Ходячий замок

           HewasaheadtallerthanSophie,butshecouldseehewasthemerestchild,onlyalittleolderthanMartha.Andheseemedtobetryingtoshutthedooronherandpushheroutofthewarm,lamplit,low-beamedroombeyondhim,intothenightagain.

           “Don’tyouhavetheimpudencetoshutthedooronme,myboy!”shesaid.

           “Iwasn’tgoingto,butyou’rekeepingthedooropen,”heprotested.“Whatdoyouwant?”

           Sophielookedroundatwhatshecouldseebeyondtheboy.Therewereanumberofprobablywizardlythingshangingfromthebeams—stringsofonions,bunchesofherbs,andbundlesofstrangeroots.Therewerealsodefinitelywizardlythings,likeleatherbooks,crookedbottles,andanold,brown,grinninghumanskull.Ontheothersideoftheboywasafireplacewithasmallfireburninginthegrate.Itwasamuchsmallerfirethanallthesmokeoutsidesuggested,butthenthiswasobviouslyonlyabackroominthecastle.MuchmoreimportanttoSophie,thisfirehadreachedtheglowingrosystage,withlittleblueflamesdancingonthelogs,andplacedbesideitinthewarmestpositionwasalowchairwithacushiononit.

           Sophiepushedtheboyasideanddivedforthatchair.“Ah!Myfortune!”shesaid,settlingherselfcomfortablyintoit.Itwasbliss.Thefirewarmedherachesandthechairsupportedherbackandsheknewthatifanyonewantedtoturnheroutnow,theyweregoingtohavetouseextremeandviolentmagictodoit.

           Theboyshutthedoor.ThenhepickedupSophie’sstickandpolitelyleaneditagainstthechairforher.