Ходячий замок

           Howldidnottouchtheblackblob.Heturnedaway,andtheendofhissleevewentintothepaintpotalongwiththebrush.“Botheration!”saidHowl,draggingitout.Thetrailingtipofthesleevewasallcolorsoftherainbow.Howlshookit,anditwasblackagain.

           “Whichsuitisthatreally?”Sophieasked.

           “I’veforgotten.Don’tinterrupt.Thedifficultpartisjustcomingup,”Howlsaid,rushingthepaintpotbacktothebench.Hepickedupasmalljarofpowder.“Michael!Where’sthesilvershovel?”

           Michaelracedinfromtheyardwithabig,gleamingspade.Thehandlewaswood,butthebladedidseemtobesolidsilver.“Allsetoutthere!”hesaid.

           Howlrestedtheshovelonhiskneeinordertochalkasignonbothhandleandblade.Hesprinkledredpowderfromthejaronit.Heputapinchofthesamegrainscarefullyineachpointofthestarandtippedalltherestintothemiddle.“Standclear,Michael,”hesaid.“Everyonestayclear.Areyouready,Calcifer?”

           Calciferemergedfrombetweenhislogsinalongthreadofblueflame.“AsreadyasIshalleverbe,”hesaid.“Youknowthiscouldkillme,don’tyou?”

           “Lookonthebrightside,”saidHowl.“Itcouldbemeitkills.Holdontight.One,two,three.”Hedugtheshovelintothegrate,verysteadilyandslowly,keepingitlevelwiththebars.ForasecondhejuggleditgentlytogetitunderCalcifer.Then,evenmoresteadilyandgently,heraisedit.Michaelwasquiteobviouslyholdinghisbreath.“Doneit!”saidHowl.Logstoppledsideways.Theydidnotseemtobeburning.