a soft chuckle came wafting out of the drain , followed by a low whisper that was almost reproachful : `` beverly , beverly , beverly ... you ca n't fight us ... you 'll die if you try ... die if you try ... die if you try ... beverly ... beverly ... beverly ... ly-ly-ly ... '' something clicked inside the tape-measure 's housing , and it suddenly began to run rapidly back into its case , the numbers and hashmarks blurring by .