Ходячий замок
Chapter 18
PentstemmonhadsaidwithallthethingsHowlandCalciferhadsaid,shefoundshehadsomestrongandratherterribleideasaboutthecontract.ShewassurethatbreakingitwouldbetheendofbothHowlandCalcifer.Howlmightdeserveit,butCalciferdidnot.AndsinceHowlseemedtobeworkingquitehardinordertoslitheroutoftherestoftheWitch’scurse,Sophiewantedtodonothingunlessshecouldhelp.
SometimesSophiethoughtitwassimplythatthedog-manwasgettingherdown.Hewassuchadolefulcreature.Theonlytimeheseemedtoenjoyhimselfwaswhenhechaseddownthegreenlanesbetweenthebusheseverymorning.FortherestofthedayhetrudgedgloomilyaboutafterSophie,sighingdeeply.AsSophiecoulddonothingabouthimeither,shewasrathergladwhenthedog-mantooktolyinginpatchesofshadeoutintheyard,panting.
MeanwhiletherootsSophiehadplantedhadbecomequiteinteresting.Theonionhadbecomeasmallpalmtreeandwassproutinglittleonion-scentednuts.Anotherrootgrewintoasortofpinksunflower.Onlyonewasslowtogrow.Whenitatlastputouttworoundgreenleaves,Sophiecouldhardlywaittoseewhatitwouldgrowinto.Thenextdayitlookedasifitmightbeanorchid.Ithadpointedleavesspottedwithmauveandalonggreenstalkgrowingoutofthemiddlewithalargebudonit.Thedayafterthat,Sophieleftthefreshflowersinthetinbathandhurriedeagerlytothealcovetoseehowitwasgettingon.
Thebudhadopenedintoapinkflowerlikeanorchidthathadbeenthroughamangle.Itwasflat,andjoinedtothestalkjustbelowaroundtip.
