the thing gave an ear-splitting shriek and fell twitching to the pavement . the siren woke him up with a start . `` go , '' the king said at last , `` before you talk yourself back into the dungeon . '' i lock the door to the house and drive east . she was a strange , light creature that i did n't recognize . `` i would n't be standing here if they were , '' he replied . maybe it was most of them . 