Ходячий замок

           Anumberofwet,slithery-lookingladieswithflyinggreen-brownhairweredraggingthemselvesupontotheharborwall,screamingandholdinglongwetarmsouttomorescreamingladiestossinginthewaves.Everyoneofthemhadafishtailinsteadoflegs.

           “Confoundit!”saidSophie.“Themermaidsfromthecurse!”thatmeantonlytwomoreimpossiblethingstocometruenow.

           Shelookedupatthetwoclouds.Howlwaskneelingonthelefthandone,muchlargerandnearerthanshewouldhaveexpected.Hewasstilldressedinblack.Typicallyenough,hewasstaringoverhisshoulderatthefranticmermaids.Hewasnotlookingatthemasifherememberedtheywerepartofthecurseatall.

           “KeepyourmindontheWitch!”thehorsebesideSophieyelled.

           TheWitchsprangintobeing,standingontherighthandcloud,inawhirlofflame-coloredrobeandstreamingredhair,withherarmsraisedtoinvokefurthermagic.AsHowlturnedandlookedather,herarmscamedown.Howl’sclouderuptedintoafountainofrose-coloredflame.Heatfromitsweptacrosstheharbor,andthestonesofthewallsteamed.

           “It’sallright!”gaspedthehorse.

           Howlwasonthetossing,nearlysinkingshipbelow.Hewasatinyblackfigure,leaningagainstthebuckingmainmast.HelettheWitchknowshehadmissedbywavingathercheekily.TheWitchsawhimtheinstanthewaved.Cloud,Witch,andallatoncebecameasavagelyswoopingredbird,divingattheship.

           Theshipvanished.Themermaidssangadolefulscream.Therewasnothingbutsulkilytossingwaterwheretheshiphadbeen.Butthehugedivingbirdwasgoingtoofasttostop.