Ходячий замок
Chapter 4
Bydaylightitwasamazinglydirty.Thestonesofthefloorwerestainedandgreasy,ashwaspiledwithinthefender,andcobwebshungindustydroopsfromthebeams.Therewasalayerofdustontheskull.Sophieabsentlywipeditoffasshewenttopeerintothesinkbesidetheworkbench.Sheshudderedatthepink-and-grayslimeinitandthewhiteslimedrippingfromthepumpaboveit.Howlobviouslydidnotcarewhatsqualorhisservantslivedin.
Therestofthecastleseemedtobebeyondoneortheotherofthefourlowblackdoorsaroundtheroom.Sophieopenedthenearest,intheendwallbeyondthebench.Therewasalargebathroombeyondit.Insomewaysitwasabathroomyoumightfindnormallyonlyinapalace,fullofluxuriessuchasanindoortoilet,ashowerstall,animmensebathwithclawedfeet,andmirrorsoneverywall.Butitwasevendirtierthantheotherroom.Sophiewincedfromthetoilet,flinchedatthecolorofthebath,recoiledfromthegreenweedgrowingintheshower,andquiteeasilyavoidedlookingathershriveledshapeinthemirrorsbecausetheglasswasplasteredwithblobsandrunnelsofnamelesssubstances.Thenamelesssubstancesthemselveswerecrowdedontoaverylargeshelfoverthebath.Theywereinjars,boxes,tubes,andhundredsoftatteredbrownpacketsandpaperbags.Thebiggestjarhadaname.ItwascalledDRYINGPOWERincrookedletters.SophiewasnotsurewhetherthereshouldbeaDinthatornot.Shepickedupapacketatrandom.IthadSKINscrawledonit,andsheputitbackhurriedly.AnotherjarsaidEYESinthesamescrawl.AtubestatedFORDECAY.
