Ходячий замок

           Nextmorningthedoorwassettoblack-knobdownand,toSophie’sgreatannoyance,itwouldnotopenatanysetting.Shewantedtoseethoseflowers,WitchornoWitch.Soshetookoutherimpatiencebyfetchingabucketofwaterandscrubbingthechalkedsignsoffthefloor.

           Howlcameinwhileshewasdoingit.“Work,work,work,”hesaid,steppingoverSophieasshescrubbed.Helookedalittlestrange.Hissuitwasstilldenseblack,buthehadturnedhishairfairagain.Itlookedwhiteagainsttheblack.Sophieglancedathimandthoughtofthecurse.Howlmayhavebeenthinkingofittoo.Hepickedtheskulloutofthesinkandhelditinonehand,mournfully.“Alas,poorYorick!”hesaid.“Sheheardmermaids,soitfollowsthatthereissomethingrotteninthestateofDenmark.Ihavecaughtaneverlastingcold,butluckilyIamterriblydishonest.Iclingtothat.”Hecoughedpathetically.Buthiscoldwasgettingbetteranditdidnotsoundveryconvincing.

           Sophieexchangedlookswiththedog-man,whowassittingwatchingher,lookingasdolefulasHowl.“YoushouldgobacktoLettie,”shemurmured.“What’sthematter?”shesaidtoHowl.“MissAngoriannotgoingwell?”

           “Dreadfully,”saidHowl.“LilyAngorianhasaheartlikeaboiledstone.”HeputtheskullbackinthesinkandshoutedforMichael.“Food!Work!”heyelled.

           Afterbreakfasttheytookeverythingoutofthebroomcupboard.ThenMichaelandHowlknockedaholeinthesidewallofit.Dustflewoutofthecupboarddoorandstrangethumpingsoccurred.AtlasttheybothshoutedforSophie.