Ходячий замок
Chapter 8
“ThesearetheprototypesofthebootsHowlmadefortheKing’sarmy.Wemanagedtogetthelateronesabitlighterandmoreboot-shaped.”HeandSophiesatonthedoorstepandeachputonefootinaboot.“PointyourselftowardUpperFoldingbeforeyouputthebootdown,”Michaelwarnedher.HeandSophiestooduponthefootwhichwasinanordinaryshoeandcarefullyswungthemselvesroundtofaceUpperFolding.“Nowtread,”saidMichael.
Zip!Thelandscapeinstantlyrushedpastthemsofastitwasonlyablur,agray-greenblurforthelandandablue-grayblurforthesky.ThewindoftheirgoingtoreatSophie’shairanddraggedeverywrinkleinherfacebackwarduntilshethoughtshewouldarrivewithhalfherfacebehindeachear.
Therushingstoppedassuddenlyasithadbegun.Everythingwascalmandsunny.Theywereknee-deepinbuttercupsinthemiddleofUpperFoldingvillagecommon.Acownearbystaredatthem.Beyondit,thatchedcottagesdrowsedundertrees.Unfortunately,thebucketlikebootwassoheavythatSophiestaggeredasshelanded.
“Don’tputthatfootdown!”Michaelyelled,toolate.
Therewasanotherzippingblurandmorerushingwind.Whenitstopped,SophiefoundherselfrightdowntheFoldingValley,almostintoMarshFolding.“Oh,drat!”shesaid,andhoppedcarefullyroundonhershoeandtriedagain.
Zip!Blur.AndshewasbackonUpperFoldinggreenagain,staggeringforwardwiththeweightoftheboot.ShehadaglimpseofMichaeldivingtocatchher—
Zip!Blur.“Oh,bother!”wailedSophie.Shewasupinthehillsagain.
