Ходячий замок
Chapter 4
“Itseemstoworktoo,”Sophiemurmured,lookingintothewashbasinwithashiver.Waterranintothebasinwhensheturnedablue-greenknobthatmighthavebeenbrassandwashedsomeofthedecayaway.Sophierinsedherhandsandfaceinthewaterwithouttouchingthebasin,butshedidnothavethecouragetouseDRYINGPOWER.Shedriedthewaterwithherskirtandthensetofftothenextblackdoor.
Thatoneopenedontoaflightofricketywoodenstairs,Sophieheardsomeonemoveupthereandshutthedoorhurriedly.Itseemedonlytoleadtoasortofloftanyway.Shehobbledtothenextdoor.Bynowshewasmovingquiteeasily.Shewasahaleoldwoman,asshediscoveredyesterday.
Thethirddooropenedontoapokybackyardwithhighbrickwalls.Itcontainedabigstackoflogs,andhiggledy-piggledyheapsofwhatseemedtobescrapiron,wheels,buckets,metalsheeting,wire,moundedalmosttothetopsofthewalls.Sophieshutthatdoortoo,ratherpuzzled,becauseitdidnotseemtomatchthecastleatall.Therewasnocastletobeseenabovethebrickwalls.Theyendedatthesky.Sophiecouldonlythinkthatthispartwastheroundsidewheretheinvisiblewallhadstoppedherthenightbefore.
Sheopenedthefourthdooranditwasjustabroomcupboard,withtwofinebutdustyvelvetcloakshangingonthebrooms.Sophieshutitagain,slowly.Theonlyotherdoorwasinthewallwiththewindow,andthatwasthedoorshehadcomeinbylastnight.Shehobbledoverandcautiouslyopenedthat.
