherainbowgottangledupwiththesilkstrings that went up from the peach to the seagulls! The peach was trapped!Panic and pandemonium broke out among the travellers, and James HenryTrotter, glancing up quickly, saw the faces of a thousand furious Cloud-Menpeeringdownathimovertheedgeofthecloud.Thefaceshadalmostnoshapeatallbecauseofthelongwhitehairsthatcoveredthem.Therewerenonoses,nomouths,noears,nochins–only theeyeswerevisible ineachface, twosmall

blackeyesglintingmalevolentlythroughthehairs.Then came themost frightening thing of all.OneCloud-Man, a huge hairy

creaturewhomusthavebeen fourteen feet tall at least, suddenly stoodupandmadeatremendousleapoffthesideofthecloud,tryingtogettooneofthesilkstringsabovethepeach.Jamesandhisfriendssawhimgoflyingthroughtheairabovethem,hisarmsoutstretchedinfrontofhim,reachingfortheneareststring,andtheysawhimgrabitandclingtoitwithhishandsandlegs.Andthen,veryveryslowly,handoverhand,hebegantocomedownthestring.‘Mercy!Help!Saveus!’criedtheLadybird.‘He’s coming down to eat us!’ wailed the Old-Green-Grasshopper. ‘Jump

overboard!’‘Then eat theEarthworm first!’ shouted theCentipede. ‘It’s no good eating

me,I‘mfullofboneslikeakipper!’

‘Centipede!’ yelled James. ‘Quickly! Bite through that string, the one he’scomingdownon!’TheCentipederushedovertothestemofthepeachandtookthesilkstringin

his teeth andbit through itwith one snapof his jaws. Immediately, far abovethem,asingleseagullwasseentocomeawayfromtherestoftheflockandgoflyingoffwitha longstringtrailingfromitsneck.Andclingingdesperatelytotheendofthestring,shoutingandcursingwithfury,wasthehugehairyCloud-Man.Up and up hewent, swinging across themoonlit sky, and JamesHenryTrotter,watchinghimwithdelight, said, ‘Mygoodness,hemustweighalmost

nothingatallforoneseagulltobeabletopullhimuplikethat!Hemustbeallhairandair!’The rest of the Cloud-Men were so flabbergasted at seeing one of their

company carried away in this manner that they let go the ropes they wereholdingand thenofcoursedownwent the rainbow,bothhalvesof it together,tumbling towards the earth below. This freed the peach,which at once begansailingawayfromthatterriblecloud.Butthetravellerswerenotintheclearyet.TheinfuriatedCloud-Menjumped

upandranafterthemalongthecloud,peltingthemmercilesslywithallsortsofhard and horrible objects. Empty paint buckets, paint brushes, stepladders,stools, saucepans, frying-pans, rotten eggs, dead rats, bottles of hair-oil –anything those brutes could lay their hands on came raining down upon thepeach.OneCloud-Man,takingverycarefulaim,tippedagallonofthickpurplepaintovertheedgeofthecloudrightontotheCentipedehimself.The Centipede screamed with anger. ‘My legs!’ he cried. ‘They are all

stickingtogether!Ican’twalk!Andmyeyelidswon’topen!Ican’tsee!Andmyboots!Mybootsareruined!’But for themoment everyonewas far too busy dodging the things that the

Cloud-MenwerethrowingtopayanyattentiontotheCentipede.‘Thepaint isdrying!’hemoaned. ‘It’sgoinghard! I can’tmovemy legs! I

can’tmoveanything!’‘You can stillmove yourmouth,’ the Earthworm said. ‘And that is a great

pity.’‘James!’bawledtheCentipede.‘Pleasehelpme!Washoffthispaint!Scrape

itoff!Anything!’

Twenty-nine

Itseemedlikealongtimebeforetheseagullswereabletopullthepeachawayfrom that horrible rainbow-cloud. But they managed it at last, and theneverybodygatheredaroundthewretchedCentipedeandbeganarguingaboutthebestwaytogetthepaintoffhisbody.Hereallydidlookasight.Hewaspurpleallover,andnowthatthepaintwas

beginning to dry and harden, he was forced to sit very stiff and upright, asthoughhewereencased incement.Andall forty-twoofhis legswerestickingout straight in front of him, like rods.He tried to say something, but his lipswouldn’tmove.Allhecoulddonowwastomakegurglingnoisesinhisthroat.The Old-Green-Grasshopper reached out and touched him carefully on the

stomach.‘Buthowcoulditpossiblyhavedriedsoquickly?’heasked.‘It’s rainbow-paint,’ James answered. ‘Rainbow-paint dries very quick and

veryhard.’

