The Television-Chocolate Room

           TheTeaveefamily,togetherwithCharlieandGrandpaJoe,steppedoutoftheliftintoaroomsodazzlinglybrightanddazzlinglywhitethattheyscreweduptheireyesinpainandstoppedwalking. MrWonkahandedeachofthemapairofdarkglassesandsaid, ’Puttheseonquick!Anddon’ttakethemoffinherewhateveryoudo!Thislightcouldblindyou!’ 

           AssoonasCharliehadhisdarkglasseson,hewasabletolookaroundhimincomfort. Hesawalongnarrowroom. Theroomwaspaintedwhiteallover. Eventhefloorwaswhite,andtherewasn’taspeckofdustanywhere. Fromtheceiling,hugelampshungdownandbathedtheroominabrilliantblue-whitelight. Theroomwascompletelybareexceptatthefarends. Atoneoftheseendstherewasanenormouscameraonwheels,andawholearmyofOompa-Loompaswasclusteringaroundit,oilingitsjointsandadjustingitsknobsandpolishingitsgreatglasslens. TheOompa-Loompaswerealldressedinthemostextraordinaryway.Theywerewearingbright-redspacesuits,completewithhelmetsandgoggles—atleasttheylookedlikespacesuits—andtheywereworkingincompletesilence. Watchingthem,Charlieexperiencedaqueersenseofdanger. Therewassomethingdangerousaboutthiswholebusiness,andtheOompa-Loompasknewit. Therewasnochatteringorsingingamongthemhere,andtheymovedaboutoverthehugeblackcameraslowlyandcarefullyintheirscarletspacesuits.