Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           Thereweremanyqueerlittleprojections,andattics,andchimneys,andnooksandcrannies,soitwasneverboring.Anditcertainlywasexciting,asKarlssonhadsaid,becausenowandthenyouverynearlydidfalldown.Inoneplacetherewasquiteawidegapbetweentwohouses,anditwasinjustsuchaplacethatEricalmostfell.ButKarlssoncaughtholdofhimatthelastmomentwhenoneofhislegshadalreadybeguntoslideovertheedgeoftheroof.

           "Goodfun,isn’tit?"saidKarlssonashehauledEricupagain."That’sjustwhatImeant.Doitagain!"

           ButEricsaidhewouldrathernotdoitagain.Itwasalittletoocloseforhim.Therewereseveralplaceswhereyouhadtoclingwitharmsandlegstoavoidfalling,andKarlssonwantedErictohaveasmuchfunaspossible,sohedidnotalwaystakehimbytheeasiestroute.

           "Ithinkweoughttoplaysometricks,"saidKarlsson."Igenerallystrollaroundontheroofsintheevening,playinglittletricksonthepeoplewholiveinalltheseatticrooms."

           "Whatdoyoudo?"askedEric.

           "Iplaydifferenttricksondifferentpeople,ofcourse.Neverthesametricktwice.TheWorld’sBestTricker—guesswhothatis!"

           Atthatinstantalittlechildbegantocrynearby.Erichadheardthecryingbefore,butthenithadstopped.Thechildhadtakenarest,hesupposed.Nowitstartedagain,andthecryingcamefromthenearestattic.Itwassuchasadandforlornsound.

           "Poorthing!"saidEric."Perhapsit’sgotatummy-ache."

           "Weshallsoonsee,"saidKarlsson.