‘I detest paint,’Miss Spider announced. ‘It frightensme. It remindsme ofAuntSpiker–thelateAuntSpiker,Imean–becausethelasttimeshepaintedherkitchenceilingmypoordarlinggrandmothersteppedintoitbymistakewhenitwasstillwet,andthereshestuck.Andallthroughthenightwecouldhearhercallingtous,saying“Help!help!help!”anditwasheartbreakingtolistentoher.Butwhatcouldwedo?Notathinguntilthenextdaywhenthepainthaddried,andthenofcourseweallrushedovertoherandcalmedherdownandgavehersomefood.Believeitornot,shelivedforsixmonthslikethat,upsidedownon

theceilingwithherlegsstuckpermanentlyinthepaint.Shereallydid.Wefedhereveryday.Webroughtherfreshfliesstraightfromtheweb.Butthenonthetwenty-sixth of April last, Aunt Sponge – the late Aunt Sponge, I mean –happenedtoglanceupattheceiling,andshespottedher.“Aspider!”shecried.“Adisgustingspider!Quick!Fetchmethemopwiththelonghandle!”Andthen–Oh,itwassoawfulIcan’tbeartothinkofit…’MissSpiderwipedawayatearand lookedsadlyat theCentipede. ‘Youpoor thing,’shemurmured. ‘Idofeelsorryforyou.’‘It’llnevercomeoff,’theEarthwormsaidbrightly.‘OurCentipedewillnever

move again.Hewill turn into a statue andwe shall be able to put him in themiddleofthelawnwithabird-bathonthetopofhishead.’‘We could try peeling him like a banana,’ the Old-Green-Grasshopper

suggested.‘Orrubbinghimwithsandpaper,’theLadybirdsaid.‘Now if he stuck out his tongue,’ the Earthworm said, smiling a little for

perhapsthefirst timeinhislife,‘ifhestuckitoutreallyfar, thenwecouldallcatchholdofitandstartpulling.Andifwepulledhardenough,wecouldturnhiminsideoutandhewouldhaveanewskin!’Therewasapausewhiletheothersconsideredthisinterestingproposal.‘I think,’ James said slowly, ‘I think that the best thing to do…’ Then he

stopped.‘Whatwasthat?’heaskedquickly.‘Iheardavoice!Iheardsomeoneshouting!’

Thirty

Theyallraisedtheirheads,listening.‘Ssshh!Thereitisagain!’Butthevoicewastoofarawayforthemtohearwhatitwassaying.‘It’saCloud-Man!’MissSpidercried.‘Ijustknowit’saCloud-Man!They’re

afterusagain!’‘It came from above!’ the Earthworm said, and automatically everybody

lookedupward,everybodyexcepttheCentipede,whocouldn’tmove.‘Ouch!’theysaid.‘Help!Mercy!We’regoingtocatchitthistime!’Forwhat

theynowsaw,swirlingandtwistingdirectlyovertheirheads,wasanimmenseblackcloud,a terrible,dangerous, thundery-lookingthingthatbegantorumbleandroarevenastheywerestaringatit.Andthen,fromhighuponthetopofthecloud,thefarawayvoicecamedowntothemonceagain,thistimeveryloudandclear.‘Onwiththefaucets!’itshouted.‘Onwiththefaucets!Onwiththefaucets!’Three seconds later, thewhole underneath of the cloud seemed to split and

burstopenlikeapaperbag,andthen–outcamethewater!Theysawitcoming.Itwasquiteeasy toseebecause itwasn’t just raindrops. Itwasn’t raindropsatall. Itwasagreat solidmassofwater thatmighthavebeena lakeor awholeoceandroppingoutoftheskyontopofthem,anddownitcame,downanddownanddown,crashingfirstontotheseagullsandthenontothepeachitself,whilethe poor travellers shrieked with fear and groped around frantically forsomethingtocatchholdof–thepeachstem,thesilkstrings,anythingtheycouldfind – and all the time thewater came pouring and roaring down upon them,bouncing and smashing and sloshing and slashing and swashing and swirlingandsurgingandwhirlingandgurglingandgushingandrushingandrushing,anditwaslikebeingpinneddownunderneaththebiggestwaterfallintheworldandnotbeingabletogetout.Theycouldn’tspeak.Theycouldn’tsee.Theycouldn’tbreathe.AndJamesHenryTrotter,holdingonmadly tooneof the silk stringsabovethepeachstem,toldhimselfthatthismustsurelybetheendofeverythingatlast.Butthen,justassuddenlyasithadstarted,thedelugestopped.Theywereoutofitanditwasallover.Thewonderfulseagullshadflownrightthroughitand had come out safely on the other side. Once again the giant peach wassailingpeacefullythroughthemysteriousmoonlitsky.

