Wet Magic · Chapter
VII: The Skies Are Falling explained
The children pass through golden doors into a magical underwater realm where they feel unusually clever.
What happens
The children pass through golden doors into a magical underwater realm where they feel unusually clever. They meet the Mermaid (revealed to be a Princess) and are given an ovation by the Queen. After the banquet, they accidentally break the protective blue sky dome, allowing the Under Folk to attack. The Princess equips them with enchanted coats and oyster-shell weapons, and they prepare for battle.
Themes in this chapter
Magic and Reality
The underwater realm blurs the line between water and air, with seaweed hedges and coral bridges that defy human logic.
Adventure and Bravery
The children face the consequences of breaking the sky dome and prepare to fight the Under Folk with enchanted weapons.
Class and Identity
The Mermaid is revealed to be a Princess, and the children are given uniforms and roles in the Crustacean Brigade.
Characters to notice
- Bernard
Feels unusually clever, worries about getting home in time for tea, and urges caution.
- Kathleen
Finds dates easy, associates ovation with eggs, and asks to sit next to the Mermaid at the banquet.
- Mavis
Feels a clear brain, touches the seaweed to discover it's soft, and admits to breaking the sky.
- Francis
Feels unusually clever, asks about swords, and blames the guilty one for breaking the sky.
- Reuben
Speaks with a Cockney accent, volunteers to take his chance with the Boy Scouts, and is sent to the Sea Urchins' barracks.
- Cathay
Asks about punishments and the meaning of 'intangible', and is given a tail and coat.
- Maia
The Mermaid Princess who rescued the children, leads them through the realm, and later commands troops against the Under Folk.
- Princess Freia
The Queen of the underwater realm, who gives the ovation and welcomes the children.
Key passages
“As the children passed through the golden doors a sort of swollen feeling which was beginning to make their heads quite uncomfortable passed away, and left them with a curiously clear and comfortable certainty that they were much cleverer than usual.”
Upon entering the golden doors, the children's headache vanished, and they felt unusually intelligent.
Describes the magical effect of entering the underwater realm.
“Our great defense against the Under Folk is that thin blue dome which you have broken. It can only be broken from the inside.”
The protective blue sky dome, which only can be shattered from within, has been breached by the children.
Explains the critical damage caused by the children's actions.
“By pressing the third button from the top you can render yourself invisible. The third button below that will make you visible again when you wish it, and the last button of all will enable you to become intangible as well as invisible.”
The enchanted coats have buttons that grant invisibility, visibility, and intangibility.
Describes the magical properties of the coats given to the children.