Ходячий замок

           Shecrawledintothewindowtogetthemjustso,andsheheardaregularclump,clump,clumpfromoutsideinthestreet.Itwasnotthesoundofahorse.Itwasthesoundofastickhittingthestones.

           Sophie’sheartwasbehavingoddlyevenbeforeshedaredlookoutofthewindow.There,sureenough,camethescarecrow,hoppingslowlyandpurposefullydownthecenterofthestreet.Theragstrailingfromitsoutstretchedarmswerefewerandgrayer,andtheturnipofitsfacewaswitheredintoalookofdetermination,asifithadhoppedeversinceHowlhurleditaway,untilatlastithadhoppeditswayback.

           Sophiewasnottheonlyonetobescared.Thefewpeopleaboutthatearlywererunningawayfromthescarecrowashardastheycouldrun.Butthescarecrowtooknonoticeandhoppedon.

           Sophiehidherfacefromit.“We’renothere!”shetolditinafiercewhisper.“Youdon’tknowwe’rehere!Youcan’tfindus.Hopawayfast!”

           Theclump,clumpofthehoppingstickslowedasthescarecrownearedtheshop.SophiewantedtoscreamforHowl,butallsheseemedtobeabletodowastogoonrepeating,“We’renothere.Goawayquickly!”

           Andthehop-hoppingspeededup,justasshetolditto,andthescarecrowhoppeditswaypasttheshopandonthroughMarketChipping.Sophiethoughtshewasgoingtocomeoverqueer.Butsheseemedjusttohavebeenholdingherbreath.Shetookadeepbreathandfeltshakywithrelief.Ifthescarecrowcameback,shecouldsenditawayagain.

           HowlhadgoneoutwhenSophiewentintothecastleroom.“Heseemedawfullyupset,”Michaelsaid.