Ходячий замок

           EverythingwasstillswingingandswayingasHowltookthesamecarefulstepsoutofthestarandoutofthecircle.Hekneltdownbythehearthand,withenormouscare,slidCalciferbackintothegrateandpackedthelogsbackroundhim.Calciferfloppedgreenflamesuppermost.Howlleanedontheshovelandcoughed.

           Theroomrockedandsettled.Forafewinstants,whilethesmokestillhungeverywhere,Sophiesawtoheramazementthewell-knownoutlinesoftheparlorinthehousewhereshehadbeenborn.Sheknewiteventhoughitsfloorwasbareboardsandtherewerenopicturesonthewall.Thecastleroomseemedtowriggleitselfintoplaceinsidetheparlor,pushingitouthere,pullingitinthere,bringingtheceilingdowntomatchitsownbeamedceiling,untilthetwomeltedtogetherandbecamethecastleroomagain,exceptperhapsnowabithigherandsquarerthanithadbeen.

           “Haveyoudoneit,Calcifer?”coughedHowl.

           “Ithinkso,”Calcifersaid,risingupthechimney.Helookednonetheworseforhisrideontheshovel.“You’dbettercheckme,though.”

           Howlhelpedhimselfupontheshovelandopenedthedoorwiththeyellowblobdownward.OutsidewasthestreetinMarketChippingthatSophiehadknownallherlife.Peoplesheknewwerewalkingpastintheevening,takingastrollbeforesupper,thewayalotofpeopledidonsummer.HowlnoddedatCalcifer,shutthedoor,turnedtheknoborange-down,andopeneditagain.

           Awide,weedydrivewoundawayfromthedoornow,amongclumpsoftreesmostpicturesquelylitsidewaysbythelowsun.