Зима тревоги нашей

           Mr.Hartogcamebacktohislaugh."Youhavealovelywife.That’shalfthebattle."

           "That’sthewholebattle."

           "Ethan,you’llmakehimthinkwefight."

           "Oh,wedo!"Igulpedhalftheglassandfeltthewarmthspringupbehindmyeyes.AndIwaslookingatthebottleendofoneofthetinywindowpanes.Itcaughtthecandlelightandseemedtorevolveslowly.Maybeitwasself-hypnosis,forIheardmyownvoicegoon,listenedtomyselffromoutsidemyself."Mrs.MargieistheWitchoftheEast.Amartiniisnotadrink.It’sapotion."Thegleamingglassstillheldme.

           "Oh,dear!IalwaysthoughtofmyselfasOzma.Wasn’ttheWitchoftheEastawickedwitch?"

           "Shewasindeed."

           "Anddidn’tshemelt?"

           ThroughthecrookedglassIsawaman’sfigurewalkingpastonthesidewalk.Hewasallmisshapedbythedistortion,buthecarriedhisheadalittletotheleftandwalkedcuriouslyontheoutsidesofhisfeet.Dannydidthat.Isawmyselfleapupandrunafterhim.IsawmyselfruntothecornerofElmStreetbuthehaddisappeared,perhapsinthebackgardenofthesecondhouse.Icalled,"Danny!Danny!Givemebackthemoney.Please,Danny,giveittome.Don’ttakeit.It’spoisoned.Ipoisonedit!"

           Iheardalaugh.ItwasMr.Hartog’slaugh.Margiesaid,"Well,IwouldratherbeOzma."

           Iwipedthetearsfrommyeyeswithmynapkinandexplained,"Ishoulddrinkit,notbathemyeyesinit.Itburns."

           "Youreyesareallred,"Marysaid.