‘Iamdrowned!’gaspedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper,spittingoutwaterbythepint.‘It’sgonerightthroughmyskin!’theEarthwormgroaned.‘Ialwaysthought

myskinwaswaterproofbutitisn’tandnowI‘mfullofrain!’‘Lookatme, lookatme!’ shouted theCentipede excitedly. ‘It’swashedme

clean!Thepaint’sallgone!Icanmoveagain!’

‘That’stheworstnewsI‘vehadinalongtime,’theEarthwormsaid.TheCentipedewasdancingaroundthedeckandturningsomersaultsintheair

andsingingatthetopofhisvoice:

‘Oh,hoorayforthestormandtherain!Icanmove!Idon’tfeelanypain!AndnowI‘mapest,I‘mthebiggestandbest,Themostmarvellouspestonceagain!’

‘Oh,doshutup,’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaid.‘Lookatme!’criedtheCentipede.

‘LookatME!Iamfreed!Iamfreed!Notascratchnorabruisenorableed!TohisgravethisfinegentTheyallthoughttheyhadsentAndIverynearwent!Oh,IVERYnearwent!ButtheycentquitethewrongSentipede!’

Thirty-one

‘Howfastwearegoingallofasudden,’theLadybirdsaid.‘Iwonderwhy?’‘I don’t think the seagulls like this place any better than we do,’ James

answered.‘Iimaginetheywanttogetoutofitassoonastheycan.Theygotabadfrightinthatstormwe‘vejustbeenthrough.’Fasterandfasterflewtheseagulls,skimmingacrosstheskyatatremendous

pace, with the peach trailing out behind them. Cloud after cloud went by oneitherside,allof themghostlywhite in themoonlight,andseveralmore timesduringthenightthetravellerscaughtglimpsesofCloud-Menmovingaroundonthetopsoftheseclouds,workingtheirsinistermagicupontheworldbelow.Oncetheypassedasnowmachineinoperation,with theCloud-Menturning

thehandleandablizzardofsnowflakesblowingoutofthegreatfunnelabove.They saw the huge drums thatwere used formaking thunder, and theCloud-Menbeatingthemfuriouslywithlonghammers.Theysawthefrostfactoriesandthe wind producers and the places where cyclones and tornadoes weremanufacturedandsentspinningdowntowardstheEarth,andonce,deepinthehollow of a large billowy cloud, they spotted something that could only havebeenaCloud-Men’scity.Therewerecaveseverywhererunningintothecloud,and at the entrances to the caves theCloud-Men’swiveswere crouchingoverlittlestoveswithfrying-pansintheirhands,fryingsnowballsfortheirhusbands’suppers.AndhundredsofCloud-Men’schildrenwerefriskingaboutallovertheplaceandshriekingwithlaughterandslidingdownthebillowsofthecloudontoboggans.Anhour later, just beforedawn, the travellers heard a softwhooshing noise

abovetheirheadsandtheyglancedupandsawanimmensegreybatlikecreatureswooping down towards them out of the dark. It circled round and round thepeach, flapping its great wings slowly in the moonlight and staring at thetravellers.Then it uttered a series of long deepmelancholy cries and flewoffagainintothenight.‘Oh,Idowishthemorningwouldcome!’MissSpidersaid,shiveringallover.‘Itwon’tbelongnow,’Jamesanswered.‘Look,it’sgettinglighteroverthere

already.’Theyallsatinsilencewatchingthesunasitcameupslowlyovertherimof

thehorizonforanewday.

Thirty-two

Andwhenfulldaylightcameatlast,theyallgottotheirfeetandstretchedtheirpoorcrampedbodies,andthentheCentipede,whoalwaysseemedtoseethingsfirst,shouted,‘Look!There’slandbelow!’‘He’s right!’ they cried, running to the edgeof the peach andpeering over.

