When it was there, by the up of rocks, a rope was let down by rope, drifting about, coiling, and the Sphinx made a knot around and around the Bright Hammer by teeth and claw. When they pulled the rope, it went straighter, moves up and down, because it was heavy, still is.
Then, heave ho, heave ho, it rose through the thermocline into the lighter areas. Sheba and the woman with the goat and the short end of a stick wound the windlass whilst singing a sea shanty.
They sang, Come all ye young fellows that follow the sea, to me, way hey, blow the man down.
Then they stopped, as the hammer lay dripping upon the deck boards. The wood of the deck went dark where the water came, but soon began to lighten and dry. No harm done.
The Sphinx and the Sea Cucumber played frisbee in the shallows.
This, then, is no ordinary hammer for merely hitting with precise force, Mused Sheba, I can see that it shines with an inner light, not in the normal range of hammer attributes. What extracurricular power does this light denote? Has it been radio actively magnetised by accidental proximity to a melt down or has it been designed thus?
The woman with the goat and the short end of a stick held up a stilling hand, palm outwards, face close down to the side of the metal, Wait, she said, There is an inscription or legend inscribed upon the metal. Probably accomplished post casting as the surface is raw.
Tell us what it might say, called the Sphinx as another wave crashed against her flank, washing away the dry desert sands thereon.
It says, To whom it may concern, whoever finds this Hammer should return it to its rightful owner, that’s me. You can find me at the address written below. You must not in any event attempt to exercise the power of transformation that is held within its Hammer exterior. The powers of transformation are controlled by the twist ring at the top of the handle, this ranges from complete transformation, i.e. an apple into a bicycle, to minimal transformation, like a box into a box with a handle, and is expedited by the small red button above. Only someone with expert skills, like myself, should ever attempt to use this machine. Also, no one should ever touch this Hammer, except me.
Underneath was a label with the name and address. Nobody took any notice of it.
Can I have a go? said the Sphinx, I should like to try and change a west wind into an east wind.
No, said Sheba, it’s my turn first, and anyway I have a better plan, let’s try and turn some tanks made for war, into agricultural machinery, a tractor, par example.
Ah, said the Sphinx in understanding it, swords into plough shares, updated.
Exact, said Sheba, hefting the Bright Hammer and playing her thumb across the control dials.
Let us take this Bright Hammer to a dismal and sad war zone and turn it into a farming farm.
They all left together except the Sea Cucumber who had had a very exciting day and needed to rest.
The Guardians of the Cave 