Soon Jack's cottage was out of sight. In the distance they could see a huge rock shimmering in the radiant light, for it was made of mother-of-pearl. Corky recognised it immediately.
'Why that's wot I saw when I first came 'ere', he cried in excitement, 'and I wished my Mum and the kids could ' ave seen it! '
'That's the Magic Spring' said Geraldine.
The rock looked so beautiful in the light it made them gasp with wonder even though they had all seen it before. Down the steep face water trickled in little rivulets, reflecting its delicate pearl colours - pale pink, silver and gold, and they dropped into a sparkling pool below.
'Where does the water come from?' asked Corky.
'Ah, that's a mystery nobody has solved' said Amy. "The source of the spring is hidden high up in the rock which is far too slippery to climb and the water never, never dries up'.
A vast crowd of animals and birds of every shape and size had gathered round the pool. Some were round the edge dipping their snouts and beaks into the sapphire blue water which made gentle little sounds. Others were swimming or floating. The air was filled with howls, growls, coos, moos, barks, bleats, hums, hoots, hisses, quacks, croaks, cackles, screeches, grunts and twitters! The sound was absolutely deafening but very, very joyful. It was as if all the creatures of the world were joining in a mighty chorus of praise!
Corky watched with amazement as a little brown duckling swam towards the edge, then stepped out of the water and shook its feathers although they were perfectly dry. Then it waddled across the green verge quacking with delight, as well it might, for it had changed into a beautiful swan!
A squirrel went scurrying by, scattering nuts in all directions as it ran. 'Wot's 'e doing?'. Corky asked. 'He's stopped hoarding his nuts', explained Amy 'and he's giving them away'.
'A typical NUT CASE! said Geraldine chortling away.
Corky was told about the extraordinary changes that took place. Bees and wasps lost their sting; bats could see and snakes lost their poison; rabbits were no longer scared. Sparrows lost the feeling that they weren't of much value because they were so common, and realised that each of them was important. Eagles no longer preyed on other birds.
"They PREY on their knees instead!' Geraldine interrupted yet again and everyone laughed.
Corky joined in the merriment, then as he was watching all the activity going on, two large eyes stared at him just above the water, and came near and NEARER. Suddenly, an enormous head appeared. 'A CROCODILE!' he shrieked in horror. Slowly the great jaws opened and Corky held his breath. 'Don't get alarmed young man. I'm not going to eat you. The fact is I've lost my appetite for nice juicy boys! I'm an ugly old croc, but not as thick-skinned as you imagine, and sometime I shed a few tears!'
'But why?' asked Corky, 'I thought nobody cried in THINK LAND'.
'They don't once they've lost their guilt at the bad things they've done. When I think of all the humans I've devoured, it makes me so sad', and his eyes filled with tears. Corky felt quite sorry for him.
'You mustn't get upset about if he said. 'After orl, you couldn't help it. We was just food to you and you didn't know you was being cruel, now did you?
So 'ow can you feel guilty when you've done nuffing that you thought was wrong?'
'Yes. You have a point there' he replied.
'It's us 'umans wot's guilty, 'cos we kill you and make bags and fings with your skin, and we KNOW it's wrong!'
'Thank you young man. I feel better already', and the crocodile smiled and shed no more tears. 'I do believe I've lost my guilt' and, giving Corky a wink, he disappeared into the water.
Corky wondered whether he should drink from the spring but couldn't think of anything he could lose or wanted changing. He wasn't afraid any more, not even of crocodiles and he hadn't been naughty since he came to THINK LAND. In any case you couldn't lose something you hadn't got, so he decided he wouldn't.
'What would you like to do now. Corky?' the children asked.
'DO?!!! 'Aven't we done enough? I just want to do nuffing, absolutely NUFFING' he replied.
'Except THINK, which is SOMETHING, and certainly NOT nothing', said Geraldine. 'Come on everybody, let's leave him to his thoughts'. Instantly they all disappeared but their voices could be heard in the distance singing:-
'He wants to sit and THINK
Of all the things he's seen.
The animals he's spoken to'
The places where he's been'.
And that was just what Corky did back in his cottage in his rocking chair.
