Chapter 4

           WhenSophiewokeup,daylightwasstreamingacrossher.SinceSophierememberednowindowsatallinthecastle,herfirstnotionwasthatshehadfallenasleeptrimminghatsanddreamedofleavinghome.Thefireinfrontofherhadsunktorosycharcoalandwhiteash,whichconvincedherthatshehadcertainlydreamedtherewasafiredemon.Butherveryfirstmovementstoldherthatthereweresomethingsshehadnotdreamed.Thereweresharpcracksfromalloverherbody.

           “Ow!”sheexclaimed.“Iacheallover!”Thevoicethatexclaimedwasaweak,crackedpiping.Sheputherknobbyhandstoherfaceandfeltwrinkles.Atthat,shediscoveredshehadbeeninastateofshockallyesterday.ShewasveryangryindeedwiththeWitchoftheWastefordoingthistoher,hugely,enormouslyangry.“Sailingintoshopsandturningpeopleold!”sheexclaimed.“Oh,whatIwon’tdotoher!”

           Herangermadeherjumpupinasalvoofcracksandcreaksandhobbleovertotheunexpectedwindow.Itwasabovetheworkbench.Toherutterastonishment,theviewfromitwasaviewofadocksidetown.Shecouldseeasloping,unpavedstreet,linedwithsmall,ratherpoor-lookinghouses,andmastsstickingupbeyondtheroofs.Beyondthemastsshecaughtaglimmerofthesea,whichwassomethingshehadneverseeninherlifebefore.

           “WhereveramI?”Sophieaskedtheskullstandingonthebench.“Idon’texpectyoutoanswerthat,myfriend,”sheaddedhastily,rememberingthiswasawizard’scastle,andsheturnedroundtotakealookattheroom.

           Itwasquiteasmallroom,withheavyblackbeamsintheceiling.