Ходячий замок
Chapter 15
Sophiedear,whereismyothersuit?”
Sophiehurriedlyfetchedthepiecesofgray-and-scarletsuitoutofthebroomcupboard,whereshehadhiddenthem.
Howlsurveyedthem.“Well,that’ssomething,”hesaid.“I’dbeenexpectingittobetoosmalltosee.Giveithere,allsevenofit.”
Sophieheldthebundleofgray-and-scarletclothouttowardhim.Howl,withabitofsearching,succeededinfindinghishandinsidethemultiplefoldsofblue-and-silversleeveandworkingitthroughagapbetweentwotremendousstitches.Hegrabbedthebundleoffher.“Iamnow,”hesaid,“goingtogetreadyforthefuneral.Please,bothofyou,refrainfromdoinganythingwhatsoeverwhileIdo.IcantellSophieisintopformatthemoment,andIwantthisroomtheusualsizewhenIcomebackintoit.”
Hesetoffwithdignitytothebathroom,wadinginblue-and-silversuit.Therestoftheblue-and-silversuitfollowedhim,draggingstepbystepdownthestairsandrustlingacrossthefloor.BythetimeHowlwasinthebathroom,mostofthejacketwasonthegroundfloorandthetrouserswereappearingonthestairs.Howlhalf-shutthebathroomdoorandseemedtogoonhaulingthesuitinhandoverhand.SophieandMichaelandthedog-manstoodandwatchedyardafteryardofblueorsilverfabricproceedacrossthefloor,decoratedwithanoccasionalsilverbuttonthesizeofamillstoneandenormous,regular,ropelikestitches.Theremayhavebeennearlyamileofit.
“Idon’tthinkIgotthatspellquiteright,”Michaelsaidwhenthelasthugescallopededgehaddisappearedroundthebathroomdoor.