‘Hooray!Hooray!’‘Itlookslikestreetsandhouses!’‘Buthowenormousitallis!’A vast city, glistening in the early morning sunshine, lay spread out three

thousand feet below them. At that height, the cars were like little beetlescrawling along the streets, and people walking on the pavements looked nolargerthantinygrainsofsoot.‘But what tremendous tall buildings!’ exclaimed the Ladybird. ‘I‘ve never

seenanythinglikethembeforeinEngland.Whichtowndoyouthinkitis?’‘Thiscouldn’tpossiblybeEngland,’saidtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘Thenwhereisit?’askedMissSpider.‘Youknowwhatthosebuildingsare?’shoutedJames,jumpingupanddown

withexcitement.‘Thoseareskyscrapers!SothismustbeAmerica!Andthat,myfriends,meansthatwehavecrossedtheAtlanticOceanovernight!’‘Youdon’tmeanit!’theycried.‘It’snotpossible!’‘It’sincredible!It’sunbelievable!’‘Oh,I‘vealwaysdreamedofgoingtoAmerica!’criedtheCentipede.‘Ihada

friendoncewho–’‘Be quiet!’ said the Earthworm. ‘Who cares about your friend? The thing

we‘ve got to think about now is how on earth are we going to get down toearth?’‘AskJames,’saidtheLadybird.‘I don’t think that should be so very difficult,’ James told them. ‘Allwe’ll

have to do is to cut loose a few seagulls. Not too many, mind you, but justenoughsothattheotherscan’tquitekeepusupintheair.Thendownweshallgo,slowlyandgently,untilwereachtheground.Centipedewillbitethroughthestringsforusoneatatime.’

Thirty-three

Far below them, in theCity ofNewYork, something like pandemoniumwasbreaking out.A great round ball as big as a house had been sighted hoveringhighupintheskyovertheverycentreofManhattan,andthecryhadgoneupthat itwasanenormousbombsentoverbyanothercountry toblowthewholecitytosmithereens.Air-raidsirensbeganwailingineverysection.Allradioandtelevisionprogrammeswereinterruptedwithannouncementsthatthepopulationmustgodownintotheircellarsimmediately.Onemillionpeoplewalkinginthestreets on their way to work looked up into the sky and saw the monsterhovering above them, and started running for the nearest subway entrance totakecover.Generalsgrabbedholdoftelephonesandshoutedorderstoeveryonethey could think of. TheMayor of New York called up the President of theUnitedStatesdowninWashington,D.C.,toaskhimforhelp,andthePresident,whoatthatmomentwashavingbreakfastinhispyjamas,quicklypushedawayhishalf-finishedplateofSugarCrispsandstartedpressingbuttonsrightandleftto summon his Admirals and his Generals. And all the way across the vaststretch of America, in all the fifty States from Alaska to Florida, fromPennsylvaniatoHawaii,thealarmwassoundedandthewordwentoutthatthebiggestbombinthehistoryoftheworldwashoveringoverNewYorkCity,andthatatanymomentitmightgooff.

Thirty-four

‘Comeon,Centipede,bitethroughthefirststring,’Jamesordered.TheCentipedetookoneofthesilkstringsbetweenhisteethandbitthroughit.

Andonceagain(butnotwithanangryCloud-Mandanglingfromtheendofthestringthistime)asingleseagullcameawayfromtherestoftheflockandwentflyingoffonitsown.‘Biteanother,’Jamesordered.TheCentipedebitthroughanotherstring.‘Whyaren’twesinking?’‘Wearesinking!’‘No,we’renot!’‘Don’tforgetthepeachisalotlighternowthanwhenwestartedout,’James

told them. ‘It lost an awful lot of juicewhen all those hailstones hit it in thenight.Cutawaytwomoreseagulls,Centipede!’‘Ah,that’sbetter!’‘Herewego!’‘Nowwereallyaresinking!’‘Yes, this isperfect!Don’tbiteanymore,Centipede,orwe’ll sink too fast!

Gentlydoesit!’Slowly the great peach began losing height, and the buildings and streets

downbelowbegancomingcloserandcloser.‘Doyouthinkwe’llallgetourpicturesinthepaperswhenwegetdown?’the

Ladybirdasked.‘My goodness, I‘ve forgotten to polish my boots!’ the Centipede said.

