Meg felt her stomach rumbling loudly. The saliva came to her mouth.
Oh, Jeeminy Calvin mumbled.
Chairs appeared and the four men who had provided the feast slid back into the shadows.
Charles Wallace freed his hands from Meg and Calvin and plunked himself down on one of the chairs.
Come on, he said. If its poisoned its poisoned, but I dont think it is.
Calvin sat down. Meg continued to stand indecisively.
Calvin took a bite. He chewed. He swallowed. He looked at Meg. If this isnt real, its the best imitation youll ever get.
Charles Wallace took a bite, made a face, and spat out his mouthful. Its unfair! he shouted at the man.
Laughter again. Go on, little fellow. Eat.
Meg sighed and sat. I dont think we should eat this stuff, but if youre going to, Id better, too. She took a mouthful. It tastes all right. Try some of mine, Charles. She held out a forkful of turkey.
Charles Wallace took it, made another face, but managed to swallow. Still tastes like sand, he said. He looked at the man. Why?
You know perfectly well why. Youve shut your mind entirely to me. The other two cant. I can get in through the chinks. Not all the way in, but enough to give them a turkey dinner. You see, Im really just a kind, jolly old gentleman.
Ha, Charles Wallace said.
The man lifted his lips into a smile, and his smile was the most horrible thing Meg had ever seen. Why dont you trust me, Charles? Why dont you trust me enough to come in and find out what I am? I am peace and rest. I am freedom from all responsibility. To come in to me is the last difficult decision you need ever make.
If I come in can I get out again? Charles Wallace asked.
But of course, if you want to. But I dont think you will want to.
If I come not to stay, you understand just to find out about you, will you tell us where father is?
Yes. That is a promise. And I dont make promises lightly.
Can I speak to Meg and Calvin alone, without your listening in?
No.
Charles shrugged. Listen, he said to Meg and Calvin. I have to find out what he really is. You know that. Im going to try to hold back. Im going to try to keep part of myself out. You mustnt stop me this time, Meg.
But you wont be able to, Charles! Hes stronger than you are! You know that!
I have to try.
But Mrs Whatsit warned you!
I have to try. For father, Meg. Please. I want I want to know my father For a moment his lips trembled. Then he was back in control. But it isnt only father, Meg. You know that, now. Its the Black Thing. We have to do what Mrs Which sent us to do.
Calvin Meg begged.
But Calvin shook his head. Hes right, Meg. And well be with him, no matter what happens.
But whats going to happen? Meg cried.
Charles Wallace looked up at the man. Okay, he said. Lets go.
Now the red eyes and the light above seemed to bore into Charles, and again the pupils of the little boys eyes contracted. When the final point of black was lost in blue he turned away from the red eyes, looked at Meg, and smiled sweetly, but the smile was not Charles Wallaces smile.
Come on, Meg, eat this delicious food that has been prepared for us, he said.
Meg snatched Charles Wallaces plate and threw it on the floor, so that the dinner splashed about and the plate broke into fragments. No! she cried, her voice rising shrilly. No! No! No!
From the shadows came one of the dark-smocked men who put another plate in front of Charles Wallace, and he began to eat eagerly. Whats wrong, Meg? Charles Wallace asked. Why are you being so belligerent and unco-operative? The voice was Charles Wallaces voice, and yet it was different, too, somehow flattened out, almost as a voice might have sounded on the two-dimensional planet.
Meg grabbed wildly at Calvin, shrieking, That isnt Charles! Charles is gone!
8
Charles Wallace sat there tucking away turkey and dressing as though it were the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. He was dressed like Charles Wallace; he looked like Charles Wallace; he had the same sandy brown hair, the same face that had not yet lost its baby roundness. Only the eyes were different, for the black was still swallowed up in blue. But it was far more than this that made Meg feel that Charles Wallace was gone, that the little boy in his place was only a copy of Charles Wallace, only a doll.
She fought down a sob. Where is he? she demanded of the man with red eyes. What have you done with him? Where is Charles Wallace?
But my dear child, you are hysterical, the man thought at her. He is right there, before you, well and happy. Completely well and happy for the first time in his life. And he is finishing his dinner, which you also would be wise to do.
You know it isnt Charles! Meg shouted. Youve got him somehow.
Hush, Meg. Theres no use trying to talk to him, Calvin said, speaking in a low voice into her ear. What we have to do is hold Charles Wallace tight. Hes there, somewhere, underneath, and we mustnt let them take him away from us. Help me hold him, Meg. Dont lose control of yourself. Not now. Youve got to help me hold Charles! He took the little boy firmly by one arm.
Fighting down her hysteria, Meg took Charless other arm and held it tightly.
Youre hurting me, Meg! Charles said sharply. Let me go!
No, Meg said grimly.
Weve been all wrong. Charles Wallaces voice, Meg thought, might have been a recording. There was a canned quality to it. He isnt an enemy at all. Hes our friend.
Nuts, Calvin said rudely.
You dont understand, Calvin, Charles Wallace said. Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which have confused us. Theyre the ones who are really our enemies. We never should have trusted them for a minute. He spoke in his calmest, most reasonable voice, the voice which infuriated the twins. He seemed to be looking directly at Calvin as he spoke, and yet Meg was sure that the bland blue eyes could not see, and that someone, something else, was looking at Calvin through Charles.
Now the cold, strange eyes turned to her. Meg, let go. I will explain it all to you, but you must let go.
No. Meg gritted her teeth. She did not release her grasp, and Charles Wallace began to pull away with a power that was not his own, and her own spindly strength was no match against it, Calvin! she gasped as Charles Wallace wrenched his arm from her and stood up.
Calvin the athlete, Calvin the boy who split firewood and brought it in for his mother, whose muscles were strong and controlled, let go Charles Wallaces wrist and tackled him as though he were a football. Meg, in her panic and rage, darted at the man on the chair, intending to hit him as Charles Wallace had done, but the black-smocked men were too quick for her, and one of them held her with her arms pinioned behind her back.
Calvin, I advise you to let me go, came Charles Wallaces voice from under Calvin.
Calvin, his face screwed up with grim determination, did not relax his hold. The man with red eyes nodded and three of the men moved in on Calvin (at least it took three of them), prised him loose, and held him as Meg was being held.
Mrs Whatsit! Meg called despairingly. Oh, Mrs Whatsit!
But Mrs Whatsit did not come.
Meg, Charles Wallace said. Meg, just listen to me.
Okay, Im listening.
Weve been all wrong, I told you; we havent understood. Weve been fighting our friend, and fathers friend.
If father tells me hes our friend maybe Ill believe it. Maybe. Unless hes got father under under a spell, or whatever it is, like you.