Ходячий замок
Chapter 19
“Anyway,”shesaidwithgreatrelief,“Howldoesn’tlikeme!”
ThisreassuringthoughtwouldhavebeenenoughtokeepSophiewalkingallnight,hadnotasuddenfamiliaruneasinesssweptoverher.Herearshadcaughtadistanttock,tock,tock.Shelookedsharplyunderthelowsun.Andthere,ontheroadwhichwoundawaybehindthestonegate,wasadistantfigurewithoutstretchedarms,hopping,hopping.
Sophiepickedupherskirts,whirledaround,andspedbackthewayshehadcome.Dustandgravelflewuproundherinclouds.Percivalwasstandingforlornlyinthedrivebesidethebucketandthewateringcan.Sophieseizedhimanddraggedhimbehindthenearesttree.
“Issomethingwrong?”hesaid.
“Quiet!It’sthatdrattedscarecrowagain,”Sophiegasped.Sheshuthereyes.“We’renothere,”shesaid.“Youcan’tfindus.Goaway.Goawayfast,fast,fast!”
“Butwhy?—”saidPercival.
“Shutup!Nothere,nothere,nothere!”Sophiesaiddesperately.Sheopenedoneeye.Thescarecrow,almostbetweenthegateposts,wasstandingstill,swayinguncertainly.“That’sright,”saidSophie.“We’renothere.Goawayfast.Twiceasfast,threetimesasfast,tentimesasfast.Goaway!”
Andthescarecrowhesitantlyswayedroundonitsstickandbegantohopbackuptheroad.Afterthefirstfewhopsitwasgoingingiantleaps,fasterandfaster,justasSophiehadtolditto.Sophiehardlybreathed,anddidnotletgoofPercival’ssleeveuntilthescarecrowwasoutofsight.
“What’swrongwithit?”saidPercival.“Whydidn’tyouwantit?”
Sophieshuddered.
