Ходячий замок

           MichaelshruggedandpickedSophie’sstickpolitelyupagain.

           Thenheputalogonthefirewithequalpolitenessandwentawaytobedsomewhereoverhead.

           InthemiddleofthenightSophiewaswokenbysomeonesnoring.Shejumpedupright,ratherirritatedtodiscoverthatshewastheonewhohadbeensnoring.Itseemedtoherthatshehadonlydroppedoffforasecondorso,butMichaelseemedtohavevanishedinthoseseconds,takingthelightwithhim.Nodoubtawizard’sapprenticelearnedtodothatkindofthinginhisfirstweek.Andhehadleftthefireverylow.Itwasgivingoutirritatinghissingsandpoppings.AcolddraftblewonSophie’sback.Sophierecalledthatshewasinawizard’scastle,andalso,withunpleasantdistinctness,thattherewasahumanskullonaworkbenchsomewherebehindher.

           Sheshiveredandcrankedherstiffoldneckaround,buttherewasonlydarknessbehindher.“Let’shaveabitmorelight,shallwe?”shesaid.Hercrackedvoiceseemedtomakenomorenoisethanthecracklingofthefire.Sophiewassurprised.Shehadexpectedittoechothroughthevaultsofthecastle.Still,therewasabasketoflogsbesideher.Shestretchedoutacreakingarmandheavedalogonthefire,whichsentasprayofgreenandbluesparksflyingthroughthechimney.Sheheavedonasecondlogandsatback,notwithoutanervouslookorsobehindher,wheretheblue-purplelightfromthefirewasdancingoverthepolishedbrownboneoftheskull.Theroomwasquitesmall.TherewasnooneinitbutSophieandtheskull.