Ходячий замок

           ItlookedratheroddbecauseofthenewwindowinitthatbelongedtoHowl’sbedroom,anditmadeSophiefeelodderstillwhensherealizedthatHowl’swindowdidnotlookoutontothethingsshesawnow.Shecouldseethewindowofherownoldbedroom,upabovetheshop.Thatmadeherfeeloddtoo,becausetheredidnotseemtobeanywaytogetupintoitnow.

           AsSophiehobbledafterHowlindoorsagainandupthestairstothebroomcupboard,sherealizedshewasbeingverygruff.Seeingherownoldhomethiswaywasgivingherfearsomemixedfeelings.“Ithinkit’sallverynice,”shesaid.

           “Really?”Howlsaidcoldly.Hisfeelingswerehurt.Hedidsoliketobeappreciated,Sophiethought,sighing,asHowlwenttothecastledoorandturnedtheknobtopurple-down.Ontheotherhand,shedidnotthinksheeverpraisedHowl,anymorethanCalciferdid,andshewonderedwhysheshouldstartnow.

           Thedooropened.BigbushesloadedwithflowersdriftedgentlypastandstoppedsothatSophiecouldclimbdownamongthem.Betweenthebushes,lanesoflong,brightgreengrassledinalldifferentdirections.HowlandSophiewalkeddownthenearest,andthecastlefollowedthem,brushingpetalsoffasitwent.Thecastle,tallandbackandmisshapenthoughitwas,blowingitspeculiarlittlewispsofsmokefromoneturretoranother,didnotlookoutofplacehere.Magichadbeenatworkhere.Sophieknewithad.Andthecastlefittedsomehow.

           Theairwashotandsteamyandfilledwiththescentofflowers,thousandsofthem.