It will be NOW for us--won't it ?' He appealed to the Psammead, who said-- 'You're not so far off the idea as you usually are!' 'Well,' said Anthea, 'will you take us back to when there was a shrine and you were safe in it--all of you ?' 'Yes,' said the voice.

'You must hold me up, and speak the word of power, and one by one, beginning with the first-born, you shall pass through me into the Past.

But let the last that passes be the one that holds me, and let him not lose his hold, lest you lose me, and so remain in the Past for ever.' 'That's a nasty idea,' said Robert.
'When you desire to return,' the beautiful voice went on, 'hold me up towards the East, and speak the word.

Then, passing through me, you shall return to this time and it shall be the present to you.' 'But how--' A bell rang loudly.
'Oh crikey!' exclaimed Robert, 'that's tea! Will you please make it proper daylight again so that we can go down.

And thank you so much for all your kindness.' 'We've enjoyed ourselves very much indeed, thank you!' added Anthea politely.
The beautiful light faded slowly.