‘Everyonemusthelpmetopolishmybootsbeforewearrive.’‘Oh, for heaven’s sake!’ said theEarthworm. ‘Can’t you ever stop thinking

about–’Butheneverfinishedhissentence.Forsuddenly…WHOOOSH!…andthey

lookedup and sawahuge four-enginedplane come shootingout of a near-bycloud and gowhizzing past them notmore than twenty feet over their heads.ThiswasactuallytheregularearlymorningpassengerplanecomingintoNewYorkfromChicago,andasitwentby,itslicedrightthrougheverysingleoneofthesilkenstrings,and immediately theseagullsbrokeaway,and theenormous

peach,havingnothing tohold itup in theairany longer,went tumblingdowntowardstheearthlikealumpoflead.‘Help!’criedtheCentipede.‘Saveus!’criedMissSpider.‘Wearelost!’criedtheLadybird.‘Thisistheend!’criedtheOld-Green-Grasshopper.‘James!’ cried the Earthworm. ‘Do something, James! Quickly, do

something!’‘I can‘t!’ cried James. ‘I‘m sorry!Good-bye! Shut your eyes everybody! It

won’tbelongnow!’

Thirty-five

Roundandroundandupsidedownwentthepeachasitplummetedtowardstheearth,andtheywereallclingingdesperatelytothestemtosavethemselvesfrombeingflungintospace.Fasterandfasteritfell.Downanddownanddown,racingcloserandcloserto

thehousesandstreetsbelow,whereitwouldsurelysmashintoamillionpieceswhenithit.AndallthewayalongFifthAvenueandMadisonAvenue,andalongalltheotherstreetsintheCity,peoplewhohadnotyetreachedtheundergroundshelterslookedupandsawitcoming,andtheystoppedrunningandstoodtherestaringinasortofstuporatwhattheythoughtwasthebiggestbombinall theworldfallingoutof theskyon to theirheads.Afewwomenscreamed.Otherskneltdownonthesidewalksandbeganprayingaloud.Strongmenturnedtooneanotherandsaidthingslike,‘Iguessthisisit,Joe,’and‘Good-bye,everybody,good-bye.’ And for the next thirty seconds the whole City held its breath,waitingfortheendtocome.

Thirty-six

‘Good-bye,Ladybird!’gaspedJames,clingingtothestemofthefallingpeach.‘Good-bye,Centipede.Good-bye,everybody!’Therewereonlyafewsecondstogonowand it lookedas though theyweregoing to fall right inamongall thetallestbuildings.Jamescouldseetheskyscrapersrushinguptomeetthematthemostawfulspeed,andmostofthemhadsquareflattops,buttheverytallestofthemallhada top that taperedoff intoa long sharppoint– likeanenormoussilverneedlestickingupintothesky.Anditwaspreciselyontothetopofthisneedlethatthepeachfell!Therewasasquelch.Theneedlewentindeep.Andsuddenly–therewasthe

giant peach, caught and spiked upon the very pinnacle of the Empire StateBuilding.

Thirty-seven

Itwasreallyanamazingsight,andintwoorthreeminutes,assoonasthepeoplebelowrealizedthatthisnowcouldn’tpossiblybeabomb,theycamepouringoutofthesheltersandthesubwaystogapeatthemarvel.Thestreetsforhalfamilearound the building were jammedwithmen and women, and when the wordspreadthattherewereactuallylivingthingsmovingaboutonthetopofthegreatroundball,theneveryonewentwildwithexcitement.‘It’saflyingsaucer!’theyshouted.‘TheyarefromOuterSpace!’‘TheyaremenfromMars!’‘OrmaybetheycamefromtheMoon!’Andamanwhohadapairofbinocularstohiseyessaid,‘Theylookpritt-ty

peculiartome,I’lltellyouthat.’Police cars and fire engines came screaming in from all over the city and

pulled up outside the Empire State Building. Two hundred firemen and sixhundredpolicemen swarmed into the building andwent up in the elevators ashighastheycouldgo.Thentheypouredoutontotheobservationroof–whichistheplacewheretouristsstand–justatthebottomofthebigspike.Allthepolicemenwereholdingtheirgunsattheready,withtheirfingerson

thetriggers,andthefiremenwereclutchingtheirhatchets.Butfromwheretheystood, almost directly underneath the peach, they couldn’t actually see thetravellersupontop.‘Ahoythere!’shoutedtheChiefofPolice.‘Comeoutandshowyourselves!’Suddenly,thegreatbrownheadoftheCentipedeappearedoverthesideofthe

peach.His black eyes, as large and round as twomarbles, glared down at thepolicemen and the firemen below. Then hismonstrous ugly face broke into awidegrin.Thepolicemenandthefiremenallstartedshoutingatonce.‘Lookout!’they

cried.‘It’saDragon!’‘It’snotaDragon!It’saWampus!’‘It’saGorgon!’‘It’saSea-serpent!’‘It’saProck!’

