Ходячий замок
Chapter 9
“Isupposethere’snochance,”sheaskedhopelessly,“thatHowlcouldbeproperlyinlovethistime?”
Calcifersnortedgreensparksupthechimney.
“Iwasafraidyou’dstartthinkinglikethat,”Michaelsaid.“Butyou’dbedeceivingyourself,justlikeMrs.Fairfax.”
“Howdoyouknow?”saidSophie.
CalciferandMichaelexchangedglances.“Didheforgettospendatleastanhourinthebathroomthismorning?”Michaelasked.
“Hewasintheretwohours,”saidCalcifer,“puttingspellsonhisface.Vainfool!”
“Thereyouare,then,”saidMichael.“ThedayHowlforgetstodothatwillbethedayIbelievehe’sreallyinloveandnotbefore.”
SophiethoughtofHowlononekneeintheorchard,posingtolookashandsomeaspossible,andsheknewtheywereright.ShethoughtofgoingtothebathroomandtippingallHowl’sbeautyspellsdownthetoilet.Butshedidnotquitedare.Instead,shehobbledupandfetchedtheblue-and-silversuit,whichshespenttherestofthedaycuttinglittlebluetrianglesoutofinordertomakeapatchworksortofskirt.
MichaelpattedhershoulderkindlyashecametothrowallseventeenpagesofhisnotesontoCalcifer.“Everyonegetsoverthingsintheend,youknow,”hesaid.
BythistimeitwasclearMichaelwashavingtroublewithhisspell.Hegaveupnotesandscrapedsomesootoffthechimney.Calcifercranedroundtowatchhiminamystifiedway.Michaeltookawitheredrootfromoneofthebagshangingonthebeamsandputitinthesoot.
