Ходячий замок

           ”

           “Heis?”saidHowl,andhesetofftowardthedogwithaspeedthatshowedhewasquitegladtogetawayfromSophie.Thisofcoursewasthelastthingthedog-manwanted.Hebackedaway.Howlpounced,andcaughthimbytwohandfulsofshaggyhairbeforehecouldreachthedoor.“Soheis!”hesaid,andkneltdowntolookintowhatcouldbeseenofthesheepdog’seyes.“Sophie,”hesaid,“whatdoyoumeanbynottellingmeaboutthis?Thisdogisaman!Andhe’sinaterriblestate!”Howlwhirledroundononeknee,stillholdingthedog.SophielookedintoHowl’sglass-marbleglareandrealizedthatHowlwasangrynow,reallyangry.

           Good.Sophiefeltlikeafight.“Youcouldhavenoticedforyourself,”shesaid,glaringback,daringHowltodohisworstwithgreenslime.“Anyway,thedogdidn’twant—”

           Howlwastooangrytolisten.Hejumpedupandhauledthedogacrossthetiles.“AndsoIwouldhavedone,ifIhadn’thadthingsonmymind,”hesaid.“Comeon.IwantyouinfrontofCalcifer.”Thedogbracedallfourshaggyfeet.Howlluggedatit,bracedandsliding.“Michael!”heyelled.

           TherewasaparticularsoundtothatyellwhichbroughtMichaelrunning.

           “Anddidyouknowthisdogwasreallyaman?”HowlaskedasheandMichaeldraggedthereluctantmountainofadogupthestairs.

           “He’snot,ishe?Michaelasked,shockedandsurprised.

           “ThenIletyouoffandjustblameSophie,”Howlsaid,haulingthedogthroughthebroomcupboard.