Ходячий замок
Chapter 13
”
TheWitchlaughedheartilyanddidnotbelieveawordofit.“Thencomewithme,”shesaid,“andI’llshowyouthewaytothePalace.”
ThereseemednothingSophiecoulddobutturnroundandstumpbesidetheWitch,withthetwopageboystrudgingsullenlybehindthemboth.AngerandhopelessnesssettledoverSophie.ShelookedattheWitchfloatinggracefullybesideherandrememberedMrs.PentstemmonhadsaidtheWitchwasanoldwomanreally.It’snotfair!Sophiethought,buttherewasnothingshecoulddoaboutit.
“Whydidyoumakemelikethis?”shedemandedastheywentupagrandthoroughfarewithafountainontopofit.
“YouwerepreventingmegettingsomeinformationIneeded,”theWitchsaid.“Igotitintheend,ofcourse.”Sophiewasquitemystifiedbythis.Shewaswonderingwhetheritwoulddoanygoodtosaytheremustbesomemistake,whentheWitchadded,“ThoughIdaresayyouhadnoideayouwere,”andlaughed,asifthatwasthefunniestpartofit.“HaveyouheardofalandcalledWales?”sheasked.
“No,”saidSophie.“Isitunderthesea?”
TheWitchfoundthisfunnierthanever.“Notatthemoment,”shesaid.“It’swhereWizardHowlcomesfrom.YouknowWizardHowl,don’tyou?”
“Onlybyhearsay,”Sophielied.“Heeatsgirls.He’saswickedasyou.”Butshefeltrathercold.Itdidnotseemtobeduetothefountaintheywerepassingatthatmoment.Beyondthefountain,acrossapinkmarbleplaza,werethestonestairswiththePalaceatthetop.
“Thereyouare.There’sthePalace,”saidtheWitch.
