Ходячий замок

           Thelineofpeopleallwincedatthebluntthunderofit.Theywatchedthesmokespreaduntilitbecamepartofthemistonthemarshes.Theywentonwatchingafterthat.Buttherewassimplypeaceandsilence.Thewindrattledthemarshweeds,andbirdsbegantodaretocryagain.

           “Ireckontheymusthavedoneforoneanother,”peoplesaid.Thecrowdgraduallysplitintoseparatefigureshurryingawaytojobstheylefthalfdone.

           SophieandMichaelwaiteduntiltheverylast,whenitwasclearthatitwasindeedallover.ThentheyturnedslowlybackintoPorthaven.Neitherofthemfeltlikespeaking.Onlythedog-manseemedhappy.HesaunteredbesidethemsofriskilythatSophiewassurehethoughtHowlwasdonefor.HewassopleasedwithlifethatwhentheyturnedintothestreetwhereHowl’shousewasandtherehappenedtobeastraycatcrossingtheroad,thedog-manutteredajoyfulbarkandgallopedafterit.Hechaseditwithadashandaskitterstraighttothecastledoorstep,whereitturnedandglared.

           “Geroff!”itmewed.“ThisisallIneeded!”

           Thedogbackedaway,lookingashamed.

           Michaelclattereduptothedoor.“Howl!”heshouted.

           Thecatshranktokittensizeandlookedverysorryforitself.“Andyoubothlookridiculous!”itsaid.“Openthedoor.I’mexhausted.”

           Sophieopenedthedoorandthecatcrawledinside.Thecatcrawledtothehearth,whereCalciferwasdowntothemerestblueflicker,and,withaneffort,gotitsfrontpawsupontothechairseat.ThereitgrewratherslowlyintoHowl,bentdouble.