Ходячий замок
Chapter 13
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She’slookingforHowl!Sophiethought.NowwhatdoIdo?Ifshehadnotbeensoveryhotandtired,Sophiewouldhavebeenalmosttooscaredtothink.ForawitchwhocouldkillMrs.PentstemmonwouldhavenotroublewithSophie,stickornostick.AndifshesuspectedforamomentthatSophieknewwhereHowlwas,thatcouldbetheendofSophie.PerhapsitwasjustaswellSophiecouldnotrememberwherethecastleentrancewas.
“Idon’tknowwhothispersonisthatyou’vekilled,”shesaid,“butthatmakesyouawickedmurderess.”
ButtheWitchdidseemtosuspectanyway.Shesaid,“ButIthoughtyousaidyouweregoingtocallonMrs.Pentstemmon?”
“No,”saidSophie.“Itwasyousaidthat.Idon’thavetoknowhertocallyouwickedforkillingher.”
“Thenwherewereyougoing?”saidtheWitch.
SophiewastemptedtotelltheWitchtomindherownbusiness.Butthatwasaskingfortrouble.Soshesaidtheonlyotherthingshecouldthinkof.“I’mgoingtoseetheKing,”shesaid.
TheWitchlaugheddisbelievingly.“ButwilltheKingseeyou?”
“Yes,ofcourse,”Sophiedeclared,tremblingwithterrorandanger.“Imadeanappointment.I’m—goingtopetitionhimforbetterconditionsforhatters.Ikeepgoing,yousee,evenafterwhatyoudidtome.”
“Thenyou’regoinginthewrongdirection,”saidtheWitch.“ThePalaceisbehindyou.”
“Oh?Isit?”saidSophie.Shedidnothavetopretendtobesurprised.“ThenImusthavegotturnedaround.I’vebeenalittlevagueaboutdirectionssinceyoumademelikethis.