‘It’saManticore!’Threefiremenandfivepolicemenfaintedandhadtobecarriedaway.‘It’saSnozzwanger!’criedtheChiefofPolice.‘It’saWhangdoodle!’yelledtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.TheCentipede kept on grinning.He seemed to be enjoying enormously the

commotionthathewascausing.‘Nowseehere!’shoutedtheChiefofPolice,cuppinghishandstohismouth.

‘Youlistentome!Iwantyoutotellmeexactlywhereyou‘vecomefrom!’‘We‘ve come from thousands ofmiles away!’ the Centipede shouted back,

grinningmorebroadlythaneverandshowinghisbrownteeth.‘Thereyouare!’calledtheChiefofPolice.‘ItoldyoutheycamefromMars!’‘Iguessyou’reright!’saidtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.Atthispoint,theOld-Green-Grasshopperpokedhishugegreenheadoverthe

side of the peach, alongside theCentipede’s. Sixmore big strongmen faintedwhentheysawhim.‘That one’s an Oinck!’ screamed the Head of the Fire Department. ‘I just

knowit’sanOinck!’‘OraCockatrice!’yelledtheChiefofPolice.‘Standback,men!Itmayjump

downonusanymoment!’‘Whatoneartharetheytalkingabout?’theOld-Green-Grasshoppersaidtothe

Centipede.‘Searchme,’theCentipedeanswered.‘Buttheyseemtobeinanawfulstew

aboutsomething.’ThenMissSpider’slargeblackmurderous-lookinghead,whichtoastranger

wasprobablythemostterrifyingofall,appearednexttotheGrasshopper‘s.‘Snakes and ladders!’ yelled the Head of the Fire Department. ‘We are

finishednow!It’sagiantScorpula!’‘It’sworsethanthat!’criedtheChiefofPolice.‘It’savermiciousKnid!Oh,

justlookatitsvermiciousgruesomeface!’‘Isthatthekindthateatsfully-grownmenforbreakfast?’theHeadoftheFire

Departmentasked,goingwhiteasasheet.‘I‘mafraiditis,’theChiefofPoliceanswered.‘Oh, please why doesn’t someone help us to get down from here?’ Miss

Spidercalledout.‘It’smakingmegiddy.’

‘Thiscouldbeatrick!’saidtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.‘Don’tanyonemakeamoveuntilIsay!’‘They‘veprobablygotspaceguns!’mutteredtheChiefofPolice.‘Butwe‘vegottodosomething!’theHeadoftheFireDepartmentannounced

grimly. ‘About five million people are standing down there on the streetswatchingus.’‘Thenwhy don’t you put up a ladder?’ theChief of Police asked him. ‘I’ll

standat thebottomandhold itsteadyforyouwhileyougoupandseewhat’shappening.’‘Thanksverymuch!’snappedtheHeadoftheFireDepartment.Soontherewerenolessthansevenlargefantasticfacespeeringdownoverthe

side of the peach – the Centipede‘s, the Old-Green-Grasshopper‘s, MissSpider‘s, the Earthworm‘s, the Ladybird‘s, the Silkworm‘s, and theGlowworm‘s.Andasortofpanicwasbeginningtobreakoutamongthefiremenandthepolicemenontherooftop.Then,allatonce,thepanicstoppedandagreatgaspofastonishmentwentup

allround.Fornow,asmallboywasseentobestandinguptherebesidetheothercreatures.Hishairwasblowing in thewind, andhewas laughingandwavingandcallingout,‘Hello,everybody!Hello!’For a fewmoments, themen below just stood and stared and gaped. They

simplycouldn’tbelievetheireyes.‘Blessmysoul!’criedtheHeadoftheFireDepartment,goingredintheface.

‘Itreallyisalittleboy,isn’tit?’‘Don’tbe frightenedofus,please!’ Jamescalledout. ‘Weare soglad tobe

here!’‘Whataboutthoseothersbesideyou?’shoutedtheChiefofPolice.‘Areany

ofthemdangerous?’‘Of course they’re not dangerous!’ James answered. ‘They’re the nicest

creaturesintheworld!AllowmetointroducethemtoyouonebyoneandthenI‘msureyouwillbelieveme.’

‘Myfriends,thisistheCentipede,andletmemakeitknownHeissosweetandgentlethat(althoughhe’sovergrown)TheQueenofSpain,againandagain,hassummonedhimbyphoneTobaby-sitandsingandknitandbeachaperoneWhennurseisoffandalltheroyalchildrenarealone.’(‘Smallwonder,’saidaFireman,‘they’renolongeronthethrone.’)

