Iff describes Khattam-Shud as “the arch-enemy of all stories, even of Language itself (79). However, he admits that much of what he hears could be mere gossip. No one has crossed into Chup in generations. Iff says that it is always sunny in Gup, but always dark in Chup. The land between is called the Twilight Strip. It contains an unbreakable force called Chattergy’s Wall.

As they approach Gup City, mechanical creatures carrying water genies fill the sky. Iff believes that they have been summoned for a grave reason. As they get closer, Haroun sees a mass of lilacs that is keeping pace with them. It turns into man-shaped mass and tells them that its name is Mali. Mali is a Floating Gardener whose job is “Untwisting twisted Story Streams” (83). He performs a similar function as the editor of a book.

Haroun looks over the side of the boat and sees two large fish with dozens of mouths set into their skin. Butt the Hoopoe says they are called Plentimaw fishes. They constantly inhale the Story water and then blow it back out. They tell Haroun their names are Bagha and Goopy. They feel sick from the pollution in the water.