Ходячий замок
Chapter 14
WhatdidyoudototheKing?”
SophiefollowedHowlandMichaelindoors,expectingtofindtheroomcoveredwithgreenslime.Butitwasnot,andtherewasCalciferflaringupthechimney,grinninghispurplegrin.Sophiesankintothechair.“Ithinkthekinggotsickofmeturningupandblackeningyourname.Iwenttwice,”shesaid.“Everythingwentwrong.AndImettheWitchonherwayfromkillingMrs.Pentstemmon.Whataday!”
WhileSophiedescribedsomeofwhathadhappened,Howlleanedonthemantelpiece,danglingthescrollasifhewasthinkingoffeedingittoCalcifer.“BeholdthenewRoyalWizard,”hesaid.“Mynameisveryblack.”Thenhebegantolaugh,muchtothesurpriseofSophieandMichael.“AndwhatdidshedototheCountofCatterack?”helaughed.“IshouldneverhaveletherneartheKing!”
“Ididblackenyourname!”Sophieprotested.
“Iknow.Itwasmymiscalculation,”Howlsaid.“Now,howamIgoingtogotopoorMrs.Pentstemmon’sfuneralwithouttheWitchknowing?Anyideas,Calcifer?”
ItwasclearthatHowlwasfarmoreupsetaboutMrs.Pentstemmonthananythingelse.
MichaelwastheonewhoworriedabouttheWitch.Heconfessednextmorningthathehadhadnightmaresallnight.Hehaddreamedshecamethroughallthecastleentrancesatonce.“Where’sHowl?”heaskedanxiously.
Howlhadgoneoutveryearly,leavingthebathroomfulloftheusualscentedsteam.Hehadnottakenhisguitar,andthedoorknobwasturnedtogreen-down.EvenCalciferknewnomorethanthat.“Don’topenthedoortoanyone,’Calcifersaid.
