Ходячий замок
Chapter 10
“Ienvyyoubeingabletowalkallthatwaysoeasily,”Sophiesaid,sewingabluetriangletosilverbraid.“HowwasMa-myniece?”
Michaelgladlylefttheworkbenchandsatonthestoolbythehearthtotellherallabouthisday.ThenheaskedaboutSophie’s.TheresultwasthatwhenHowlshoulderedthedooropenwithhisarmsfullofparcels,Michaelwasnotevenlookingbusy.Hewasrollingaroundonthestoollaughingattheduelspell.
Howlbackedintothedoortoshutitandleanedthereinatragicattitude.“Lookatyouall!”hesaid.“Ruinstaresmeintheface.Islavealldayforyouall.Andnotoneofyou,evenCalcifer,cansparetimetosayhello!”
MichaelsprangupguiltilyandCalcifersaid,“Ineverdosayhello.”
“Issomethingwrong?”askedSophie.
“That’sbetter,”saidHowl.“Someofyouarepretendingtonoticemeatlast.Howkindofyoutoask,Sophie.Yes,somethingiswrong.TheKinghasaskedmeofficiallytofindhisbrotherforhim—withastronghintthatdestroyingtheWitchoftheWastewouldcomeinhandytoo—andyouallsitthereandlaugh!”
BynowitwasclearthatHowlwasinamoodtoproducegreenslimeanysecond.Sophiehurriedlyputhersewingaway.“I’llmakesomehotbutteredtoast,”shesaid.
“Isthatallyoucandointhefaceoftragedy?”Howlasked.“Maketoast?No,don’tgetup.I’vetrudgedhereladenwithstuffforyou,sotheleastyoucandoisshowpoliteinterest.Here.”HetippedashowerofparcelsintoSophie’slapandhandedanothertoMichael.
