Ходячий замок

           Itwasonlymadeofsticksandrags,butitwasalive,anditwastryingtocomein.

           “Calcifer!”Sophiescreamed.“Makethecastlegofaster!”

           Thestoneblocksroundthedoorwaycrunchedandgrated.Thegreen-brownmoorlandwassuddenlyrushingpast.Thescarecrow’sstickarmthumpedonthedoor,andthenwentscrapingalongthewallofthecastleasthecastleleftitbehind.Itwheeleditsotherarmroundandseemedtotrytoclutchatthestonework.Itmeanttogetintothecastleifitcould.

           Sophieslammedthedoorshut.This,shethought,justshowedhowstupiditwasforaneldestchildtotryandseekherfortune!Thatwasthescarecrowshehadproppedinthehedgeonherwaytothecastle.Shehadmadejokestoit.Now,asifherjokeshadbroughtittoevillife,ithadfollowedherallthewayhereandtriedtopawatherface.Sherantothewindowtoseeifthethingwasstilltryingtogetintothecastle.

           Ofcourse,allshecouldseewasasunnydayinPorthaven,withadozensailsgoingupadozenmastsbeyondtheroofsopposite,andacloudofseagullscirclingthebluesky.

           “That’sthedifficultyofbeinginseveralplacesatonce!”Sophiesaidtothehumanskullonthebench.

           Then,allatonce,shediscoveredtherealdrawbacktobeinganoldwoman.Herheartgavealeapandalittlestutter,andthenseemedtobetryingtobangitswayoutofherchest.Ithurt.Sheshookalloverandherkneestrembled.Sheratherthoughtshemightbedying.Itwasallshecoulddotogettothechairbythehearth.Shesattherepanting,clutchingherchest.