New YorkH Y P E R I O N B O O K S

A BARTIMAEUS G R A P H I C N OV E L

A D A P T E D B Y

JONATHAN STROUDA N D ANDREW DONKIN

A R T B Y

LEE SULLIVAN

C O L O R B Y

NICOLAS CHAPUIS

L E T T E R I N G B Y

CHRIS DICKEY

Adapted from the novel The Bartimaeus Series, Book One: The Amulet of Samarkand

Text copyright © 2010 by Jonathan StroudIllustrations copyright © 2010 by Lee Sullivan

All rights reserved. Published by Disney • Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney • Hyperion Books, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011-5690.

Printed in the United States of AmericaF322-8368-0-10213

First Edition10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN: 978-1-4231-1146-7 (hardcover)Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file.

ISBN: 978-1-4231-1147-4 (paperback)Library of Congress Catalog

Card Number on file.

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LONDON.NOW.

“Above all, there is one fact that wemust drive into your wretched littleskull now so that you never forget it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you know whatthat fact is?”

“No, sir.”

“No? Well then, boy, I shalltell you. It is this. Demons are very,very wicked. They will hurt you ifthey can. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you sure, boy?”

“Yes, sir. I understand.Demons are very, very wickedand will hurt you if they can.”

As always, ofcourse, I triedto resist.

I tried to counteract the pull,but the wrenching words werejust too strong. Each syllablewas a harpoon spearing mysubstance, dragging me off.

For three shortseconds, the gentlegravity of the OtherPlace helped hold meback...then, all atonce, I was expelledout into the world...

London. Cold,grAy, and heavywith odors.

Oh no.

Evening edition.Latest news!

The temperature of the roomdropped fast. Ice formed onthe curtains and candles.

The room filled witha yellow, chokingcloud of brimstone.

Indistinct black shadowswrithed and roiled inside it.

The cloud formedtendrils that licked theair like hungry tongues.

Invisible feet patteredacross floorboards, andinvisible mouths whisperedwicked things from behindthe bed and under the desk.

From far away camethe sound of manyvoices screaming…

Hey, it washis first time.

I did, too.

I charge you…to…to t-t-tell me

your name.

He knew and Iknew that heknew my namealready.

I amBartimaeus.

Otherwise, howcould he havesummoned me inthe first place?You need theright words, theright actions,and most of all,the right name.

I saw himgive a gulp.Good, heknew myreputation.

Are you thatBartimaeus who in olden

times was summoned by themagicians to repair the walls

of Prague and who did

I wanted toscare him.

What a timewaster thiskid was.

I upped thevolume a biton this one.

I amBartimaeus!

I am Sakhr al-Jinni, N'gorso theMighty, and Serpent of Silver Plumes!

I have rebuilt the walls of Uruk,Karnak, and Prague. I have spokenwith Solomon. I have watched over

Old Zimbabwe tiLl the stonesfell and the jackals fed

on its people.

I amBartimaeus!

I recognize no master!So I charge you, boy.

Who are you tosummon me?

Impressive stuff, eh?All true as well,which gave it evenmore power.

I rather hoped he would beblustered into telling me hisname or stepping outside thecircle so I could nab him.

No luckthere, then.

By theconstraints of the

circle, the points onthe pentacle, and thechain of runes, I am

your master!

Youwill obey

me!

I must admit I wasalready surprised.You don't often getsmall ones like thissquirt calling upan extraordinarilypowerful and modestentity like myself.

Anything to get thisover with quickly.

Whatis yourwill?

I waited grimly for thepathetic request. Levitatingsome tatty object was ausual one. Or moving itaround the room a bit.

Perhaps he'd wantme to conjure anillusion. That mightbe fun. There wasbound to be a wayof misinterpretinghis request.

Once, a magician

demanded I show him

the love of his life.

I rustled up a mirror.

Well,boy?

I charge youto retrieve the Amulet ofSamarkand from the house

of Simon Lovelace and bringit to me when I summon you

at dawn tomorrow.

You what?

I charge youto retrieve…

Yes, Iheard whatyou said.

Then go!

Do youknow what youare asking for,

boy? Do yourealiZe?

Whohas put you upto this? Your

cowardly master,I suppose?

If you roba true magician,

you will be playingwith fire twice

over.

I am not afraid of you.I have given you yourcharge, and I demand

you go!

I had to hand it to him.He was very determined.

And very stupid.

I went. I didn't botherwith any more specialeffects.