Ходячий замок

           Itplungedintotheseawithahugesplash.

           Everyoneonthequaysidecheered.“Iknewthatwasn’tarealshipreally!”someonebehindSophiesaid.

           “Yes,itmusthavebeenanillusion,”thehorsesaidwisely.“Itwastoosmall.”

           Asproofthattheshiphadbeenmuchnearerthanitlooked,thewavesfromthesplashreachedtheharborwallbeforeMichaelhadstoppedspeaking.Atwenty-footgreenhillofwaterrodesmoothlysidewaysacrossit,sweepingthescreamingmermaidsintotheharbor,rollingeverymooredshipviolentlysideways,andthuddinginswirlsroundtheharbormaster’shut.AnarmcameoutofthesideofthehorseandhauledSophiebacktowardthequay.Sophiegaspedandstumbledinknee-highgraywater.Thedog-manboundedbesidethem,soakedtotheears.

           Theyhadjustreachedthequay,andtheboatsintheharborhadalljustrolledupright,whenasecondmountainofwaterrolledovertheharborwall.Outofitssmoothsideburstamonster.Itwasalong,black,clawedthing,halfcat,halfsealion,anditcameracingdownthewalltowardthequay.Anotherburstoutofthewaveasitsmashedintotheharbor,longandlowtoo,butscalier,andcameracingafterthefirstmonster.

           Everyonerealizedthatthefightwasnotoveryetandsplashedbackwardhurriedlyagainsttheshedsandhousesonthequayside.Sophiefelloveraropeandthenadoorstep.Thearmcameoutofthehorseanddraggedheruprightasthetwomonstersstreakedpastinascatterofsaltwater.Anotherwaveswirledovertheharborwall,andtwomoremonstersburstoutofthat.