Ходячий замок
Chapter 13
“Areyousureyoucanmanageallthosestairs?”
“Nonethebetterforyou,”saidSophie.“MakemeyoungagainandI’llrunupthem,eveninthisheat.”
“Thatwouldn’tbehalfsofunny,”saidtheWitch.“Upyougo.AndifyoudopersuadetheKingtoseeyou,remindhimthathisgrandfathersentmetotheWasteandIbearhimagrudgeforthat.”
Sophielookedhopelesslyupthelongflightofstairs.Atleasttherewasnobodybutsoldiersonthem.Withtheluckshewashavingtoday,itwouldnotsurprisehertofindMichaelandHowlontheirwaydown.SincetheWitchwasobviouslygoingtostandthereandmakesureshewentup,Sophiehadnochoicebuttoclimbthem.Upshehobbled,pastthesweatingsoldiers,allthewaytothePalaceentranceagain,hatingtheWitchmorewitheverystep.Sheturnedround,panting,atthetop.TheWitchwasstillthere,afloatingrussetshapeatthefoot,withtwosmallorangefiguresbesideher,waitingtoseherthrownoutofthePalace.
“Drather!”saidSophie.Shehobbledovertotheguardsatthearchway.Herbadluckheldstill.TherewasnosignofMichaelorHowlinthereachesbeyond.Shewasforcedtosaytotheguards,“TherewassomethingIforgottotelltheKing.”
Theyrememberedher.Theyletherinside,tobereceivedbyapersonageinwhitegloves.AndbeforeSophiehadcollectedherwits,thePalacemachinerywasinmotionagainandshewasbeinghandedfrompersontoperson,justlikethefirsttime,untilshearrivedatthesamedoubledoorsandthesamepersoninbluewasannouncing,“Mrs.Pendragontoseeyouagain,YourMajesty.
