Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "I’mcomingaboutthreeo’clock,orfourorfive,butnotaminutebeforesix,"Karlssonhadsaid.

           EricstillwasnotsurewhenKarlssonmeanttocome,andhehadaskedhimagain.

           "Notlaterthanseven,anyway,"saidKarlsson."Butnotbeforeeight,Ithink.Andlisten!Mindyouwatchoutaboutnineo’clock,andthenyou’llsee!"

           Erichadtowaitforwhatseemedaneternity,andintheendhealmostthoughthimselfthatKarlssonwasamake-believeandnothingelse.Thenhesuddenlyheardthefamiliarbuzz,andincameKarlsson,jollyandbright.

           "Ithoughtyouwerenevercoming,"saidEric."Whendidyousayyouweregoingtocome?"

           "About,"saidKarlsson."IsaidIwasgoingtocomeabout,andIdid."

           HewentuptoEric’saquarium,plungedhiswholefaceintothewater,anddrankdeeply.

           "Watchoutformyfishes!"saidEricanxiously.HewasafraidthatKarlssonwoulddrinkupsomeofthelittlefishesthatwereswimmingintheaquarium.

           "Whenyou’vegotatemperature,you’vegottokeepdrinking,"saidKarlsson."Andifafishortwoslipsdownyourthroat,it’sasmallmatter."

           "Haveyougotatemperature?"askedEric.

           "IshouldsayIhave!Youjustfeel,"saidKarlsson,puttingEric’shandtohisforehead.

           ButEricdidnotthinkthatKarlssonfeltparticularlyhot."What’syourtemperature?"heasked.

           "Somewherearoundninetyorahundredatleast,"saidKarlsson.

           Erichadrecentlyhadthemeaslesandknewwhatitmeanttohaveatemperature.Heshookhishead.