‘TheEarthworm,ontheotherhand,’SaidJames,beginningtoexpand,‘IsgreatfordiggingupthelandAndmakingoldsoilsnewer.Moreover,youshouldunderstandHewouldbeabsolutelygrand

FordiggingsubwaytunnelsandFormakingyouasewer.’(TheEarthwormblushedandbeamedwithpride.MissSpiderclappedandcheeredandcried,‘Couldanywordsbetruer?’)

‘AndtheGrasshopper,ladiesandgents,isaboonInmillionsandmillionsofways.YouhaveonlytoaskhimtogiveyouatuneAndheplaysandheplaysandheplays.Asatoyforyourchildrenhe’sperfectlysweet;There’snothingsogoodintheshops–You‘veonlytoticklethesolesofhisfeetAndhehopsandhehopsandhehops.’(‘Hecan’tbeveryfierce!’exclaimedTheHeadofalltheCops.)

‘AndnowwithoutexcuseI’dliketointroduceThischarmingGlowworm,loverofsimplicity.SheiseasytoinstallOnjourceilingoryourwall,

Andalthoughthissmacksabitofeccentricity,It’sreallyrathercleverForthereafteryouwillneverYouwillNEVERNEVERNEVERHavetheslightestneedforusingelectricity.’(Atwhich,nolessthanfifty-twoPolicemencried,‘IfthisistrueThatcreature’llgetsomefabulouspublicity!’)

‘AndherewehaveMissSpiderWithamileofthreadinsideherWhohaspersonallyrequestedmetosayThatshe‘sNEVERmetMissMuffetOnhercharminglittletuffet–Ifshehadshe‘dNOThavefrightenedheraway.ShouldherlookssometimesalarmyouThenIdon’tthinkitwouldharmyouTorepeatatleastahundredtimesaday:“ImustNEVERkillaspiderImustonlyhelpandguideherAndinviteherinthenurserytoplay.”’(ThePoliceallnoddedslightly,AndtheFiremensmiledpolitely,Andaboutadozenpeoplecried,‘Hooray!’)

‘Andhere’smydarlingLadybird,sobeautjul,sokind,Mygreatestcomfortsincethistripbegan.Shehasfourhundredchildrenandshe’sleftthemallbehind,Butthey’recomingonthenextpeachofthecan.’(TheCopscried,‘She’sentrancing!’AlltheFiremenstarteddancing,Andthecrowdsallstartedcheeringtoaman!)

‘Andnow,theSilkworm,’Jameswenton,‘WhosesilkwillbearcomparisonWithallthegreatestsilksthereareInRomeandPhiladelphia.IfyouwouldsearchthewholeworldthroughFromParaguaytoTimbuctooIdon’tthinkyouwouldfindonebitOfsilkthatcouldcomparewithit.EventheshopsinSingaporeDon’thavethestuff.Andwhatismore,ThisSilkwormhad,I’llhaveyouknow,Thehonour,notsolongago,TospinandweaveandsewandpressTheQueenofEngland’sweddingdress.Andshe’salreadymadeandsent

AwaistcoatforyourPresident.’(‘Well,goodforher!’theCopscriedout,AndallatonceamightyshoutWentuparoundtheEmpireState,Let’sgetthemdownatonce!WhyWAIT?’)

Thirty-eight

Fiveminutes later, theywereall safelydown,and Jameswasexcitedly tellinghisstorytoagroupofflabbergastedofficials.Andsuddenly–everyonewhohadcomeoveronthepeachwasahero!They

wereallescortedtothestepsofCityHall,wheretheMayorofNewYorkmadea speechofwelcome.Andwhilehewasdoing this, onehundred steeplejacks,armedwithropesandladdersandpulleys,swarmeduptothetopoftheEmpireState Building and lifted the giant peach off the spike and lowered it to theground.Then theMayor shouted, ‘Wemust now have a ticker-tape parade for our

wonderfulvisitors!’And so a procession was formed, and in the leading car (which was an

enormousopenlimousine)satJamesandallhisfriends.Next came the giant peach itself. Men with cranes and hooks had quickly

hoisteditontoaverylargetruckandthereitnowsat,lookingjustashugeandproudandbraveasever.Therewas,ofcourse,abitofaholeinthebottomofitwherethespikeoftheEmpireStateBuildinghadgonein,butwhocaredaboutthat–orindeedaboutthepeachjuicethatwasdrippingoutofitontothestreet?Behindthepeach,skiddingaboutallovertheplaceinthepeachjuice,came

theMayor’s limousine, and behind theMayor’s limousine came about twentyotherlimousinescarryingalltheimportantpeopleoftheCity.

