Ходячий замок
Chapter 13
Buthermindwasstillsimplyaroaringwhiteblankofstagefright.Allshecouldthinkoftosaywas,“Onlyacowardwouldsendhisoldmotheralongtopleadforhim.Youcanseewhathe’slikejustfromthat,YourMajesty.”
“Itisanunusualstep,”theKingsaidgravely.“ButItoldhimthatI’dmakeitworthhiswhileifheagreed.”
“Oh,hedoesn’tcareaboutmoney,”Sophiesaid.“Buthe’sscaredstiffoftheWitchoftheWaste,yousee.Sheputacurseonhimandit’sjustcaughtupwithhim.”
“Thenhehaseveryreasontobescared,”theKingsaidwithaslightshiver.“Buttellmemore,please,abouttheWizard.”
MoreaboutHowl?Sophiethoughtdesperately.Ihavetoblackenhisname!HermindwassuchablankthatforaseconditactuallyseemedtoherthatHowlhadnofaultsatall.Howstupid!“Well,he’sfickle,careless,selfish,andhysterical,”shesaid.“HalfthetimeIthinkhedoesn’tcarewhathappenstoanyoneaslongashe’sallright—butthenIfindouthowawfullykindhe’sbeentosomeone.ThenIthinkhe’skindjustwhenitsuitshim—onlythenIfindoutheunderchargespoorpeople.Idon’tknow,YourMajesty.He’samess.”
“Myimpression,”saidtheKing,“wasthatHowlisanunprincipled,slipperyroguewithaglibtongueandaclevermind.Wouldyouagree?”
“Howwellyouputit!”Sophiesaidheartily.“Butyouleftouthowvainheisand—”ShelookedsuspiciouslyattheKingacrosstheyardsofcarpet.HeseemedsosurprisinglyreadytohelpherblackenHowl’sname.
TheKingwassmiling.
