Ходячий замок

           Onebowedandheldouthishand,pointingtowardthemisshapendarkarchwaybetweenthebentcolumnsofchimneypots.Sophieshruggedandfollowedhiminside.Theotherpagewalkedafterher.Andofcoursetheentrancevanishedassoonasshewasthrough.Sophieshruggedagain.Shewouldhavetodealwiththatproblemwhenshecameback.

           Sherearrangedherlaceshawl,straightenedherdraggledskirts,andwalkedforward.Itwasalittlelikegoingthroughthecastledoorwiththeknobblack-down.Therewasamomentofnothingness,followedbymurkylight.Thelightcamefromgreenish-yellowflamesthatburnedandflickeredallround,butinashadowywaywhichgavenoheatandverylittlelighteither.WhenSophielookedatthem,theflameswereneverwhereshelooking,butalwaystotheside.Butthatwasthewayofmagic.Sophieshruggedagainandfollowedthepagethisandwayandthatamongskinnypillarsofthesamechimney-potkindastherestofthebuilding.

           Atlengththepagesledhertoasortofcentralden.Ormaybeitwasjustaspacebetweenpillars.Sophiewasconfusedbythen.Thefortressseemedenormous,thoughshesuspectedthatitwasdeceptive,justasthecastlewas.TheWitchwasstandingtherewaiting.Again,itwashardtotellhowSophieknew—exceptthatitcouldbenooneelse.TheWitchwashugelytallandskinnynowandherhairwasfair,inaropelikepigtailoveronebonyshoulder.Sheworeawhitedress.WhenSophiewalkedstraightuptoher,brandishingherstick,theWitchbackedaway.

           “Iamnottobethreatened!”theWitchsaid,soundingtiredandfrail.