Atthatmomentavoiceshoutedfrombehind, amean, spitefullittlevoice.“Nowthen, Pole, ” itsqueaked.“Everyoneknowsyou'.” ItwasthevoiceofEdithJackle, notoneofThemherselfbutoneoftheirhangers-onandtale-bearers.
“Quick! ” saidScrubb.“'tgetseparated.” Andbeforeshequiteknewwhatwashappening, hehadgrabbedherhandandpulledherthroughthedoor, outoftheschoolgrounds, outofEngland, outofourwholeworldintoThatPlace.
ThesoundofEdithJackle', , butitwasmuchmorelikemusic—ratheradvancedmusicwhichyoudon'tquitetakeinatthefirsthearing—thanbirds' , inspiteofthesinging, , combinedwiththefreshnessoftheair, madeJillthinktheymustbeonthetopofaveryhighmountain.
Scrubbstillhadherbythehandandtheywerewalkingforward, , ratherlikecedarsbutbigger, , andastherewasnoundergrowth, 'seyecouldreach, itwasallthesame—levelturf, dartingbirdswithyellow, ordragonflyblue, orrainbowplumage, blueshadows, , .
Rightaheadtherewerenotrees: , “Lookout! ” .
'—“justasifIwasakid“, , shedespisedhim.
“What'sthematter? ” , shestoodveryneartheedgeindeed; infact, .
ShenowrealizedthatScrubbhadsomeexcuseforlookingwhite, , asfaragain, tentimesasfar, 'velookeddownallthatdistanceimaginelittlewhitethingsthatmight, atfirstglance, bemistakenforsheep, butpresentlyyourealizethattheyareclouds—notlittlewreathsofmistbuttheenormouswhite, , inbetweenthoseclouds, yougetyourfirstglimpseoftherealbottom, sofarawaythatyoucan'tmakeoutwhetherit'sfieldorwood, orlandorwater: fartherbelowthosecloudsthanyouareabovethem.
, afterall, shewouldstepbackafootorsofromtheedge; butshedidn''tcarewhathethought, , shefoundshecouldn'.
“Whatareyoudoing, Pole? Comeback-blitheringlittleidiot! ”', buttwothingssherememberedaslongasshelived (theyoftencamebacktoherindreams).OnewasthatshehadwrenchedherselffreeofScrubb'sclutches; theotherwasthat, atthesamemoment, Scrubbhimself, withaterrifiedscream, hadlosthisbalanceandgonehurtlingtothedepths.
Fortunately, , , leaningover, and (thiswastheoddthing) , butjustblowingfromitswide-openedmouth; ': indeed, shewishedshecouldreallyfaint, butfaintsdon', farawaybelowher, , 'thelpthinkingthatthecreatureathersidewasblowingitaway.
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