Ходячий замок
Chapter 11
Thebackofhisbaggyjacket,shesaw,hadmysteriouswordsonit:WELSHRUGBY.MichaelfollowedHowl,walkinginakindoftightstrutbecauseofthethingsonhislegs.Sophielookeddownatherselfandsawtwiceasmuchskinnylegshowingaboveherknobbyshoes.Otherwise,notmuchaboutherhadchanged.
Howlunlockedthewavy-glassdoorwithoneofhiskeys.Ithadawoodennoticehangingbesideitonchains.RIVENDELL,Sophieread,asHowlpushedherintoaneat,shinyhallspace.Thereseemedtobepeopleinthehouse.Loudvoiceswerecomingfrombehindthenearestdoor.WhenHowlopenedthatdoor,Sophierealizedthatthevoiceswerecomingfrommagiccoloredpicturesmovingonthefrontofabig,squarebox.
“Howell!”exclaimedawomanwhowassittingthereknitting.
Sheputdownherknitting,lookingalittleannoyed,butbeforeshecouldgetup,asmallgirl,whohadbeenwatchingthemagicpictureveryseriouslywithherchininherhands,leapedupandflungherselfatHowl.“UncleHowell!”shescreamed,andjumpedhalfwayupHowlwithherlegswrappedaroundhim.
“Mari!”Howlbawledinreply.“Howareyou,cariad?Beenagoodgirl,then?”Heandthelittlegirlbrokeintoaforeignlanguagethen,fastandloud.Sophiecouldseetheywereveryspecialtooneanother.Shewonderedaboutthelanguage.ItsoundedthesameasCalcifer’ssillysaucepansong,butitwashardtobesure.Inbetweenburstsofforeignchatter,Howlmanagedtosay,asifhewereaventriloquist,“Thisismyniece,Mari,andmysister,MeganParry.
