Chapter 3

           TherewasalargeblackdoorintheblackwallfacingSophieandshemadeforthat,hobblingbriskly.Thecastlewasuglierthatevercloseto.Itwasfartootallforitsheightandnotaveryregularshape.AsfarasSophiecouldseeinthegrowingdarkness,itwasbuiltofhugeblackblocks,likecoal,and,likecoal,theseblockswerealldifferentshapesandsizes.Chillbreathedofftheseblocksasshegotcloser,butthatfailedtofrightenSophieatall.Shejustthoughtofchairsandfiresidesandstretchedherhandouteagerlytothedoor.

           Herhandcouldnotcomenearit.Someinvisiblewallstoppedherhandaboutafootfromthedoor.Sophieproddedatitwithanirritablefinger.Whenthatmadenodifference,sheproddedwithherstick.Thewallseemedtobealloverthedoorfromashighasherstickcouldreach,andrightdowntotheheatherstickingoutfromunderthedoorstep.

           “Openup!”Sophiecackledatit.

           Thatmadenodifferencetothewall.

           “Verywell,”Sophiesaid.“I’llfindyourbackdoor.”Shehobbledoffthelefthandcornerofthecastle,thatbeingboththenearestandslightlydownhill.Butshecouldnotgetaroundthecorner.Theinvisiblewallstoppedheragainassoonasshewaslevelwiththeirregularblackcornerstones.Atthis,SophiesaidawordshehadlearnedfromMartha,thatneitheroldladiesnoryounggirlsaresupposedtoknow,andstumpeduphillandanti-clockwisetothecastle’srighthandcorner.Therewasnobarrierthere.Sheturnedthatcornerandcamehobblingeagerlytowardsthesecondbigblackdoorinthemiddleofthatsideofthecastle.