Ходячий замок
Chapter 17
SophienearlysaidthesmellremindedherofthebathroomafterHowlhadbeeninit,butshebititback.Theplacewastrulymarvelous.Betweenthebushesandtheirloadsofpurple,red,andwhiteflowers,thewetgrasswasfullofsmallerflowers:pinkoneswithonlythreepetals,giantpansies,wildphlox,lupinesofallcolors,orangelilies,tallwhitelilies,irises,andmyriadothers.Therewerecreepersgrowingflowersbigenoughforhats,cornflowers,poppies,andplantswithstrangeshapesandstrangercolorsofleaves.ThoughitwasnotmuchlikeSophie’sdreamofagardenlikeMrs.Fairfax’s,sheforgothergruffnessandbecamedelighted.
“Yousee,”saidHowl.Heswungoutanarmandhisblacksleevedisturbedseveralhundredbluebutterfliesfeastingonabushofyellowroses.“WecancutflowersbythearmloadeverymorningandselltheminMarketChippingwiththedewstillonthem.”
Attheendofthatgreenlanethegrassbecamesquashy.Vastorchidssproutedunderbushes.HowlandSophiecamesuddenlytoasteamingpoolcrowdedwithwaterlilies.Thecastleveeredoffsidewaysroundthepoolanddrifteddownanotheravenuelinedwithdifferentflowers.
“Ifyoucomeoutherealone,bringyoursticktotestthegroundwith,”Howlsaid.“It’sfullofspringsandbog.Anddon’tgoanyfurtherthatway.”
Hepointedsoutheast,wherethesunwasafiercewhitediskinthemistyair.“That’stheWasteoverthere—veryhotandbarrenandfullofWitch.”
“Whomadetheseflowers,rightontheedgeoftheWaste?”Sophiesaid
