Ходячий замок
Chapter 17
Sophiecame,meaninglycarryingabroom.Andtherewasanarchwaywherethewallhadbeen,leadingtothestepsthathadalwaysconnectedtheshopandthehouse.Howlbeckonedhertocomeandlookattheshop.Itwasemptyandechoing.Itsfloorwasnowtiledinblackandwhitesquares,likeMrs.Pentstemmon’shall,andtheshelveswhichhadonceheldhatshadavaseofwaxed-silkrosesandasmallposyofvelvetcowslipsonthem.Sophierealizedshewasexpectedtoadmireit,soshemanagednottosayanything.
“Ifoundtheflowersintheworkshedoutattheback,”saidHowl.“Comeandlookattheoutside.”
Heopenedthedoorintothestreet,andthesameshopbelltinkledthatSophiehadheardallherlife.Sophiehobbledoutintotheemptyearly-morningstreet.Theshopfronthadbeennewlypaintedgreenandyellow.Curlylettersoverthewindowsaid:H.JENKINSFRESHFLOWERSDAILY.
“Changedyourmindaboutcommonnames,haven’tyou?”saidSophie.
“Forreasonsofdisguiseonly,”saidHowl.“IpreferPendragon.”
“Andwheredothefreshflowerscomefrom?”Sophieasked.“Youcan’tsaythatandthensellwaxrosesoffhats.”
“Waitandsee,”saidHowl,leadingthewaybackintotheshop.
TheywentthroughandoutintotheyardSophiehadknownallherlife.Itwasonlyhalfthesizenow,becauseHowl’syardfromthemovingcastletookuponesideofit.SophielookedupbeyondthebrickwallsofHowl’syardtoherownoldhouse.
