Ходячий замок
Chapter 15
Megan’sfullofenvybecauseshe’srespectableandI’mnot.”Thenhewokeupalittlemoreandasked,“Whatareyoudoing?”
“Justputtingoutyoursuitforyou,”Sophiesaid,andhobbledhastilyaway.
Howlmusthavegonebacktosleep.Hedidnotemergeagainthatnight.TherewasnosignofhimstirringwhenSophieandMichaelgotupnextmorning.Theywerecarefulnottodisturbhim.NeitherofthemfeltthatgoingtoMrs.Pentstemmon’sfuneralwasagoodidea.Michaelcreptoutontothehillstotakethedog-manforarun.Sophietiptoedabout,gettingbreakfast,hopingHowlwouldoversleep.TherewasstillnosignofHowlwhenMichaelcameback.Thedog-manwasstarvinghungry.SophieandMichaelwerehuntingintheclosetforthingsadogcouldeatwhentheyheardHowlcomingslowlydownthestairs.
“Sophie,”Howl’svoicesaidaccusingly.
Hewasstandingholdingthedoortothestairopenwithanarmthatwasentirelyhiddeninanimmenseblue-and-silversleeve.Hisfeet,onthebottomstair,werestandinginsidethetophalfofagiganticblue-and-silverjacket.Howl’sotherarmdidnotcomeanywhereneartheotherhugesleeve.Sophiecouldseethatarminoutline.Makingbulginggesturesunderavastfrillcollar.BehindHowl,thestairswerefullofblue-and-silversuittrailingbackallthewaytohisbedroom.
“Oh,dear!”saidMichael.“Howl,itwasmyfault!—”
“Yourfault?Garbage!”saidHowl.“IcandetectSophie’shandamileoff.Andthereareseveralmilesofthissuit.
