Ходячий замок
Chapter 12
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BeforeSophiecouldaskmore,Howlcamedashingoutofthebathroomlookinghisveryfinest,scentingtheroomwithrosesandyellingforMichael.Michaelclattereddownstairsinhisnewbluevelvet.Sophiestoodupandcollectedhertrustystick.Itwastimetogo.
“Youlookwonderfullyrichandstately!”Michaelsaidtoher.
“Shedoesmecredit,”saidHowl.“apartfromthatawfuloldstick.”
“Somepeople,”saidSophie,“arethoroughlyself-centered.Thisstickgoeswithme.Ineeditformoralsupport.”
Howllookedattheceiling,buthedidnotargue.
TheytooktheirstatelywayintothestreetsofKingsbury.Sophieofcourselookedbacktoseewhatthecastlewaslikehere.Shesawabig,archedgatewaysurroundingasmallblackdoor.Therestofthecastleseemedtobeablankstretchofplasteredwallbetweentwocarvedstonehouses.
“Beforeyouask,”saidHowl,“it’sreallyjustadisusedstable.Thisway.”
Theywalkedthroughthestreets,lookingatleastasfineasanyofthepasserbys.Notthatmanypeoplewereabout.Kingsburywasalongwaysouthanditwasabakinglyhotdaythere.Thepavementsshimmered.Sophiediscoveredanotherdisadvantagetobeingold:youfeltqueerinhotweather.Theelaboratebuildingswaveredinfrontofhereyes.Shewasannoyed,becauseshewantedtolookattheplace,butallshehadwasadimimpressionofgoldendomesandtallhouses.
“Bytheway,”Howlsaid,“Mrs.PentstemmonwillcallyouMrs.Pendragon.Pendragon’sthenameIgounderhere.”
“Whateverfor?”saidSophie.
“Fordisguise,”saidHowl.
