Ходячий замок
Chapter 10
“Butyouopenedthedoor,”saidHowl,“andthethingMichaelthinksisaspellmusthavegotthrough.Didn’titoccurtoeitherofyouthatitdoesn’tlooklikespellsusuallydo?”
“Spellsoftenlookpeculiar,”Michaelsaid.“Whatisitreally?”
Howlgaveasnortoflaughter.“‘Decidewhatthisisabout.Writeasecondverse’!Oh,lord!”hesaidandranforthestairs.“I’llshowyou,”hecalledashisfeetpoundedupthem.
“Ithinkwewastedourtimerushingaroundthemarsheslastnight,”Sophiesaid.Michaelnoddedgloomily.Sophiecouldseehewasfeelingafool.“Itwasmyfault,”shesaid.“Iopenedthedoor.”
“Whatwasoutside?”Michaelaskedwithgreatinterest.
ButHowlcamechargingdownstairsjustthen.“Ihaven’tgotthatbookafterall,”hesaid.Heseemedupsetnow.“Michael,didIhearyousayyouwentoutandtriedtocatchashootingstar?”
“Yes,butitwasscaredstiffandfellinapoolanddrowned,”Michaelsaid.
“Thankgoodnessforthat!”saidHowl.
“Itwasverysad,”Sophiesaid.
“Sad,wasit?”saidHowl,moreupsetthanever.“Itwasyouridea,wasit?Itwouldbe!Icanjustseeyouhoppingaboutthemarshes,encouraginghim!Letmetellyou,thatwasthemoststupidthinghe’severdoneinhislife.He’dhavebeenmorethansadifhe’dchancedtocatchthething!Andyou—”
Calciferflickeredsleepilyupthechimney.“What’sallthisfussabout?”hedemanded.“Youcaughtoneyourself,didn’tyou?”
“Yes,andI—!”Howlbegan,turninghisglass-marbleglareonCalcifer
