Ходячий замок
Chapter 11
Megan,thisisMichaelFisherandSophie—er—”
“Hatter,”saidSophie.
Meganshookhandswithbothoftheminarestrained,disapprovingway.ShewasolderthanHowl,butquitelikehim,withthesamelong,angularface,buthereyeswereblueandfullofanxieties,andherhairwasdarkish.“Quietnow,Mari!”shesaidinavoicethatcutthroughtheforeignchatter.“Howell,areyoustayinglong?”
“Justdroppedinforamoment,”Howlsaid,loweringMaritothefloor.
“Garethisn’tinyet,”Megansaidinameaningsortofway.
“Whatapity!Wecan’tstay,”Howlsaid,smilingawarm,falsesmile.“IjustthoughtI’dintroduceyoutomyfriendshere.AndIwanttoaskyousomethingthatmaysoundsilly.HasNeilbyanychancelostapieceofEnglishhomeworklately?”
“Funnyyoushouldsaythat!”Meganexclaimed.“Lookingeverywhereforit,hewas,lastThursday!He’sgotthisnewEnglishteacher,see,andshe’sverystrict,doesn’tjustworryaboutspellingeither.PutsthefearofGodintothemaboutgettingworkinontime.Doesn’tdoNeilanyharm,lazylittledevil!SohereheisonThursday,huntinghighandlow,andallhecanfindisafunnyoldpieceofwriting—”
“Ah,”saidHowl.“Whatdidhedowiththatwriting?”
“ItoldhimtohanditintothisMissAngorianofhis,”Megansaid.“Mightshowherhetriedforonce.”
“Anddidhe?”Howlasked.
“Idon’tknow.BetteraskNeil.He’supinthefrontbedroomwiththatmachineofhis,”saidMegan.“Butyouwon’tgetawordofsenseoutofhim.
