‘Certainly there’s a television room,’ Mr Wonka said. ‘That button over
there.’ He pointed with his finger. Everybody looked. TELEVISION
CHOCOLATE, it said on the tiny label beside the button.
‘Whoopee!’ shouted Mike Teavee. ‘That’s for me!’ He stuck out his
thumb and pressed the button. Instantly, there was a tremendous
whizzing noise. The doors clanged shut and the lift leaped away as
though it had been stung by a wasp. But it leapt sideways! And all the
passengers (except Mr Wonka, who was holding on to a strap from the
ceiling) were flung off their feet on to the floor.
‘Get up, get up!’ cried Mr Wonka, roaring with laughter. But just as
they were staggering to their feet, the lift changed direction and swerved
violently round a corner. And over they went once more.
‘Help!’ shouted Mrs Teavee.
‘Take my hand, madam,’ said Mr Wonka gallantly. ‘There you are!
Now grab this strap! Everybody grab a strap. The journey’s not over yet!’
Old Grandpa Joe staggered to his feet and caught hold of a strap.
Little Charlie, who couldn’t possibly reach as high as that, put his arms
around Grandpa Joe’s legs and hung on tight.
The lift rushed on at the speed of a rocket. Now it was beginning to
climb. It was shooting up and up and up on a steep slanty course as if it
were climbing a very steep hill. Then suddenly, as though it had come to
the top of the hill and gone over a precipice, it dropped like a stone and
Charlie felt his tummy coming right up into his throat, and