Narratorthe voice said, and the sand stirred and spun and scattered, and something brown and furry and fat came rolling out into the hole and the sand fell off it, and it sat there yawning and rubbing the ends of its eyes with its hands.
NarratorThe children stood round the hole in a ring, looking at the creature they had found. It was worth looking at. Its eyes were on long horns like a snail's eyes, and it could move them in and out like telescopes; it had ears like a bat's ears, and its tubby body was shaped like a spider's and covered with thick soft fur; its legs and arms were furry too, and it had hands and feet like a monkey's.
Unknown voiceDoes she always talk nonsense, or is it only the rubbish on her head that makes her silly?
Unknown voicewe none of us do, whatever you may think! Don't be frightened; we don't want to hurt you, you know.
Unknown voiceperhaps if we knew who you are in particular we could think of something to say that wouldn't make you cross. Everything we've said so far seems to have. Who are you? And don't get angry! Because really we don't know.
Unknown voiceWell, I knew the world had changed - but - well, really - do you mean to tell me seriously you don't know a Psammead when you see one?
Unknown voiceWell, in plain English, then, a SAND-FAIRY. Don't you know a Sand-fairy when you see one?