Ходячий замок
Chapter 14
“Allright.Iwon’ttellhim,”Sophiepromised.Thedogseemedreassured.Hetrottedtothehearth,wherehegaveCalciferasomewhatwarylookandlaydownbesidethefenderinaskinnyredbundle.“Calcifer,whatdoyouthink?”Sophiesaid.
“Thisdogisabespelledhuman,”Calcifersaidunnecessarily.
“Iknow,butcanyoutakethespelloffhim?”Sophieasked.ShesupposedLettiemusthaveheard,likesomanypeople,thatHowlhadawitchworkingforhimnow.AnditseemedratherimportanttoturnthedogintoamanagainandsendhimbacktoUpperFoldingbeforeHowlgotoutofbedandfoundhimthere.
“No.I’dneedtobelinkedwithHowlforthat,”Calcifersaid.
“ThenI’lltryitmyself,”Sophiesaid.PoorLettie!BreakingherheartforHowl,andheronlyotherloveradogmostofthetime!Sophielaidherhandonthedog’ssoft,roundedhead.“Turnbackintothemanyoushouldbe,”shesaid.Shesaiditquiteoften,butitsonlyeffectseemedtobetosendthedogdeeplytosleep.ItsnoredandtwitchedagainstSophie’slegs.
Meanwhileacertainamountofmoaningandgroaningwascomingfromupstairs.Sophiekeptmutteringtothedogandignoredit.Aloud,hollowcoughingfollowed,dyingawayintomoremoaning.Crashingsneezesfollowedthecoughing,eachonerattlingthewindowandallthedoors.Sophiefoundthosehardertoignore,butshemanaged.Poot-pooooot!wentablownnose,likeabassooninatunnel.Thecoughingstartedagain,mingledwithmoans.
