Ходячий замок
Chapter 11
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“Comeon,”HowlsaidtoMichaelandSophie,whowerebothstaringaroundtheshinybrown-and-orangeroom.HetookMari’shandandledthemalloutoftheroomandupthestairs.Eventhosehadacarpet,apink-and-greenone.SotheprocessionledbyHowlhardlymadeanynoiseasitwentalongthepink-and-greenpassageupstairsandintoaroomwithablue-and-yellowcarpet.ButSophiewasnotsurethetwoboyscrouchedoverthevariousmagicboxesonabigtablebythewindowwouldhavelookedupevenforanarmywithabrassband.Themainmagicboxhadaglassfrontliketheonedownstairs,butitseemedtobeshowingwritinganddiagramsmorethanpictures.Alltheboxesgrewonlong,floppywhitestalksthatappearedtoberootedinthewallatonesideoftheroom.
“Neil!”saidHowl.
“Don’tinterrupt,”oneoftheboyssaid.“He’lllosehislife,”
Seeingitwasamatteroflifeanddeath,SophieandMichaelbackedtowardthedoor.ButHowl,quiteunperturbedatkillinghisnephew,strodeovertothewallandpulledtheboxesupbytheroots.Thepictureontheboxvanished.BothboyssaidwordswhichSophiedidnotthinkevenMarthaknew.Thesecondboyspunround,shouting,“Mari!I’llgetyouforthat!”
“Wasn’tmethistime.So!”Marishoutedback.
NeilwhirledfurtherroundandstaredaccusinglyatHowl.“Howdo,Neil?”Howlsaidpleasantly.
“Whoishe?”theotherboyasked.
“Myno-gooduncle,”Neilsaid.HegloweredatHowl.Hewasdark,withthickeyebrows,andhisglowerwasimpressive.“Whatdoyouwant?Putthatplugbackin.
