Ходячий замок

           Howlstoodupandturnedround,carryingCalciferontheshovel.

           Theroomfilledwithsmoke.Thedog-manwhinedandshivered.Howlcoughed.Hehadalittletroubleholdingtheshovelsteady.Sophie’seyeswerewateringanditwashardtoseeclearly,but,asfarasshecouldtell,Calcifer—justashehassaidtoher—didnothavefeet,orlegseither.Hewasalong,pointedbluefacerootedinafaintlyglowingblacklump.Theblacklumphadadentinthefrontofit,whichsuggestedatfirstsightthatCalciferwaskneelingontiny,foldedlegs.ButSophiesawthatwasnotsowhenthelumprockedslightly,showingitwasroundedunderneath.Calciferobviouslyfeltterriblyunsafe.Hisorangeeyeswereroundwithfear,andhekeptshootingfeeblearm-shapedflamesoutoneitherside,inauselessattempttotakeholdofthesidesoftheshovel.

           “Won’tbelong!”Howlchoked,tryingtobesoothing.Buthehadtoshuthismouthhardandstandforamomenttryingnottocough.TheshovelwobbledandCalciferlookedterrified.Howlrecovered.Hetookalong,carefulstepintothechalkedcircle,andthenanotherintothecenterofthefive-pointedstar.There,holdingtheshoveloutlevel,heturnedslowlyround,onecompleteturn,andCalciferturnedwithhim,sky-blueandstaringwithpanic.

           Itfeltasifthewholeroomturnedwiththem.Thedog-mancrouchedclosetoSophie.Michaelstaggered.Sophiefeltasiftheirpieceoftheworldhadcomelooseandwasswingingandjiggingroundinacircle,sickeningly.ShedidnotblameCalciferforlookingsofrightened.