Ходячий замок

           Andtheskullseemedtohaveastrangeeffectontheguitartoo.Itwasgivingoutlong,hummingtwangs:Noummharrumm!NoummHarrumm!

           Calciferflamedupthechimneyagain.“Thethingisspeaking,”hesaidtoSophie.“Itissayingitmeansnoharm.Ithinkitisspeakingthetruth.Itiswaitingforyourpermissiontocomein.”

           Certainlythescarecrowwasjuststandingthere.Itwasnottryingtobargeinsideasithadbefore.AndCalcifermusthavetrustedit.Hehadstoppedthecastlemoving.Sophielookedattheturnipfaceandtheflutteringrags.Itwasnotsofrighteningafterall.Shehadoncehadfellowfeelingforit.Sherathersuspectedthatshehadmadeitintoaconvenientexcusefornotleavingthecastlebecauseshehadreallywantedtostay.Nowtherewasnopoint.Sophiehadtoleaveanyway.HowlpreferredMissAngorian.

           “Pleasecomein,”shesaid,alittlecroakily.

           “Ahmmng!”saidtheguitar.Thescarecrowsurgedintotheroomwithonepowerfulsidewayshop.Itstoodswingingaboutonitsonelegasifitwaslookingforsomething.Thesmellofflowersithadbroughtinwithitdidnothideitsownsmellofdustandrottingturnip.

           TheskullyatteredunderMichael’sfingersagain.Thescarecrowspunround,gladly,andfellsidewaystowardit.Michaelmadeoneattempttorescuetheskullandthengothastilyoutoftheway.Forasthescarecrowfellacrossthebench,therecameafizzingjoltofstrongmagicandtheskullmeltedintothescarecrow’sturniphead.Itseemedtogetinsidetheturnipandfillitout.Therewasnowastrongsuggestionofarathercraggyfaceontheturnip.