And the crowdswentwildwith excitement.They lined the streets and theyleaned out of the windows of the skyscrapers, cheering and yelling andscreamingandclappingandthrowingoutbitsofwhitepaperandticker-tape,andJamesandhisfriendsstoodupintheircarandwavedbackatthemastheywentby.Then a rather curious thing happened. The procession was moving slowly

alongFifthAvenuewhen suddenlya littlegirl in a reddress ranout from thecrowdandshouted,‘Oh,James,James!CouldIpleasehavejustatinytasteofyourmarvellouspeach?’‘Help yourself!’ James shouted back. ‘Eat all you want! It won’t keep for

ever,anyway!’Nosoonerhadhesaidthisthanaboutfiftyotherchildrenexplodedoutofthe

crowdandcamerunningontothestreet.‘Canwehavesome,too?’theycried.‘Ofcourseyoucan!’Jamesanswered.‘Everyonecanhavesome!’The children jumped up on to the truck and swarmed like ants all over the

giantpeach,eatingandeatingtotheirhearts’content.Andasthenewsofwhatwas happening spread quickly from street to street, more andmore boys andgirlscamerunningfromalldirectionstojointhefeast.Soon,therewasatrailofchildren a mile long chasing after the peach as it proceeded slowly up FifthAvenue.Really,itwasafantasticsight.TosomepeopleitlookedasthoughthePiedPiperofHamelinhadsuddenlydescendeduponNewYork.AndtoJames,whohadneverdreamedthattherecouldbesomanychildrenasthisintheworld,itwasthemostmarvellousthingthathadeverhappened.By the time the procession was over, the whole gigantic fruit had been

completelyeatenup, andonly thebigbrownstone in themiddle, lickedcleanandshinybytenthousandeagerlittletongues,wasleftstandingonthetruck.

Thirty-nine

And thus the journey ended. But the travellers lived on. Every one of thembecamerichandsuccessfulinthenewcountry.The Centipede was made Vice-President-in-Charge-of-Sales of a high-class

firmofbootandshoemanufacturers.TheEarthworm,withhislovelypinkskin,wasemployedbyacompanythat

madewomen’sfacecreamstospeakcommercialsontelevision.TheSilkwormandMissSpider,aftertheyhadbothbeentaughttomakenylon

thread instead of silk, set up a factory together andmade ropes for tightropewalkers.TheGlowwormbecamethelightinsidethetorchontheStatueofLiberty,and

thussavedagratefulCityfromhavingtopayahugeelectricitybilleveryyear.TheOld-Green-Grasshopperbecameamemberof theNewYorkSymphony

Orchestra,wherehisplayingwasgreatlyadmired.TheLadybird,whohadbeenhauntedallherlifebythefearthatherhousewas

onfireandherchildrenallgone,marriedtheHeadoftheFireDepartmentandlivedhappilyeverafter.Andasfortheenormouspeachstone–itwassetuppermanentlyinaplaceof

honourinCentralParkandbecameafamousmonument.Butitwasnotonlyafamousmonument. Itwas also a famous house.And inside the famous housetherelivedafamousperson–

JAMESHENRYTROTTER

himself.

And all you had to do any day of theweekwas to go and knock upon thedoor, and thedoorwouldalwaysbeopened toyou, andyouwouldalwaysbeasked to come inside and see the famous roomwhere James had firstmet hisfriends.Andsometimes,ifyouwereverylucky,youwouldfindtheOld-Green-Grasshopper in there as well, resting peacefully in a chair before the fire, orperhaps itwould be the Ladybirdwho had dropped in for a cup of tea and agossip,or theCentipede to showoff anewbatchofparticularly elegantbootsthathehadjustacquired.

Everydayoftheweek,hundredsandhundredsofchildrenfromfarandnearcamepouringinto theCity tosee themarvellouspeachstone in thePark.AndJames Henry Trotter, who once, if you remember, had been the saddest andloneliestlittleboythatyoucouldfind,nowhadallthefriendsandplaymatesintheworld.Andbecausesomanyof themwerealwaysbegginghhn to tellandtellagainthestoryofhisadventuresonthepeach,hethoughtitwouldbeniceifonedayhesatdownandwroteitasabook.Sohedid.Andthatiswhatyouhavejustfinishedreading

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