Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Calm,becalm!"saidKarlsson."Yourideonmybackandhi-ho,offweflyuptomyhouse!But,mindyou,don’tgetyourfingerscaughtinthepropeller!"

           "Butareyoustrongenough?"askedEric.

           "That’sjustwhatweshallhavetofindout,"saidKarlsson."It’llbequiteinterestingtoseeifImanagemorethanhalfthedistance,illandmiserableasIam.ButIcanalwaysdropyouifIfindIcan’tgoonanyfarther."

           Ericdidnotthinkitwasagoodsolutiontobedroppedhalfwayuptotheroof,andhelookedalittledoubtful.

           "ButI’msureit’llbeallright,"saidKarlsson."Solongastheenginedoesn’tbreakdown."

           "Supposingitdoes;thenwe’llfall,"saidEric.

           "Crash!we’llgothen,"saidKarlssongaily."Butit’sasmallmatter,"hesaidandspreadhisfingers.

           Ericdecidedtoregarditasasmallmatter.HewrotealittlenotetoMommyandDaddyandleftitonthetable.

           Itwouldbebestifhecouldgetbackbeforetheyspottedthenote.Butifbyanychancetheymissedhim,theywouldhavetoknowwherehewas,otherwisetheremightbethesamefussagainthattherewaswhentheywerestayingwithGrannieandErichaddecidedtotakeatripbytrainonhisown.Mommyweptafterwardandsaid,"But,Eric,whenyouwantedtogoonthetrain,whydidn’tyoutellme?"

           "BecauseIwantedtogoonthetrain,"saidEric.

           Thatwasthesortofthingthathappened.HewantedtogowithKarlssonupontheroof,andthatwaswhyitwasbestnottotellanybody.