Ходячий замок

           Thetroublewas,itwasonthebacksideofthescarecrow.Thescarecrowgaveawoodenscramble,hoppeduprightuncertainly,andthenswiftlyspunitsbodyroundsothatthefrontofitwasunderthecraggyturnipface.Slowlyiteaseditsoutstretchedarmsdowntoitssides.

           “NowIcanspeak,”itsaidinasomewhatmushyvoice.

           “Imayfaint,”Fannyannounced,onthestairs.

           “Nonsense,”Mrs.Fairfaxsaid,behindFanny.“Thething’sonlyamagician’sgolem.Ithastodowhatitwassenttodo.They’requiteharmless.”

           Lettie,allthesame,lookedreadytofaint.ButtheonlyonewhodidfaintwasPercival.Hefloppedtothefloor,quitequietly,andlaycurledupasifhewereasleep.Lettie,inspiteofherterror,rantowardhim,onlytobackawayasthescarecrowgaveanotherhopandstooditselfinfrontofPercival.

           “ThisisoneofthepartsIwassenttofind,”itsaidinitsmushyvoice.ItswungonitsstickuntilitwasfacingSophie.“Imustthankyou,”itsaid.“MyskullwasfarawayandIranoutofstrengthbeforeIreachedit.Iwouldhavelaininthathedgeforeverifyouhadnotcomeandtalkedlifeintome.”ItswiveledtoMrs.FairfaxandthentoLettie.“Ithankyoubothtoo,”itsaid.

           “Whosentyou?Whatareyousupposedtodo?”Sophiesaid.

           Thescarecrowswungaboutuncertainly.“Morethanthis,”itsaid.“Therearestillpartsmissing.”Everyonewaited,mostofthemtooshakentospeak,whilethescarecrowrotatedthiswayandthat,seeminglythinking.

           “WhatisPercivalapartof?”Sophiesaid.

           “Letitcollectitself,”saidCalcifer