Ходячий замок

           Therewasabarrieroverthatdoortoo.

           Sophiegloweredatit.“Icallthatveryunwelcoming!”shesaid.

           Blacksmokeblewdownformthebattlementsinclouds.Sophiecoughed.Nowshewasangry.Shewasold,frail,chilly,andachingallover.Nightwascomingonandthecastlejustsatandblewsmokeather.“I’llspeaktoHowlaboutthis!”shesaid,andsetofffiercelytothenextcorner.Therewasnotabarrierthere—evidentlyyouhadtogoaroundthecastleclockwise—butthere,bitsidewaysinthenextwall,wasathirddoor.Thisonewasmuchsmallerandshabbier.

           “Thebackdooratlast!”Sophiesaid.

           ThecastlestartedtomoveagainasSophiegotnearthebackdoor.Thegroundshook.Thewallshudderedandcreaked,andthedoorstartedtotravelsidewaysfromher.

           “Oh,noyoudon’t!”Sophieshouted.Sheranafterthedoorandhititviolentlywithherstick.“Openup!”sheyelled.

           Thedoorsprangopeninward,stillmovingsideways.Sophie,byhobblingfuriously,managedtogetonefootuponitsdoorstep.Thenshehoppedandscrambledandhoppedagain,whilethegreatblackblocksroundthedoorjoltedandcrunchedasthecastlegatheredspeedovertheunevenhillside.Sophiedidnotwonderthecastlehadalopsidedlook.Themarvelwasthatitdidnotfallapartonthespot.

           “Whatastupidwaytotreatabuilding!”shepantedasshethrewherselfinsideit.Shehadtodropherstickandhangontotheopendoorinordernottobejoltedstraightoutagain.

           Whenshebegantogetherbreath,sherealizedtherewasapersonstandinginfrontofher,holdingthedoortoo.