Ходячий замок
Chapter 16
Packetswerejumping.Powderwasseethinginjars.Abookdroppedheavilyoutoftheshelvesandlayopenonthefloor,fanningitspagesbackandforth.Atoneendoftheroom,thescentedsteamboiledoutofthebathroom:attheother,Howl’sguitarmadeout-of-tunetwangings.AndCalciferwhippedaboutharderthanever.
Michaelputtheskullinthesinktostopitfromyatteringitselfontothefloorwhileheopenedthewindowandcranedout.Whateverwashappeningwasmaddeninglyjustoutofsight.Peopleinthehousesoppositewereatdoorsandwindows,pointingtosomethingmoreorlessoverhead.SophieandMichaelrantothebroomcupboard,wheretheyseizedavelvetcloakeachandflungthemon.Sophiegottheonethatturneditswearerintoared-beardedman.NowsheknewwhyCalciferhadlaughedatherintheotherone.Michaelwasahorse.Buttherewasnotimetolaughjustthen.Sophiedraggedthedooropenandspedintothestreet,followedbythedog-man,whoseemedsurprisinglycalmaboutthewholething.Michaeltrottedoutafterherwithaclatterofnon-existenthooves,leavingCalciferwhippingfrombluetowhitebehindthem.
Thestreetwasfullofpeoplelookingupward.Noonehadtimetonoticethingslikehorsescomingoutofhouses.SophieandMichaellookedtoo,andfoundahugecloudboilingandtwistingjustabovethechimneytops.Itwasblackandrotatingonitselfviolently.Whiteflashesthatwerenotquitelikelightstabbedthroughthemurkofit.ButalmostassoonasMichaelandSophiearrived,theclotofmagictookontheshapeofamistybundleoffightingsnakes.
