Haroun and the Sea of Stories: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

The mist surrounding the boat smells of sadness and gloom, and Rashid demands that whoever is making the stink admit to it. Haroun explains that it's the Mist of Misery, and Mr. Buttoo cries out that Haroun is too much like the citizens of the valley and "foolish for make-believe." He tells Rashid that Rashid may only tell happy and praising stories. With that, a hot wind blows across the lake. Haroun realizes, and says out loud, that they must be in the Moody Land. The Moody Land is one of Rashid's stories, where the weather changes constantly depending on the moods of its inhabitants. Haroun asks Rashid if he's right, and Rashid replies that it was only a story. Haroun understands that Rashid must be very depressed to say such a thing.

Meanwhile, Rashid and Mr. Buttoo are arguing. Rashid insists that people can love sad stories as long as they're beautiful. Mr. Buttoo angrily commands Rashid to tell happy stories only, and their argument brings back both the stinky mist and the hot wind. As the boat begins to rock, fear rises and the rocking gets worse. Haroun, taking matters into his own hands, commands everyone to stop talking, and at the authority in his voice, everyone on the boat obeys. The wind dies down, leaving only the stinky mist, and Haroun asks his father to think of happy times. Moments later, the mist parts. Haroun happily tells Rashid that the Moody Land wasn't just a story, and Rashid laughs. As Mr. Buttoo insists it was only inclement weather, Haroun knows that since the real world is evidently filled with magic, magical worlds must also be real.

The houseboat they’re on is called “Arabian Nights Plus One,” and each window is cut in the shape of a fabulous animal. All the furnishings are amazingly intricate, and Mr. Buttoo points out a collection of books called “The Ocean of the Streams of Story.” The boatmen show Rashid and Haroun to their rooms. The bed in Rashid's room is in the shape of a peacock, while Haroun's is a turtle. Haroun says it's very pleasant, which angers Mr. Buttoo (he was expecting more praise), but Rashid silences him and says it's time for bed. Mr. Buttoo huffs off the boat, insulting Rashid as he goes.

Haroun finds it hard to sleep, and finally gets out of bed when he hears Rashid lamenting his fate in the next room. When Haroun enters the peacock room, he and Rashid decide to switch beds because both find their assigned bed animals too weird.

Haroun has just dozed off when he wakes to a noise coming from the bathroom. The light is on, and Haroun sees an astonishing figure with a monkey wrench, grumbling about his workload and the difficulty he's having finding the “Story Tap.” Haroun watches, noticing the tiny man's clothes—a purple turban and silk pajamas—and his impressive blue beard. As Haroun leans further around the door, a board creaks. The man in the bathroom disappears, the wrench falls to the ground, and Haroun grabs it.

Slowly, the little man reappears in the bathroom and snaps at Haroun to return the Disconnector. Haroun refuses, and looking at the tool, notices that the tool is very beautiful and looks like it's made of a series of colored watery veins. He demands that the man tell Haroun why he's here. When the man refuses, Haroun threatens to wake Rashid, and the little man finally introduces himself as Iff the Water Genie, from the Ocean of the Streams of Story. Haroun is shocked that Rashid's story is evidently true, and Iff says that Rashid has canceled his connection to the story waters and Iff is here to disconnect the tap. Haroun is aghast, and Iff explains that Rashid canceled his subscription via a Process Too Complicated To Explain, or a P2C2E. Iff instructs Haroun to take the issue up with the Grand Comptroller via letter.

Iff continues that the scheme is perfect, as letters never arrive to the Grand Comptroller, also known as the Walrus, in Gup City on the moon Kahani. Haroun retorts that Rashid will still be able to tell stories, but Iff insists that the Story Waters provide that Extra Ingredient. Haroun, still perplexed, asks where the water comes from, and Iff instructs him to tap the Disconnecting Tool at a place on the wall between the taps. When Haroun does, the tool strikes something very solid, albeit invisible. Haroun begins asking questions again about how it all works, but then answers his own question with: “A Process Too Complicated To Explain.”

Haroun asks Iff to take him to Gup City to see the Walrus so he can fix the mistake about Rashid's water supply. When Iff refuses, Haroun says that Iff will have to go back without his Disconnecting Tool. Iff finally agrees to take Haroun, and insists on leaving that instant.