12 Medicine and Magic

CHAPTER 12 Medicine and Magic Polynesia moved quietly. She slipped out of the tree and flew to the prison. Once again, she

entered the cell through the high window. All the animals were sitting quietly on the floor. They looked worried. It was scary being back in the prison. Doctor Dolittle, however, was taking a nap. Polynesia cleared her throat until the doctor woke up. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Listen," Polynesia said. "Chee-Chee and I have a plan. The prince is going to come see you tonight. I told him that you have magical powers. He wants you to turn him into a fairy tale hero." "Excuse me?" Doctor Dolittle cried. "How on earth will I do that? I'm a doctor. I know nothing about magic." "Doctor Dolittle is right," Dab-Dab said. "You can't just turn the prince into someone from a book. That's impossible." "Well," Polynesia continued. "I convinced the prince that it was true. I've already done my part. Now you need to do yours. Then when he offers

a reward, you must ask to be set free." Doctor Dolittle sighed. "Very well," he said. "When will the prince be here?" "He is coming to see you after the sun sets," Polynesia replied. "Then I suppose I should get to work," he said. He took his notebook out of his pocket. "I have only a few hours to think of a plan." That night the prince visited the prison. He told the guards to wait by the door and stepped inside the cell. He felt nervous talking to the great doctor but tried to sound strong. "Good evening, Doctor," he said. "The queen of the fairies said I should speak to you. She said you could help me." "Of course," Doctor Dolittle said. "I'll do whatever I can." The doctor sounded as kind and helpful as always. He could not even pretend to be mean. "I love to read," the prince said. "I read all the time. It is my favorite thing to do. But there is

never anyone in the stories like me. They wear fancy clothes. They all have blond hair and blue eyes. They all have horses and fight dragons." "I see," Doctor Dolittle said. "You would like to be like the people in the stories." "Yes! Exactly," the prince said. "You do know that it's very hard to be happy when you try to be someone that you're not," Doctor Dolittle said. "I know what I want," the prince said. "I want to be like a hero in a fairy tale!" "Very well, then," the doctor said. "You will have to excuse me a moment. I need to mix together some medicine. We'll need a special potion." Doctor Dolittle turned to his medicine bag. He took out different bottles. He poured some into a bowl and mixed them up. This was not real medicine. Polynesia had spent the afternoon gathering water for him. When he was finished mixing, he turned back to the prince.

"You must drink this quickly," he said. "Try to drink it all in three gulps." The prince took the bowl and did exactly as Doctor Dolittle asked. "How are you feeling?" Doctor Dolittle asked. "I don't know," the prince stuttered. "I don't really know if I feel anything..." Just then, Jip started to bark. He stood in front of the prince and barked up at him. The prince stepped back. "What is wrong with your dog?" Then Dab-Dab started to quack. Too-Too hooted at the prince. "Goodness me!" Doctor Dolittle exclaimed. "The potion is working quickly!" "Really?" the prince said. "Do you have a mirror? "No, I'm sorry," Doctor Dolittle said. "We don't have a mirror." "But how will I know what has happened? I need to see for myself."

"Well, look at all the animals! They seem very upset. Something incredible must be happening. Everyone knows that animals don't lie." The prince looked at all the animals. They were certainly very excited. He looked back at the doctor. "Could you describe me, then?" "Of course," Doctor Dolittle said. "You are much taller. You look just like someone who could fight a dragon." "But what do I look like?" the prince said. "Am I blond with blue eyes?" "You look like a hero in the fairy tales," the doctor said. "Then I must be tall and blond," the prince insisted. "There are many different kinds of heroes," Doctor Dolittle said. The prince was very happy. He was certain he was exactly as he imagined. "How can I thank you?" he said. "You could let us go free," the doctor said. "It