Free A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket Page B

happened." "You're not supposed to see Sir without an appointment," Phil said. "This is an emergency," Violet said. "Come on, Sunny. Come on ..." She looked at her brother, who looked back at his older sister with wide, wide eyes. Violet remembered the accident he had caused, and all the previous Baudelaire guardians who had been destroyed. She could not imagine that Klaus would be capable of the sort of heinous murders that Count Olaf had committed, but she could not be sure. Not when he was hypnotized. "Dinel," Sunny said. "Klaus simply cannot go," Violet decided. "Phil, will you please keep an eye on our brother while we go and visit Sir?" "Of course," Phil said. "A very close eye, " she emphasized, leading Klaus to the Baudelaire bunk. "He's ... he's not been himself lately, as I'm sure you've noticed. Please make sure he stays out of trouble." "I will," Phil promised. "Now, Klaus," Violet said, "please get some sleep, and I hope you'll feel better in the morning." "Wub," Sunny said, which meant something along the lines of "I hope so, too." Klaus lay down on the bunk, and his sisters looked at his bare feet, which were filthy from walking around all day without any shoes on. "Good night, Violet," Klaus said. "Good night, Susan." "Her name is Sunny, " Violet said. "I'm sorry," Klaus said. "I'm just so exhausted. Do you really think I will feel better in the morning?" "If we're lucky," Violet said. "Now, go to sleep." Klaus glanced at his older sister. "Yes, sir," he said, quietly. He shut his eyes and immediately fell asleep. The eldest Baudelaire tucked the blanket around her brother and took a long, worried glance at him. Then she took Sunny's hand and, with a smile to Phil, walked back out of the dormitory and across the courtyard to the offices. Inside, the two Baudelaires walked past the mirror without even a glance at their reflections, and knocked on the door. "Come in!" The children recognized the booming voice of Sir, and nervously opened the door to the office. Sir was sitting at an enormous desk made of dark, dark wood, still smoking a cigar so his face could not be seen behind the cloud of smoke. The desk was covered with papers and folders, and there was a name-plate that read "The Boss" in letters made of chewed-up gum, just like the lumbermill sign outside. It was difficult to see the rest of the room, because there was only one tiny light in the room, which sat on Sir's desk. Next to Sir stood Charles, who gave the children a shy smile as they walked up to their guardian. "Do you have an appointment?" Sir asked. "No," Violet said, "but it's very important that I talk to you." "I'll decide what's very important!" Sir barked. "You see this nameplate? It says 'The Boss,' and that's who I am! It's very important when I say it's very important, understand?" "Yes, Sir," Violet said, "but I think you'll agree with me when I explain what's been going on." "I know what's been going on," Sir said. "I'm the boss! Of course I know! Didn't you get my memo about the accident?" Violet took a deep breath and looked Sir in the eye, or at least the part of the cloud of smoke where she thought his eye probably was. "The accident," she said finally, "happened because Klaus was hypnotized." "What your brother does for a hobby is none of my concern," Sir said, "and it doesn't excuse accidents." "You don't understand, Sir," Violet said. "Klaus was hypnotized by Dr. Orwell, who is in cahoots with Count Olaf." "Oh no!" Charles said. "You poor children! Sir, we have to put a stop to this!" "We are putting a stop to this!" Sir said. "You children will cause no more accidents, and you'll be safely employed by this lumbermill. Otherwise, out you go!" "Sir!" Charles cried. "You wouldn't throw the children out into the street!" "Of course not," Sir said. "As I explained in my memo, I met a very nice young lady who works as a receptionist. When I mentioned there were three children in my care, she said that if you were ever any trouble,